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Pre-College Summer Art and Design at Parsons Paris

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What's Included

High school students are introduced to the art and design college experience in Paris. The program is open to high school students entering their junior or senior year and recent high school graduates. Many enroll to develop a portfolio for the college admissions process.

What's Included?

Highlights

Pre Departure Services

Advising

@api Online System

Orientation Materials and Resources

Access to International Phone Plans

API Alumni Network

Social Networking

On Site Services

Airport Reception

API Center

On-Site Orientation

Resident Director

Tuition

Medical and Life Insurance

Social and Cultural Activities

Welcome and Farewell Group Meals

Volunteer Opportunities

Monthly Transit Pass

Day Trips (one per session)

Housing

Re-Entry Services

Re-Entry Materials and Support

Post-Program Evaluation

Transcript

Alumni Network and API Ambassador Program
View all opportunities and amenities

Application Requirements

  • Ages: 16 – 18
  • Minimum 2.75 G.P.A. (Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, and students below this threshold are encouraged to apply. These students may be asked to submit a letter of recommendation and participate in a Skype interview.)
  • Completed API application
  • Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL scores of 79 or above or IELTS scores of 6.5 or above to show proof of English proficiency. These students may be asked to participate in a Skype interview to determine English proficiency.
  • Entry requirements for US and EU passport holders: a valid passport
  • Entry requirements for all other international students: consult the French Consulate in your home country
Dates & Fees
Session Program Dates Program Cost Application Deadline Payment Deadline
Summer 2 Jul 2, 2021 - Jul 24, 2021 $7,990 Apr 1, 2021 Apr 30, 2021 Apr 15, 2021
Excursions

API students participate excursions designed to help familiarize them with the culture and surrounding areas of their host city and country. The following is a listing of potential excursions for API Paris programs. API may need to modify the excursions offered in a given term due to travel restrictions or health and safety concerns.

  • Château de Chambord

    Visit the château de Chambord and take a hayride through the Chambord forest on the paths that Leonardo da Vinci used to wander with French king François the first. With its unique architecture and vast forestland, Chambord castle is one of the most famous Loire Valley châteaux. We will then visit a traditional French farm that produces goat cheese, marmalade, and blackcurrant syrup – tasting is included of course!

    Possible cultural events in Paris include:

    • Picnics and tastings (French pastries, cheeses, crepes)
    • Local tours (Quartier Latin, Hidden Marais, Pere Lachaise)
    • Visits to museums (Musee de la Mode, Louvre)
    • Visits to famous landmarks (Notre-Dame, Eiffel Tower, Montmartre)
    • Visits to local markets, the ballet, and/or the theater!

    Day trips and cultural events are subject to change

Program Details

What You’ll Study

TOTAL CREDITS - 3 semester credits

High school students are introduced to the art and design college experience in Paris. The program is open to high school students entering their junior or senior year and recent high school graduates. Many enroll to develop a portfolio for the college admissions process.

Classes are held from approximately 9am-4pm. Students will choose ONE course to complete over the three-week program. No pre-requisites required.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

Meals are not included, but the hotel accommodation includes a daily continental breakfast. Students will be provided with information about affordable local options for meals near the Parsons building and near the hotel upon arrival in Paris.

All pre-college students are met at the airport by on-site staff on the program start date. A group return transfer to the Charles de Gaulle airport is also included on the last day of the program. Students receive detailed flight instructions upon their acceptance into the program and should wait to purchase a flight until receiving more information post-acceptance.

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts for Parsons students are issued by the Registrar’s Office and carry the signature and seal of The New School. A transcript is confirmation of a student’s permanent record at the university. API will send one transcript per student to the address the student indicates on the Transcript Release Form. Students who need additional copies of their transcript may submit an official request to The New School Registrar’s Office.

Parsons Paris, founded in 1921, is accredited by NASAD (National Association of the Schools of Art and Design) and by MSCHE (Middle States Commission on Higher Education), and is recognized by the French Ministry of Education as a Private Establishment of Higher Education (Etablissement d’Enseignement Supérieur Privé).

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    Yuné Jang

    Yune will be one of your Resident Directors at Parsons Paris and will be a resource for you on campus!

  • Rebecca Cott Head Shot

    Rebecca Cott

    Rebecca Cott will be your Program Manager and prepare you to go abroad!

  • Photo Pro Allison 7137F161171992377C5A9B3F24Fdf716

    Allison Brown

    Allison Brown will be one of your Resident Directors at Parsons Paris and a resource for you while you are in France!

Courses

COURSE OFFERINGS

All Pre College Summer 2 courses are full-day studio courses. Students provide their own art supplies. The supply list will be sent by the faculty to the students before the program begins. We usually estimate the cost to be $400 for most studio classes (drawing and fashion, especially). This cost can be lower if students already own some supplies and bring them from home, and it can be higher, if students choose more expensive fabrics and materials for final projects, etc.

