Learn more about Maine Scholars.
Lesley Announces Maine Scholars Program
The Maine Scholars program gives students prioritization by Maine employers as well as opportunities for financial aid and scholarship benefits.

Pre-College Courses

Do something different this summer and expand your horizons. Through art and design, share your unique vision of the world and grow as a critical thinker, maker, and cultural producer. And along the way, you'll be earning some college credit.

New Students (You've never taken a Lesley course before).
  1. Create a new "Forms" account with us by establishing a username and password.
  2. Use your new log-in information to complete our pre-college registration form.
Returning Students (You've taken a Lesley course before.)
  1. Use your existing Lesley login to complete our pre-college registration form. (Forgot your username or password? Select the link on the form to reset your password.)
Lunder Arts Center in Porter Square, Cambridge, MA (Two blocks MBTA/regional rail station!).

College Courses for High School and Gap-Year Students at Lesley's College of Art and Design (Lesley Art + Design)

Summer Pre-College Courses                                                    

Are you a rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior, or a gap-year student, thinking ahead to college and your future career? Here's an idea: Enroll in college-level studio classes taught by inspiring faculty at Lesley University's College of Art and Design (Lesley Art + Design) and meet other young people who are as driven and creative as you are.

Explore what you can do at Lesley Art + Design and find out what it feels like to be a college student by choosing from an array of courses and departments. Sign up for more than one course by mixing and matching morning classes (9:30 am - 1:00 pm) and afternoon classes (2:00 - 5:30 pm) to create your ideal summer schedule. You can sign up for half a day or all day with a one-hour lunch break between classes. Celebrate your accomplishments at a special exhibition and reception on the last day of the program.

Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation Scholarship

In 1990, the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation was established to fund programs managed by educational institutions and non-profit organizations that help economically disadvantaged high school students develop portfolios to qualify for admission to art school, and to provide college scholarships to study visual communications.

Richard and Jean Coyne were the editor/designers of Communication Arts magazine, established in Palo Alto, CA, in 1959 by Richard, who was a co-founder. Since 2013, the Foundation has awarded eight gifts to Lesley's College of Art and Design for scholarships to be awarded to eligible high school students enrolled in Lesley's Art and Design Summer program, College Pathways, and Hands-on Workshops/Exhibition programs.

High school students are eligible to receive college credit for the courses they take in the College Pathway Program.

 

Pre-College Alumni Gallery:

Launch Gallery
Gallery: Pre-College Alumni
A black and white photo taken by Sofia Dushku, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program. It shows a masked Black woman putting lipstick on a white woman, who has her mask below her mouth.
Slide 1 of 8
Sofia D.
A photo by Paige Lemiuex, a student in Lesley's Pre-College program.
Slide 2 of 8
Paige L.
Illustrated work by Davis Michaud, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 3 of 8
Davis M.
Illustrated comic strips by Audrey K., a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 4 of 8
Audrey K.
Character design work by Aviv Hirsch, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 5 of 8
Aviv H.
A fine arts portrait drawing by Nina McNinch, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 6 of 8
Nina M.
A photo by Katie Medrano Escobar. It shows a girl looking at her eye in a small mirror attached to a car window.
Slide 7 of 8
Katie M-E.
Student wearing a mask spray painting a wall
Slide 8 of 8
Katt S.
A black and white photo taken by Sofia Dushku, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program. It shows a masked Black woman putting lipstick on a white woman, who has her mask below her mouth.
Slide 1 of 8
Sofia D.
A photo by Paige Lemiuex, a student in Lesley's Pre-College program.
Slide 2 of 8
Paige L.
Illustrated work by Davis Michaud, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 3 of 8
Davis M.
Illustrated comic strips by Audrey K., a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 4 of 8
Audrey K.
Character design work by Aviv Hirsch, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 5 of 8
Aviv H.
A fine arts portrait drawing by Nina McNinch, a student in the Lesley Pre-College program.
Slide 6 of 8
Nina M.
A photo by Katie Medrano Escobar. It shows a girl looking at her eye in a small mirror attached to a car window.
Slide 7 of 8
Katie M-E.
Student wearing a mask spray painting a wall
Slide 8 of 8
Katt S.

