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The Certificate ProgramsThe Certificate Programs are designed to offer students the opportunity to develop, following a complete learning path, their potential individual creativity, artistic talent and technical and professional skills. These programs provide specific skills in a developed curriculum in a range of areas, giving students a strong theoretical base on which to develop their practical work. The Certificate Programs offer two study options: the Study Certificate and the Professional Study Certificate. Students can combine the Study Certificate and the Professional Study Certificate or choose between them according to their experience and educational levels. In accordance with the belief that access to the language is an essential component of the Italian experience, the School requires and/or highly encourages students following the certificate programs to take an Italian language course during at least one semester of each year. The Certificate Programs are intended for professional study in an advanced format. Students should expect a demanding course schedule that may require laboratory and studio hours above the normal instructional hours per credit hour. In some cases, the certificate sequence requires an 18 credit load during the academic semester. Additional tuition charges will apply according to the fee schedule for those seeking US credit for these courses. Study Certificates and Professional Study Certificates are awarded by Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici. This is a European credential and the certificate will be issued by the school upon completion of all course requirements. If you desire US credit for the coursework completed as part of the international certificate sequence, please indicate that you would like to receive a Marist College US transcript on your application. Students may choose to enroll in and attend only 1 semester of a particular program but will not receive a certificate unless he/she completes the entire sequence of courses. Study Certificates offer a comprehensive course structure addressing students' own professional goals. The class selection has been pre-planned in order to allow students to follow the most appropriate course sequence in the area of study that they wish to pursue. The programs are offered on a one-year or two-year basis, starting in either fall or spring semesters. Students may also enroll on a single semester basis. Beginning students must enroll in the first semester of the first year course sequence. Students with prior knowledge of the selected field of study may be admitted to the second semester, but only after submitting a portfolio of their work to be assessed and approved. Our Professional Study Certificates are designed for students who have a solid background in one of the following areas: Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Jewelry Design, Film Production, Theatre, or Restoration and Conservation. During the course of one year, students will have the opportunity to broaden their formative experience by participating in artistic projects, guided by instructors who are critically acclaimed professionals. The Restoration and Conservation program offers practical field work in conjunction with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, thus allowing students to actively participate in the restoration of authentic artwork. The Film Production Professional Certificate is held in conjunction with Cinecittà of Rome. Other Professional Study Certificates give students the opportunity to work individually and collaboratively on professional projects guided by industry insiders. Students applying for the Professional Study Certificate Program must provide evidence of their background in the selected area. An admissions committee will review the application and accept only those students who meet the entry requirements. ALL COURSES, EXCEPT ITALIAN LANGUAGE, ARE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH. Fashion Design Study Certificate (Year 1)*Guided by professionals and actively working fashion designers, students will be stimulated to define their personal and artistic expression. Class sizes are small to ensure the teacher's individual attention. Students will learn about trend research, enabling them to create and present a trend book, thanks to the introduction of different textile techniques. Great emphasis will be given to fashion drawing and to the professional techniques of rendering different materials. Students will be taught mannequin draping, pattern-making, knitwear design, how to sew on industrial machines, and will be able to create their own small collection. Finally, each student will learn to use a computer to create his/her personal fashion project, from the conceptual phases to the presentation of the complete collection, and will also approach the use of CAD for patternmaking in the fashion industry. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Fashion Design Professional Study Certificate (Year 2)This program is geared toward students who want to go deeper and specialize in the creation of one-of-a-kind apparel design and accessories. They will learn how to draw a real collection and how to produce prototypes. Problems and different technical issues will be considered from different aspects such as creative, artistic and industrial production. Students will learn to sketch, make and apply high fashion embroidery and the most up-to-date techniques, such as machine embroidery, patchwork and other techniques to create a small collection. Students will also create their own personalized professional portfolio that they can use in the fashion world. Students will also have the opportunity to work together under the supervision of both faculty and professionals to realize a final group project. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (FALL ONLY)
2nd SEMESTER (SPRING ONLY) *Students with demonstrable experience in the field may be eligible for admission to the second semester or the second year, upon review and approval by the school Academic Board. Fine Arts Study Certificate (Two Years)The Fine Arts program is geared toward a more specific vision of creative art, offering painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and mixed media. The program follows the philosophy of combining technique along with creativity in specially structured courses so as to guide students through a harmonious process of learning and experiencing art. Attention is given in particular to individual relationships between professors and students, which is an extremely important factor in our Studio Art department. The course programs are clearly organized, beginning with the fundamentals and arriving at the conceptual. Each level is designed to introduce highly structured lessons in classes made up of small groups, aiming at bringing out the natural expression of each individual student. All studio classrooms have wonderful light sources and good equipment. Attention is given to art historical references, utilizing the wonderful resources here in Florence and also in Italy, as well as strong references to modern and contemporary art. Each studio course in Fine Arts seeks to draw the maximum from its students in all areas, from technical ability to perceptual awareness. Furthermore, each student's individual skills are cultivated in order to best aid in developing his or her own form of creative thinking and finding the proper way to transmit this in visual form. Open studio hours provide additional opportunities for students to continue to develop projects and their own creativity outside of class. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
