Pre-College Programs
Offering a variety of courses for high school students, CCS can help you prepare to apply to a college of art and design. Whether you prefer to study during the school year or over the summer, CCS has a course that fits your needs and schedule. We offer a variety of pre-college courses and two summer camps to help with portfolio development.
Core skills courses
- Drawing Principles
- Drawing the Human Figure
- Fundamentals of Design
Presentation techniques
- Portfolio Preparation
- Digital Image and Photographic Portfolio Presentation
Specific software
- Adobe Illustrator Basics
- Photoshop Basics
- Layout and Design: Adobe InDesign
- Alias
- Final Cut Pro
- Maya
Portfolio Preparation Courses
All CCS portfolio preparation courses are taught by experienced teachers who understand what college admissions staff are looking for. These courses will assess your portfolio and provide suggestions on how to refine it in preparation for applying to a college of art and design. You will also research college admission requirements and become more informed about application processes.
Credit-bearing Courses
A wide selection of CCS credit-bearing courses are available to pre-college students. Courses can be audited or taken for credit at the tuition rate of $903 per credit hour plus applicable lab/studio fees. Course listings and fees are published online in the CCS Course Schedule Book. All courses listed with an X, Y, or Z at the end of the course code can be taken by non-matriculating students. For more information on X, Y, Z courses, view the undergraduate course catalog (2 MB, PDF) or call the CCS Registrar at 313.664.7670.
Precollege Summer Experience Scholarships
Women in Automotive Design Scholarships
Sponsored by Ford Motor Company.
CCS's PCSE has been nationally-recognized as an outstanding Learning in the Arts program by the National Endowment for the Arts.
