Courses

Courses

Summer at Columbia courses are taught by Columbia’s faculty of filmmakers, artists, designers, and other creative practitioners. They bring their experience as working professionals into the classroom every day.

The course offerings for 2025 have not yet been finalized, but prior Summer at Columbia programs have included courses in Film Production, Game Development, Illustration, Photography, and Entrepreneurship for Creative Professionals - see below for descriptions of past courses.

For additional information about schedules, supplies, working at the college level, and other important items, please visit our FAQ Page.

• Cinema and Television Production
  This hands-on course explores the techniques of cinema and television production as a collaborator on both individual and group projects. The student will practice conceptualization, visualization, cinematography, sound recording, and editing techniques through effective visual and oral presentations. This course includes access to production equipment via the CTVA Equipment Center.
  
  COURSE NUMBER: MEDI 102
  FACULTY: TBA
  FORMAT: In-person
  MATERIALS REQUIREMENT: Laptop computer
• Game Development
  Foundation course of the Game Development concentration focuses on applied critical discussion and development of the student’s own game concepts. Various techniques and methods of concept and story development are reviewed, including journaling and workshop/discussion, in an effort to identify development best-practices. Students are also exposed to game design documentation formats, as well as the particulars and requirements of the professional game development cycle. The course also places special emphasis on exploring and identifying the characteristics of the diverse game genres. By the class’s end, students are asked to produce written documentation and develop their own game concept.
  
  COURSE NUMBER: GAME 110
  FACULTY:TBA
  FORMAT: In-person
  MATERIALS REQUIREMENT: Laptop computer
• Illustration
  This course is designed to introduce students to the field of illustration and basic illustration processes. Students will experiment within a studio environment with a variety of traditional and digital materials, techniques, styles, and their hybrids. Classes are supplemented with a series of presentations on contemporary illustrators, market trends, demonstrations, and documentation.
  
  COURSE NUMBER: ILLU 101
  FACULTY: TBA
  FORMAT: In-person
  MATERIALS REQUIREMENT: Laptop computer, basic art supplies (a detailed list will be provided)
• Photography
  This course introduces students to basic visual grammar of photographic seeing to explore and pursue diverse interests in photography while learning to become an acute observer. Using digital cameras with manual controls and RAW capture, students will learn the craft of making photographs while also being introduced to issues of aesthetic form, historical context, and diverse photographic practices. Students will gain experience in the darkroom, lighting studio in addition to digital facilities. 
  
  COURSE NUMBER: PHOT 101
  FACULTY: TBA
  FORMAT: In-person
  SUPPLIES REQUIREMENT: Laptop computer, mirrorless or DSLR camera