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Arts & Design

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies offers classes and programs related to the visual and performing arts, like photography and painting, along with artistic endeavors and approaches, like film studies and art history.

We also offer classes and programs that incorporate artistry in design, like decorating and home staging.

Our Arts & Design classes and programs seek to extend the values and resources of a liberal education into art and design fields.

Interior Decorating Professional Certificate

The Interior Decorating Professional Certificate program will equip students with industry skills and knowledge to begin a career in the interior decorating field. The program consists of five modules and a capstone presentation. Classes include foundational instruction in architecture, furniture and color theory. Students will also learn about materials, sourcing and industry specific business practices while also establishing fundamental business skills needed to be a successful interior decorator.

Interior Decorating Professional Certificate

Upcoming Courses

Courses

Interior Decorating Professional Certificate

The Interior Decorating Professional Certificate equips students with industry skills and knowledge to begin a career in the interior decorating field. Covers foundational instruction in architecture, furniture and color theory along with materials, sourcing and industry-specific business practices and business skills.

Tuesday evenings, starting on 09/12/23 and ending on 03/26/24. Graduation, Saturday 04/06/24

One-on-One Training: Adobe Photoshop, inDesign or Illustrator

We are offering private professional training for Adobe Creative Cloud products. Want to learn more tips and techniques for Adobe Photoshop? Interested in learning inDesign for designing print and digital materials? Whether you are at the beginning of your design interests or work with the tools often and are looking for interesting ways to professionally enhance your design skill set, we can tailor the private session to your design needs.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Cultural Perspectives

This online course includes research, reading, and writing assignments with a focus on special topics and American culture. It is designed to increase your comprehension and communication skills. Students have 3 weeks to complete the lessons. Choose from one of these topics: Leadership Fundamentals, Artist Chuck Close, or Designer Coco Chanel. Course offers 1, 2, or 3 au pair credits.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Interior Decorating and Design

This class will offer students an opportunity to create beautiful rooms by mastering color coordination, fabric choices, textures, lighting, and overall visual harmony. Furniture arrangement will also be explored as you work with templates guided by a professional interior decorator.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

The Business of Antiques

Learn the difference between antiques and collectibles! Explore how to start your small business for selling antiques, how to keep records for tax purposes, how to buy and price antiques, and where to shop for them. Also learn what antique buyers in the Richmond area are looking for.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

The Business of Home Staging

Are you interested in becoming a home stager? This class is an ideal introduction before embarking on a career in home staging or the full Interior Design Certificate program. Home staging is the art of preparing a home to go on the market. Develop skills to identify and accentuate a home's most positive features and downplay the negative aspects of a home to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Color Theory for Interiors

Work with a Brewster color wheel and produce beautiful rooms for any interior. Start by examining rooms that have been produced by top decorators and train your eye to see what color theory has been used to get the stunning results. Discuss the psychological effects of individual colors. Study the warm and cool shades on the color wheel and produce award-winning palates for your own rooms.

No session is currently available for registration
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Curb Appeal for the Home 

Learn the techniques to produce beautiful curb appeal for any home. We will explore walkways, doors, shrubs, lawns, screen porches, patios and lighting.

No session is currently available for registration
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The Elements and Principles of Interior Design

Understanding the principles and elements of design gives one the ability to make appropriate decisions regarding interior design. This class will study the principles of design and the elements and will study how those two things work together to create the desired effect.

No session is currently available for registration
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The Nuts and Bolts of Interior Design

The selection process is done and the work begins. Learn what every decorator needs to know in order to save yourself, and your client, time and money. Learn industry standards when selecting and calculating amounts for fabric, wallpaper, paint and rugs. Learn what materials are best used for different purposes and what designs are best used for different functions so that you will be prepared to offer the best advice to your clients.

No session is currently available for registration
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Sketching Rooms & Scale Drawings

In this class, students learn how to master sketching rooms and scale drawings. Architect symbols will be taught with exact scale drawings. The class will start with free-hand sketches, move to graph paper, and finish with scale drawings using 3H and H pencils, the T-square and triangles. You will also learn how to sketch elegant window treatments, furniture, and beddings for your rooms.

No session is currently available for registration
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.