ADULT PROGRAM

The Adult Program is a course of study that provides adults and interested artists over the age of 25 with the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in fine arts with a concentration in Graphic Arts, Art Education, Sculpture, Image and Design, Industrial Design and Painting. Students are offered several special mechanisms which, among other things, include an andragogic approach, a specialized schedule and Academic Calendar, non-traditional instructional modalities such as validation or proficiency tests, electronic mentoring, the use of portfolios, and independent study.


Academic Calendar

The Adult Program academic year consists of four nine-week terms. Every year the Program publishes an Academic Calendar with key dates for each term. The Adult Program Academic Calendar shows the holidays on which there will be no classes: Discovery of America and Puerto Rico, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 to January 6, and Thursday and Friday of Holy Week.

Traditional accelerated General Studies courses will meet once a week for four hours in the evening from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., or on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, 12 hours will be devoted to independent work to complete 48 hours. Traditional accelerated workshop courses in Graphic Arts, Industrial Design, Sculpture, Image and Design, and Painting meettwice a week, in the evening, or on Saturdays, for a total of 58.5 contact hours. Additional hours are covered in independent course work. Some of these courses require two trimesters due to the nature of the subject matter.

This structure allows students to enroll in four sessions a year. In each session students may enroll in up to a maximum of three courses under the accelerated or independent study instructional modalities.


Instructional Modalities
The Adult Program offers courses under the following instructional modalities:

A. Portfolio workshop/studio classes
Students may submit a portfolio to demonstrate mastery of the techniques for the course in question.

B. Equivalence test (for a theory course)
Students may request an examination that will allow them to demonstrate knowledge of the course subject matter, without a need for classroom attendance. In the case of workshop/studio courses, students will be examined through exercises to demonstrate mastery of skills.

C. Traditional accelerated course
Students attend classes or workshop/studios for a given number of contact hours, depending on the nature of the course. The course requirements in terms of hours will be met through electronic mentoring, study guides, and other mechanisms.

D. Independent study
Classes are by agreement using electronic mentoring, study guides, and other mechanisms.


Students who wish to challenge courses through a portfolio and/or equivalence examinations shall fulfill the requirements of the SuperArte Program set forth in the document titled "Definition, conditions and procedure for challenging credits through examination or submitting a portfolio".


Admission
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas accepts application for admission to the Adult Program twice a year: in December and in the summer.


Application for Admission
Submit the application on or before the Admissions Seminar or submitting the portfolio. The following documents shall be submitted along with the application for admission:

  • Highest diploma or degree completed
  • Credit transcript (if the student has college-level credits) along with the degree conferred or credits currently in effect or expired credits. The Escuela reserves the right to validate credits, whether expired or not.
  • Certificates or diplomas for art courses or seminars.
  • Postal money order or certified check made out to the Secretario de Hacienda (Secretary of the Treasury Department) in the amount of $20.00.

Special Admission Requirements

All applicants to the Adult Program shall submit a Portfolio or enroll in the Admissions Seminar. The Escuela de Artes Plásticas offers the evaluation of the Portfolio and the Admissions Seminar for the Adult Program twice a year. Students in this Program shall attend an orientation session on workshop safety.


Portfolio

Recommended for students with experience in the arts. To be admitted, students shall submit a minimum of 10 creative works. The portfolio reflects interests, concepts, creativity, energy, and motivation, as well as his or her previous experience in visual arts.

Admissions Seminar

Recommended for students who have less experience in the arts and need to acquire essential skills in order to pursue studies at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. Students will develop a portfolio during the Seminar, which is offered twice a year.


Interview and Essay

The Escuela interviews all applicants for admission. In addition, applicants are asked to write a short essay which is evaluated by the Admissions Committee.


CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS


Adult Program Students

Candidates for a degree at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. Includes new, transfer, and readmitted students at the Regular Program. Students enroll in a maximum of three courses a term and shall be enrolled for at least two of the four terms. The current rule regarding the time for completion of the bachelor's degree is applicable. The Chancellor may grant special permission for an adult student to enroll in more than three courses a term.


Open Study Students at the Adult Program

Requirements as stated in the Catalogue for the Adult Program


Validation

  1. EAP validation policy is followed.
  2. The Escuela reserves the right to validate courses, whether expired or not, and to administer equivalence examinations.
  3. A minimum 72 credits must be taken at the Escuela to complete the degree.

Attendance

  1. Class attendance is compulsory. Students with three (3) unjustified absences, or the equivalent in class hours, will obtain a grade of "F".

Grades during the fourth week of classes

  1. During the fourth week of each term, faculty members will inform the student and the Registrar's Office the grade each student has up to that time.

Readmissions

  1. Adult students who have not enrolled for three consecutive terms must apply for readmission.

Statement of Concentration

Adult students must state their concentration on completion of the first term of enrollment.


New class schedule for the Adult Program

The Academic Council of the Escuela de Artes Plásticas decided to increase the contact hours of the studio classes of the Adult Program, to be effective January 2007. The Council decided to add 2 additional contact hours per week, to be scheduled so as to allow students to take the maximum number of credits each term and complete the bachelor's degree in 4 years.

Students who were admitted to the Adult Program before January 2007 can ask to be exempt from taking the 2 additional hours in the studio courses. At any time, after requesting to be exempt from these additional contact hours, students can accept the new class schedule.

Students who accept the new class schedule must sign an acceptance form and cannot afterwards request exemption from the additional studio contact hours.

The new class schedule applies to all open study students of the Adult Program.