Sierra Summer: Making in the Mountains | SU25 Faculty-Led

Info Session: Wednesday, March 6 at 1pm (Week 7) at 1pm PST
Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 19 at 1pm (Week 9) at 1pm PST

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ACADEMICS ELIGIBILITY COST NEXT STEPS

ACADEMICS

Well suited for students with an interest in climate, California ecology, making from the land, and indigenous histories.

MAJORS OPEN TO

All undergraduates 4th Term and up

Well suited for students with an interest in climate, California ecology, making from the land, and indigenous histories.

HOST DEPARTMENT

Fine Art

FACULTY LEAD

Andrea Welton

Designmatters Minor Eligible

CREDIT

TDS 3 units of ArtCenter studio credit

Designmatters Minor Eligible

Mandatory Travel Dates: June 14-16 + July 12-14, 2025

SCHEDULE

Term: Summer 2025

Mandatory Travel Dates: June 14-16 + July 12-14, 2025

Travel for this program is embedded in the summer term course. All travel and the in-person studio are mandatory components of this class.

ELIGIBILITY

1) Open to ALL undergraduates 4th term and up in summer term.

2) Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75

3) Must not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the time of the application

If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements you still may be able to apply.

Please contact studyaway@artcenter.edu.

COST

ARTCENTER TUITION

You will be responsible for paying ArtCenter tuition.

In addition to Art Center tuition for the course, the estimated fee for this program is $300. The Program Fee covers your hotel accommodations for the trip (in shared rooms), several group meals, scheduled entries, workshops, private lectures.

PROGRAM FEE

In addition to Art Center tuition for the course, the estimated fee for this program is $300. The Program Fee covers your hotel accommodations for the trip (in shared rooms), several group meals, scheduled entries, workshops, private lectures.

100 is due within one week of your acceptance notification to secure your place in the program and serves as a downpayment towards the total Program Fee. The remaining balance of the Program Fee will be applied to your student account along with tuition in Summer 2025.

The Program Deposit of

100 is due within one week of your acceptance notification to secure your place in the program and serves as a downpayment towards the total Program Fee. The remaining balance of the Program Fee will be applied to your student account along with tuition in Summer 2025.

Please note: Once you have indicated your commitment to the program and paid your Program Deposit, the remaining Program Fee will become due at that time. The full amount of the Program Fee will be owed even if you were to cancel your participation or withdraw from the program and/or course for any reason.

Costs that you will be responsible for that are NOT included in the program fee include: transportation to field trip sites, most food, toiletries, supplies, souvenirs, cell phone charges, etc. (anticipate $20-$40 / day. Varies with personal needs, spending and budget).

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES

Costs that you will be responsible for that are NOT included in the program fee include: transportation to field trip sites, most food, toiletries, supplies, souvenirs, cell phone charges, etc. (anticipate $20-$40 / day. Varies with personal needs, spending and budget).

PAYING FOR STUDY AWAY

If you receive state/federal financial aid, you can contact the Financial Aid office to determine if participating in this program may qualify you for additional aid/loans.

Information on applying to scholarships available here:

https://www.artcenterstudyaway.com/pay-for-study-away

NEXT STEPS

To start your application, click the Apply Now button below.

For more details on the application process, visit this page.

Location: Zoom

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Global Programs Interest Meeting: Wednesday, January 29 (Week 2) at 1pm or 7:30pm

Location: Zoom

Program-specific Info Session:

Wednesday, March 19 (Week 7) at 1pm in Room 150 at 870 or on Zoom.

Check our Inside Page for zoom info

Can’t make it to an info session?  

Sign up for a 1-on-1 advising meeting with the Exchange and Study Away office to learn more about the program.

Decisions Announced: Wednesday, March 26 (Week 10)

Selection and Notification Timeline

Applications Due: Wednesday, March 19 (Week 9) at 1pm

Decisions Announced: Wednesday, March 26 (Week 10)

Program Commitment + Deposit Due: Wednesday, April 2 (Week 11) at 1pm

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

Following in the tradition of Fine Art’s Dandelions and Mushrooms course, this is an immersive class with two significant excursions in the Eastern Sierras.

This course delves into the Eastern Sierra’s diverse landscape. In a time when reconnecting with nature is paramount, Sierra Summer will allow students to engage with Colonial and indigenous histories, merging geography, flora and fauna of unique biomes, and geology with hands-on artistic practice—crafting natural dyes, pigments, paper, and sound recordings. Using all five senses to connect with the land as both muse and collaborator, students work towards a final piece to be shown in a group exhibition, fostering a holistic understanding of the Eastern Sierra’s cultural, historical and ecological facets. In doing so students will value the natural resources that are endangered in this era of human made climate change.

Students will be required to keep a working sketchbook or journal during the term in which they will record their research, findings, interests, and project ideas that will be turned in at the end of the term. 

2025 TENTATIVE FIELD TRIP DETAILS

While this course will be based in Pasadena, students will participate in several field trips throughout the term, including two overnight stays. Please review the dates below and ensure you can participate before committing to this program.

June 3 (Week 3): Day field trip to Cedar Glen Camp, Cucamonga Wilderness

June 14-16 (Week 5): 2-night field trip to Fossil Falls, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and Alabama Hills, Bishop Paiute Center, petroglyphs with lodging either in Lone Pine or Bishop, CA.

July 11-14 (Week 9): 3-night field trip to the Eastern Sierra to visit Mono Lake, Mono Lake Committee, Devil’s Postpile National Monument, Hike Mosquito Flats and group camp at Eastfork.

Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation. Carpooling is highly recommended. Additionally, please be prepared for variable mountain weather and high altitude conditions. 

Note: Please note, this program offers adventurous activity! Therefore, if you are accepted and commit to the program, you will be involved with outdoor physical activities such as walking, hiking, etc. In addition, accommodations for the 3-night field trip will be tent camping with limited access to facilities. While tents will be provided for the camping trip, students are expected to bring their own sleeping bag and pad. Students will carpool to field trip sites. A detailed list of what-to-bring will be provided! The field trips are mandatory and an integral part of your making for this course.

If you have specific questions about these activities before applying, please contact the lead faculty for this program, Andrea Welton, at andrea.welton@artcenter.edu.