Join us in welcoming our newly appointed Dean of University College - Denise Bates.
Art, Technology & Design
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Explore Flexible Certificates with the SMFA at Tufts
Looking to complete a certificate in Illustration or Graphic Design, starting this Fall, the School of Museum of Fine Arts and University College are making it even easier. Now, there are no applications, no commitments, simply enroll in the course or courses you choose and once you have completed all four, reach out and let us know and we will provide your certificate. Its that easy, and with all four courses available in most Fall and Spring semesters you can be done in one semester, one year, or more, its up to you.
Popular Courses - Enrolling Now

Graphic Design I: Word and Image
Matthew Finn
Online | Asynchronous
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May 24 - Jun 28, 2023
With a focus on the integration of design elements and how they are created, chosen, and organized, this intensive course explores the potential of graphic design. For each project, students will explore the relationships between typography, language, image, and symbolism. Throughout the course, emphasis will shift between idea generation, design theory, and technical skills.

Art & Magic in the Ancient World
Miriam Said
In-Person | Medford/Somerville Campus
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May 25 - June 29, 2023
This course will introduce art history of the ancient world in a way that is cross-cultural, diachronic, and global in scope without maintained traditional western-centric hierarchies (e.g. Mesopotamia and Egypt as proto-civilizations leading up to the apogee of classical art exemplified by Greek and Roman culture). Magic as the thematic anchor tightens the focus of the course and will also challenge students to think of magic not as pre-rational, folkloric practice, but rather how it manifests in the material culture we traditionally associate with science, religion, and literature. In this way magic helps students better understand ancient epistemologies while also obtaining a broad knowledge of art, architecture, and performance.
Creative Writing: Fiction
Joseph H Hurka
Online | Asynchronous
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Jul 6 - Aug 10, 2023
Introductory practice and instruction in fiction workshop setting. Includes writing and sharing of original fiction; craft-based discussions of literary texts; generative writing exercises; and written and oral critiques of assignments.
Meet our Faculty & Staff
Hear from our Students
My photography professor, Joanna Tam, helped me not only learn the technical skills of digital photography, but also she fostered my conceptual development as an artist, challenging and elevating my work.
Photography - Student, 2020
You have a 360 range of motion creating digitally now, and I think that makes for really rich digital atmospheres and worlds
Bella Kiser, SMFA at Tufts BFA+BS Alum
Robert Siegelman's approach of confidence, play and experimentation is exactly what I need right now. Helping me lean into my own ideas, and also stretch my awareness both through seeing a huge variety of work and by communicating with the other students in the class. His stressing a daily practice is also life changing.
Mixed Media Drawing - Student, 2020
You have a 360 range of motion creating digitally now, and I think that makes for really rich digital atmospheres and worlds
Bella Kiser, SMFA alumni, reflecting on virtual reality and art
Billy is great. He is clearly knowledgeable about VR and Unity, and has a very relaxed manner in his introduction videos. He is very detailed and articulate in his demonstration videos as well, taking the students step-by-step through the process. He is very responsive via email and via the discussion boards and is available every week for office hours. During office hours he is patient and clear and helpful.
SMFA Virtual Reality Certificate Student
Having been a graphic designer for many years, I’d taken my first painting class in 2015. When I returned to Boston I knew I wanted to continue developing as a painter, and hoped I’d find a good instructor. I looked at the SMFA course descriptions, enrolled in Elaine’s class, and quickly knew that I had hit the jackpot.
Advanced Painting Student