3rd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
4th SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Graphic Design and Communication Study Certificate (Year 1)*During the two semesters of the Study Certificate program, students will become familiar with the basic skills of graphic design, through the learning of technical, theoretical and conceptual aspects of the subject. Graphic design, illustration, visual design, web design and advertising are taught at various levels. Digital and traditional techniques are applied as well, together with an instruction that develops student awareness of all aspects involved in a design solution. The history of graphics, visual semiotics and design theories, together with the practice of fine image manipulation, are taught to develop students' creativity, their capacity in problem-solving and their artistic capability. In all of our courses, which are always held in small groups, students are guaranteed to receive individual attention by our qualified teachers. The individual assistance given to each student is one of the most important factors in our programs. Taking into consideration different individual skills, the teacher drives each student to create his or her personal creative thinking and to share his or her ideas with others. The great quantity of artworks and examples offered by the city of Florence and Italy will encourage the students to understand the secrets and the heritage from which every modern design is derived. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
2ND SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Graphic Design and Communication Professional Study Certificate (Year 2)Design for the communication field embraces a wide sphere of activities, mainly oriented around advertising and mass-media communication. The importance of communication in modern life is constantly increasing; its growth surpasses new frontiers every day in economics, culture and social fields. The work market in this field continuously requires that new professionals be added to the creative staffs of advertising and communication agencies or in the creative teams of business companies and corporations. The objective of the Professional Study Certificate in Graphic Design and Communication is to develop professionals ready to take an active role in this exciting and complex field. Based on the theories covered by the Study Certificate, this program involves students in a constant brainstorming on creativity and the techniques necessary to express it. The program is structured to encourage students to find their own direction in the communication design field, covering all the branches into which it is divided. From professional imaging and copywriting to the finest vector graphic design and advanced rendering, all the opportunities offered by the work market in this field find an answer within the Professional Study Certificate in Graphic Design and Communication. Students will also have the opportunity to work together under the supervision of the faculty and professionals to realize a final group project. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (FALL ONLY)
2nd SEMESTER (SPRING ONLY) *Students with demonstrable experience in the field may be eligible for admission to the second semester or the second year, upon review and approval by the school Academic Board. Jewelry Design Study Certificate (Year 1)*With a wide variety of courses structured over two semesters, students will encounter an intensive study in jewelry under various aspects: historical, cultural, product design and production. Through small theoretical and practical classes (max. 12 students) taught by expert teachers and recognized professionals, students will acquire the knowledge base of gemology, the history of jewelry and the rendering of the design project. In our fully equipped laboratories, students will start immediately to create their first pieces of jewelry in silver. With the teacher's assistance, students will learn the various basic techniques which will allow them to produce more and more complex pieces of jewelry. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Jewelry Art and Design Professional Study Certificate (Year 2)This program is intended for students with a distinct knowledge base, and it is structured to deepen the design and technical aspects of jewelry making with a special focus on individual creativity. From jewelry to silversmithing, from precious metals to plastic or industrial materials, students will learn different techniques which give them greater competence and expressive capabilities. These, in turn, will allow them to better design their collections on specific themes and correctly produce them while developing their own style. Students will also have the opportunity to work together under the supervision of faculty and professionals to realize a final group project. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (FALL ONLY)
2nd SEMESTER (SPRING ONLY)
*Students with demonstrable experience in the field may be eligible for admission to the second semester or the second year, upon review and approval by the school Academic Board. Interior Design Study Certificate (Year 1)*During the first two semesters of the Study Certificate program, students will become familiar with the basic skills of Interior Design through the learning of technical design, perspective, project making, and the history and principles of Interior Design. Students will start with small projects and, little by little, will be led to handle more complex design themes. In all of our courses, which are always held in small groups, students are guaranteed to receive individual attention by our qualified teachers. Students learn the use of traditional instruments as well as how to use a computer for CAD programs for Photoshop and for rendering their technical design in two and three dimensions. Students will have the opportunity to work with numerous projects and, during the design phase, they will learn how to approach the main issues relative to the market and the industry. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Interior Design Professional Study Certificate (Year 2)This program is strictly reserved for those students with a distinct knowledge base in interior design. Projects will be analyzed under various perspectives and focus on materials and lighting systems. The program emphasizes not only spaces and their distribution, but also furniture objects and elements dealing with the relative issues also connected to their production phase. At the end of the course, students will develop their own portfolio in a digital form which allows for wide creativity in format. The students' personal portfolio may be used for their future professional career as well as act as a project archive. Students will also have the opportunity to work together under the supervision of the faculty and professionals to realize a final group project. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (FALL ONLY)
