You don’t have to go back to school to stay ahead of the curve. Professional Studio is MICA’s new hub for advanced upskilling—built for designers, artists, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs who need flexible, applied learning in areas driving the creative economy.
Introducing the Professional Studio inaugural classes below.
Explore how culinary aesthetics, optics, and lighting come together to create striking stills and short-form content for editorial, commercial, and digital platforms.
🗓 Oct 26 – Dec 20, 2025 | 8 Weeks | Asynchronous
👤 Instructor: Joe Lavine, professional food photographer
Bring your ideas to life faster. Harness AI-powered tools to brainstorm, create, and refine 3D assets for gaming and immersive media.
🗓 Oct 26 – Dec 20, 2025 | 8 Weeks | Asynchronous
👤 Instructor: Alex Lucas, 3D Character Artist
Flexible, asynchronous courses designed for busy professionals, so you can balance work and study.
Courses are taught by experienced professionals working at the forefront of their fields, connecting you to real industry insight.
Master in-demand creative and digital skills that align with new opportunities in the creative economy.
For nearly two centuries, MICA has shaped culture and industry as one of the most influential art and design hubs in the United States. Now, through Professional Studio, we’re extending that expertise to creative professionals who want career-relevant learning—without the long-term academic commitment.
When you learn with us, you’re joining a network of creatives who are pushing boundaries in design, media, gaming, and storytelling across the globe.
MICA alumni have landed internships, jobs, and competitive freelance assignments at leading studios and companies worldwide:
An asynchronous class doesn’t meet on a set day or time. Instead, you complete the course on your own schedule within the overall dates. For example, if the class runs from October 1 to December 1, you’ll move through weekly modules with deadlines within each seven-day cycle. You can submit work at any time of day—early morning, late evening, or whenever works best for you—as long as you meet the posted due dates. The instructor is actively involved throughout the course. They log in several times each week to answer questions, give feedback, grade assignments, and guide you. Lessons and assignments are pre-loaded, so you can see what’s ahead and plan your work using the Canvas calendar.
Via Canvas, MICA’s virtual learning environment. The link is available on the MyMica portal at mica.edu/mymica
Once enrolled, you will receive a MICA email with a link to your Student Getting Started Guide. Please check the email that you used to register for the course or workshop. To note: The email you receive once you are enrolled will also include login instructions to access tools and software necessary for your class such as Canvas, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zoom, and Google Drive.
Reach out to MICA’s Help desk at help@mica.edu.
Note that you must be registered and enrolled in the class to receive login information.
Yes, payment plans are available!
Please contact MICA’s Office of Enrollment Services for more information and to set this up: (410) 225-2234 or enrollmentservices@mica.edu
This varies depending on the type of course you choose. Our courses vary in length and format, from short workshops to more in-depth programs. Check the course description to see if yours includes a certificate.
We’d love to meet with you to help you figure out if Professional Studio is the right fit! Connect with MICA’s Graduate Admission Counselor by scheduling a chat.
Our courses are designed to deliver high-impact learning experiences, and we hope you’ll find them both practical and engaging. However, if you decide a course isn’t the right fit, you can fill out this form to drop the course you are enrolled in. Then, submit a written request for a refund to openstudies@mica.edu, including your full name and course information, before the start of the second class.