Education Courses For the Busy Student

Art & Design

Urbanglass

Founded in 1977, UrbanGlass is currently the largest artist-access glass center in the United States. It offers a comprehensive education program of classes, workshops and intensives at every skill level—from novice to professional—in a wide variety of glassworking techniques, including glassblowing, hot casting, kiln casting, lampworking, fusing, slumping, neon, mosaics, stained glass and coldworking. Over 900 students come from around the world every year to study and work with a faculty that includes world-renowned artists and designers and acknowledged glass masters. It also supports The Bead Project, a free outreach program created specifically for low-income women, ages 18 and over, living in the New York City area. Application deadline extended through Aug. 31. [www.urbanglass.org](http://www.urbanglass.org/). ------

The Cooper Union

Don’t be jealous of the smart, talented undergrads who attend one of the best schools in the country for free. Instead, take advantage of the exemplary faculty and get in on the action. Cooper offers plenty of diverse areas for further study (knitting and crocheting anyone?), but if you’re looking to study architecture appreciation, check out “Architecture Through a Mixed Media Lens.” It’s a way of learning to appreciate architecture while also applying the tools and skills that are used in architectural representation. You’ll never look at a building the same way again. [www.cooper.edu/ce](http://cooperunion.augusoft.net/). ------

3rd Ward

This member-based art and design centered located in Williamsburg includes four photo studios, a professional wood and metal shop, a fully loaded digital media lab, shared and private work space and a large selection of interdisciplinary art classes (capped at 12 and averaging eight students). Intensives are offered on an ongoing basis and registration is required. [www.3rdward.com](http://www.3rdward.com/). ------

Parsons the New School for Design

If you want to get back to school but don’t need to earn credit, Parsons offers certificate programs—which are more and less rigorous than a standard university degree—in graphic and digital design, fashion design, fine art and interior design, among others. Beginning artists and designers will be introduced to the tools, materials and ideas that will be essential in whatever creative endeavor you hope to tackle. [www.newschool.edu](http://www.newschool.edu/). ------

Performing Arts

Brooklyn Guitar School

Maybe you’ve finally given up on that dream of fronting your own rock band, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t learn to thrash with the best of them while playing Rock Band. Maybe it’s time to enroll in a class at the Brooklyn Guitar School in downtown Brooklyn. Although kid classes are offered, 75 percent of the students here are adults and trial lessons (in case you can’t commit) are just $50. [brooklynguitarschool.com]. ------

Stella Adler Studio of Acting

If you ever wondered where Brando learned his chops, look no further. It was Stella Adler who was his first acting coach, and the school she founded has trained thousands in technique over the decades since it opened. Fall workshops are offered in the evening for those looking to get their start or want to further their training in scene studies or master acting for television or film. [www.stellaadler.com](http://www.stellaadler.com/). ------

Atlantic Acting School

Students of acting who have busy schedules (whether tending bar or as desk monkeys) can still find time for script analysis and scene study at the school founded by David Mamet and William H. Macy. This program offers workshops with both morning and evening sessions. Focus on the “Commercial Audition” with Paul Urcioli on Monday evenings or figure out how to sustain yourself as a “Working Actor” with instructor Cynthia Silver. [www.atlanticactingschool.org](http://www.atlanticactingschool.org/). ------

Writing

The Writers’ institute

Maybe you don’t think you have the time to quit everything and get that MFA you always dreamed about, but the program at the CUNY Graduate Center (Fifth Avenue and 34th Street) offers a one-year intensive certificate program that includes four evening writing workshops taught by a total of four editors. You can decide to go the fiction or non-fiction route. Granta here you come! [www.writersinstitute.gc.cuny.edu](http://www.writersinstitute.gc.cuny.edu/). ------

New School for General Studies

Having problems finishing that first draft? Learn the fundamentals of screenplay writing with working professionals who understand the field. The continuing education programs at the New School are offered for credit, certificate programs and for no-credit (if that’s how you swing). Professors like Mort Scharfman have worked with everyone and have won some Emmys. Now it’s your turn for the close-up. [www.newschool.edu](http://www.newschool.edu/). ------

Film

School of Visual Arts

If you’re still unsure if you want to plunk down some money for a class, check out the Sept. 1 information session coming up at SVA. You can meet the faculty, see what career options there are in the field and figure out the best way for you to tailor a course of study to your schedule. Hey, if you have the next talking sponge idea, don’t you want to figure out how to make it a reality? [www.schoolofvisualarts.edu](http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/). ------

New York Film Academy

Seems everyone has a story to tell and everyone wants to make their own documentary. Feel like you don’t quite have the skills required? Then check out the evening documentary program at the New York Film Academy. It’s similar to the one-year intensive but allows students to spread the courses over two years in this part-time program. You’ll work with crews and complete six short docs over the period while learning everything from lighting to craft. [www.nyfa.edu](http://www.nyfa.edu). ------

NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Movie lovers love to take Richard Brown’s class “Movies 101,” and part of that could be chalked up to the starpower—George Clooney, Helen Mirren, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and others have been guest speakers in “Movies 101”—but it’s also the high level of discussion about the best movies in the world. [www.scps.nyu.edu](http://www.scps.nyu.edu/).