Courses are not guaranteed to be offered. Students should be flexible with their course choices.

CREDIT INFORMATION

Courses are equivalent to 3 U.S. college credits. Transcripts will be issued by The New School, a U.S.-accredited institution.

Explorations in Drawing (All Day Course)

This is an intensive drawing course in Paris. The goal is to develop eye, hand and mind coordination, plus an understanding and enjoyment of methods and materials. There will be short lessons, discussions on classical and contemporary artists, still life drawing, figure drawing and composition exercises in the studio. Numerous visits to museums, exhibitions and public places around Paris will support the learning process and allow students to work outside the studio.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Explorations in Painting (All Day Course)

This course introduces students to painting as both a fundamental part of the design process and an integral tool for media arts of all kinds. Students will learn basic concepts of painting such as color theory, composition, and techniques for using water based paints. Drawing will also be taught as a means for observation and representation. Traditional and nontraditional methods, media, and theories of painting are all explored. Time will be dedicated for students to develop a personal project.

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

View Syllabus   

Fashion Design Process (All Day Course)

This course introduces students to various approaches and techniques involved in the design process for fashion products. Working on projects individually and in groups, students develop fashion concepts for which they draw on the unique resources of Paris and explore how fabrication methods and color affect collections. Students are also introduced to branding and merchandising basics used to identify and create work for targeted markets and consumers.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Fashion Illustration (All Day Course)

Fashion Illustration is an intense drawing course where students explore fashion through drawing as an investigative tool within the context of Paris. The course introduces students to fundamental drawing techniques related to the body proportions through life model drawing sessions and studio assignments, in conjunction to museum field trips and guest
lecture. Students will gain understanding of visual and perceptual literacy related to principles of textile, volume and garment translation in order to develop a personal visual vocabulary.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Fashion Photography: History and Practice

Students will learn how to analyze fashion photography using interdisciplinary tools, from history to sociology and semiotics. In parallel, students will experiment practical photography techniques at a professional level in order to be able to produce a fashion shoot, from the preliminary research to the final realization in collaboration with a model. Workshops, field trips, and exhibitions are also proposed during the course.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Graphic Design Workshop (All Day Course)

Graphic design is everywhere around you—posters, websites, T-shirts, advertising, packaging and publications. It is a medium in which words and images merge to communicate powerful messages. In this hands-on course, students are introduced to the basics of form, expressive typography and page layout. Through projects, students learn to employ narrative methods and engage in design, analysis, and implementation. Emphasis is on the fundamental tools of composition, color, typography and design communication for screen and print. This is an introductory level course open to pre-college students.

Language of Instruction: English   

Download Syllabus

Introduction to Design and Management (All Day Course)

Students learn to approach management as a strategic process that combines design innovation and business knowledge. In collaborative projects, they develop problem-solving skills and familiarity with design strategies through the application of research methods, prototyping, and quantitative analysis. Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of a European setting and perspective and the way entrepreneurs, business innovators, and designers operate at the intersection of design and management. Students engage in design thinking and business strategy exercises, applying these approaches in a broad range of enterprises and real-world business contexts.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Picturing Stories (All Day Course)

How do you tell a story through images, or accompany a written text visually? This course explores many forms of visual storytelling using a mixed media approach: drawing, painting, collage, digital renderings and more. Paris serves as the backdrop for exploration of French artists, illustrators and cartoonists through history. Course field trips to various Parisian neighborhoods provide points of departure for individual exploration. Visits to exhibitions and museum collections cover different stylistic, conceptual and material approaches.

Portfolio Preparation (All Day Course)

In this course, students create a high-quality portfolio of work for higher-level education. Students develop the skills and understanding they need to produce high-standard artwork for a portfolio. They research, construct, and refine work with a range of digital tools and design a consistent portfolio. They develop the editing and typographic skills they need to frame and present artwork in a clear and articulate manner, in both online and PDF formats, and with a range of digital tools and platforms and to prepare to apply to higher-level programs. Students also familiarize themselves with life in Paris, participating in studio workshops and research trips to museums and galleries.

Language of Instruction: English   

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

Download Syllabus

Highlights
  • Classes taught in English
  • World-renowned art and design school
  • Earn 3 U.S. college credits and a college transcript from a U.S. accredited institution (The New School)
  • Top U.S. and international accreditations (including NASAD and Middle States)
  • Intimate class size
  • Best-in-class education in creative disciplines, including art, design, business of design, and fashion
  • Courses taught by leading industry professionals from the world's two fashion capitals - New York and Paris
  • Metro pass included
  • Housing: double hotel room
Housing

Students will stay in a three-star hotel located 20-25 minutes via subway from Parsons Paris. All student rooms are double-occupancy with private bathrooms. Continental breakfast is included every morning. Internet service is available at the hotel and phone service is available for an extra fee. Laundry facilities located nearby are recommended, as the hotel's laundry service is expensive. Students can choose to opt out of housing for a deduction from the program cost.