2nd SEMESTER (SPRING ONLY) *Students with demonstrable experience in the field may be eligible for admission to the second semester or the second year, upon review and approval by the school Academic Board. Museum Management and Cultural HeritageStudy CertificateA selection of elective courses concerning collections and museum history, museum and exhibition management and art business, together with in-depth instruction in history of art and restoration, aim to prepare students for a career in related cultural agencies. Students will work in each major area of conservation with its basic modern techniques, learning about styles, attribution and production of artworks, and materials. Students develop skills in terminology and visual analysis through oral presentations and written critiques. Museums and temporary exhibitions will be analyzed, starting from theories and historical collections to the practice of designing and managing an exhibit: administration, handling, marketing, lighting and professional standards. Virtual projects will be organized by students with professors' guidance. Visits to museums, private and state offices, exhibitions and conservation facilities are essential components of the program, together with the field work performed during the two semesters. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL and SPRING)
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL and SPRING) Photography Study CertificateDuring the two semesters of the Study Certificate program, students will become familiar with the basic know-how of photography through the study of its technical, professional and artistic aspects. The program follows the philosophy of combining technique along with creativity in specially structured courses so as to guide students through a harmonious process of learning and experiencing photography. Course programs are highly structured, starting from fundamentals and arriving at the study of the most advanced professional techniques. This structure takes into account a wide variety of aspects within the field of photography, such as landscape, architecture and fashion. Each level has classes made up of small groups, aimed at bringing out students' natural expression through an individual relationship with the teacher. Digital and traditional techniques are applied at different levels, together with instruction that develops students' awareness of all the aspects involved in photography as well as developing creativity, personal creative thinking, the capacity for problem-solving and artistic capability. Students will take advantage of the school's spacious photo labs and advanced computer facilities not only during class, but also for open studio hours. In addition to this, attention is given to historical art dimensions, and students will be encouraged to utilize the wonderful resources offered here in Florence and also in Italy. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING)
Introduction to Digital Photography 3 credits
2nd SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL AND SPRING) Restoration and Conservation Study Certificate (Year 1)*the school offers an unparalleled experience in art conservation because of its location and the school's essential access to original works of art for students' educational experience and introduction into the field. At the beginning level, students will have two semesters of hands-on practice in the lab, using methods that will allow them to delve into the actual conservator's environment while receiving the well-rounded academic essentials needed for a complete understanding of the field. With the careful guidance of our faculty of Florentine art conservators, students will acquire practical knowledge of the techniques found in the artworks surrounding them by actually practicing ancient painting techniques such as fresco, egg tempera, oils, and gold gilding. Theoretical sessions will refer directly to lab work and Florence's history so that students will inherit an important base and unequaled experience in the field of conservation. The study certificate is an excellent opportunity to give students a more insightful awareness, both technically and aesthetically, by working directly on the authentic works of art in the lab and discussing important issues in the lectures. All courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English and are geared towards documenting lab experiences for the professional/educational career.
1st SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL and SPRING)
2ND SEMESTER (OFFERED FALL and SPRING) Restoration and Conservation Professional Study Certificate (Year 2)This two-semester program is conducted through Lorenzo de' Medici's affiliation with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and builds upon the skills acquired in the Study Certificate, but with a more in-depth and professional approach to the field of conservation. The experience that students will acquire by the end of the program will be documented in all areas with a professional portfolio accompanying the certificate. Students will practice various conservation methods (such as cleaning, consolidating, retouching) on original works of art by working with professional Florentine art conservators. These professionals will guide them in these important phases of conservation in order to enhance their knowledge and confidence in the field. Most projects include restoring frescos on location (which have ranged from the 13th to 19th centuries); panel and canvas paintings from medieval and Renaissance structures in Tuscany; ancient polychrome wooden sculptures (from as early as the 14th century from various regions around Italy), all of which have been entrusted to the school conservation program so that students can acquire a deep, professional level study experience. Independent research on specific fields of interest in theory and art history will be part of the students' final projects to be documented, along with lab methods and on-site projects, as part of the Professional Study Certificate. Courses (except Italian language) are conducted in English and are geared towards documenting all lab experiences for the professional/educational career.
1st SEMESTER FALL ONLY
2nd SEMESTER SPRING ONLY *Students with demonstrable experience in the field may be eligible for admission to the second semester or the second year, upon review and approval by the school Academic Board.
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