Pre-College Week 1: Sample Courses & Schedule

1-week course | 1 college credit | $325 + $20 one-time registration fee | Inquire about merit- and need-based scholarships.

Mornings (9:30 am - 1:00 pm)

  • Fine Arts Portfolio Prep

    Are you interested in getting ready for the art school admission process?  And do you want to learn how to explore your personal interests and push your skills?  This course is designed for students who want to apply to art college in fine arts or another undeclared major.  You will engage in a range of exercises, from observational drawing to mixed media and content-driven work.  Along the way, you’ll gain exposure to contemporary fine artists to help inspire new ideas and your art-making process!  Through individual and group feedback, you’ll learn how to edit and organize your work to compile your strongest portfolio possible.  Finally, you’ll develop the ability to talk about your own work and be ready for the college interview process.

    One transferrable college credit will be awarded upon successful completion of this one-week course.

  • Filmmaking Essentials (Week 1 of 2)

    Bring your vision to life with a modern approach to independent filmmaking and evolving individual aesthetics. This hands-on, intensive course offers you the opportunity to create individual video projects utilizing classic filmmaking techniques and emerging smart phone technologies. With a combination of viewings and exercises, you'll gain an understanding of experimental video forms as well as traditional, narrative work. You’ll also learn the workflows of independent filmmaking and gain insight on film festival overviews. Guided by faculty, you'll be immersed in the process of producing video shorts, from pre-production to post-production to final export.

    Two transferrable college credits will be awarded upon successful completion of this two-week course. 

Afternoons (2:00pm - 5:30 pm)

  • Intro to Portrait Drawing

    Drawing facial features and composing portraits can be challenging.  This course provides you with an intimate understanding of how to conceptualize and construct a portrait, overcoming some of the hurdles in the process.  You’ll have a chance to use a variety of source material and media, gaining the ability to utilize techniques such as proportion, structure, features, likeness, and perspective from different angles.  Towards the end of the week, studio assignments will allow you to explore more personal and expressive approaches while developing successful portraits.  

    One transferrable college credit will be awarded upon successful completion of this one-week course.  

Pre-College Week 2: Sample Courses & Schedule

1-week course | 1 college credit | $325 + $20 one-time registration fee | Inquire about merit- and need-based scholarships.

Mornings (9:30 am - 1:00 pm)

  • Performance and Action in Animation:

    This course will introduce students to animation as a narratively drawn art form.  Students will explore both traditional and technical drawing production tools that will support animation development and completion of their shorts. 

  • Filmmaking Essentials (Week 2 of 2)

    Bring your vision to life with a modern approach to independent filmmaking and evolving individual aesthetics. This hands-on, intensive course offers you the opportunity to create individual video projects utilizing classic filmmaking techniques and emerging smart phone technologies. With a combination of viewings and exercises, you'll gain an understanding of experimental video forms as well as traditional, narrative work. You’ll also learn the workflows of independent filmmaking and gain insight on film festival overviews. Guided by faculty, you'll be immersed in the process of producing video shorts, from pre-production to post-production to final export.

    Two transferrable college credits will be awarded upon successful completion of this two-week course. 

Afternoons (2:00 pm - 5:30 pm)

  • Comics + the Graphic Novel

    This course explores the history and craft of visual narratives including comics, graphic novels, and storyboards. You’ll examine historic and contemporary examples of sequential narratives and visual storytelling. You’ll work on developing a story concept, creating dynamic characters and environments, and formatting your work. Through in-class demonstrations and hands-on studio time, you’ll explore a rich variety of techniques that will help you bring your story to life.  

    One transferrable college credit will be awarded upon successful completion of this one-week course. 

Questions?
Contact the Lesley Pre-College
Phone & Email
Mailing Address
  • Lesley University Pre-College
    29 Everett Street
    Cambridge, MA 02138
29 Everett St, Cambridge, MA 02138
617.868.9600