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Resources and Policies
As a division of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) provides a variety of resources for students in conjunction with the College. Students enrolled in a Continuing Education class may take advantage of academic, financial, and other resources and benefits as they apply.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
MassArt assists all qualified students who are in need of accommodations related to a disability. If you feel you meet these requirements and need assistance, please notify the Continuing Education office.
On Campus Resources
Download the PCE Student Handbook
Policies
pricing
Prices for all credit courses offered through Massachusetts College of Art and Design Professional and Continuing Education are a combination of tuition and fee. Prices for non-credit workshops are fee only. Waivers (see below) apply only to tuition.
Course Cancellations
PCE must occasionally cancel a course that does not meet minimum enrollment requirements (students using waivers do not count towards enrollment minimums) or for other unforeseen circumstances. PCE will generally notify students by email or phone. Students are strongly encouraged to check for communications from the school before attending the first class or to verify course status by contacting PCE at ce@massart.edu or 617.879.7200.
PCE also reserves the right to make changes in course scheduling, faculty and course content.
Refund Policy
To request a refund, email ce@massart.edu by the appropriate deadline. Please note the following:
- No drops are accepted by telephone
- Continuing Education must have the request in writing by the deadline
- Emailing us is the best way to drop a class
Non-credit classes
Students will receive a full refund if the class is dropped one week prior to the start date of the class. After that no refunds will be issued.
Credit classes
Students will receive a full refund of all tuition and fees if the course is dropped before the second class meeting day. For example, for a class starting on a Tuesday, the drop must be processed no later than 11:59 p.m. of the Monday before the second meeting. After that no refunds will be issued.
Email requests for refunds should be sent to ce@massart.edu.
If PCE cancels a course due to low enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances, registered students will receive a full refund. Refunds may take up to 6 weeks to process.
Academic Policies
Courses for Credit
Studio foundation courses may be taken for undergraduate credit only. Other for-credit courses can be taken for graduate credit with additional/different requirements as specified by the faculty. Courses numbered 500 or above may be taken for graduate credit only.
High school seniors may consider taking 100-level courses for credit. Students under age 18 must obtain permission of the instructor.
Auditing
Students who choose to audit a class (take a for-credit class for no credit) are encouraged to participate in all course activities, including class lectures and critiques, but will not receive a grade or any formal evaluation of performance. A non-credit registered class may only be changed to a for-credit class before the second class meeting.
Grades
Semester grades are only available through the College Self Service system. You may log in with your NetID. If you are unable to log-in please contact Tech Central at 617.879.7888 or visit the Tech Central Office on the third floor of the Design and Media Center or email helpdesk@massart.edu.
The College has a dual grading system. All foundation year courses are pass/no credit. After the first year, some departments give letter grades and other departments give pass/no credit, depending on which system best serves the department's goals.
Departments that use letter grades:
- Art Education
- Art History
- Communication Design
- Environmental Design
- Liberal Arts
Departments that use pass/no credit:
- Fine Arts 2D
- Fine Arts 3D
- Media and Performing Arts
- Studio Foundation
Students in pass/no credit courses may request a written explanation of their performance in the class from their instructor by obtaining a Grade Clarification form from the Continuing Education office before the class ends. The form is kept on file. Students may request a copy of this form to be sent with their transcripts.
Courses taken for no credit do not appear on the transcript.
Independent Study
Students may apply for a 3-credit independent study if the desired course is not being offered. The student must develop a proposal in consultation with a faculty advisor and include a description of the project and proposed schedule of meetings. Proposals for independent studies must be submitted to the Continuing Education office in the first two weeks of the semester. Signature of the faculty member and approval of the Dean of Professional and Continuing Education are required before instruction and work may begin.
Transfer of Credit
Students who wish to transfer credits to another institution or to the MassArt BFA program are advised to consult with their registrar or dean prior to enrollment. Students accepted to Massachusetts College of Art and Design are placed in studio courses based on the strength of their application portfolios. Courses taken through the Continuing Education program at MassArt are subject to transfer credit review and restrictions.
Transcripts
Official transcripts are available for $10 each; unofficial for $5. Transcripts take two to five days to process.
Financial Aid Resources
Continuing Education Loans
Currently no banking institutions are offering loans for Continuing Education courses.
Financial Aid
If you are enrolled in a Certificate or Degree Program, you may be eligible for financial aid when registered for six or more credits during the semester. For federal financial aid information, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Tuition Waivers
Please note that Continuing Education, Certificate, and Graduate courses and programs are not state supported. If you believe you are eligible for a tuition waiver, please submit documentation of the applicable tuition waiver such as a completed and signed tuition waiver form to the PCE or Graduate Program office for review. Waivers are space available only.