FAA Summer Intensive

July 13–19, 2025

At this immersive, weeklong program, each high school student selects a track for the week. Students stay in our state-of-the-art residence halls, and the tracks run 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday. Current College of Fine and Applied Arts faculty members, graduate students, and recent alums teach classes. Participants also join in evening activities such as bowling, movies on the Quad, exploring campus, scavenger hunts, and museum trips.

Apply by April 1, 2025, for full consideration. The application fee is $50. We encourage you to apply early since space is limited.

The application opens on February 1, 2025.

Apply Online Now

FAA Summer Intensive Tracks

Acting

Comic Illustration

Dance Intensive

Fashion

Graphic Design

Photography

Studio Art: Painting & Drawing

Theatre Tech & Design

Acting

Acting & Improv

Students will participate in rigorous acting, voice and speech, movement, and scene study classes to learn the art of acting for the stage. Students will also explore improvisation and learn techniques through coaching and warm-up exercises that will build confidence and improve theatrical performance skills.

Comic Illustration

My World of Comics

My World of Comics is a weeklong comic making class where you will explore a few basic comic skills. Each day you will focus on one to two fundamental elements of the craft: writing, drawing, inking, coloring, lettering, prepress, and printing. This will be an exciting class for all skill levels. We will also have guest speakers. Let’s have fun making comics together.

Dance Intensive

African, Ballet, Hip-Hop & Modern Dance

In this track, teens will join the faculty and students of one of the strongest and oldest dance programs in the country. Students will be immersed in intense technical training in various styles and forms including modern dance, ballet, African dance, and hip-hop.

Fashion

Fashion Design

Ever wondered what the steps are between a fashion designer having an idea for a creation and it finding its way to a shopping center near you? In Fashion Design, you will take on the role of fashion designer, learning the basics of design, construction, and sewing to make your very own one-of-a-kind avant garde ensemble using existing clothing as raw material. Make it work, and create a runway-worthy fit!

Graphic Design

Description coming soon!

Photography

Photography is a primary form of communication. In this course students will explore fundamental facets including technical dimensions like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO; aesthetic dimensions like composition, color theory, and lighting; and conceptual dimensions like narrative strategies, emotional affect, and critical analysis. Each day we will work with a different photographic process through individual projects, discussions, viewings, and field trips. Students will be encouraged to apply the skills worked on in the course to their personal projects beyond the course.

Studio Art: Painting & Drawing

Students will create a series of works on paper based on individualized themes, inspired by contemporary artists and art making. Repetition of subject matter and media will lead to a final series of explorations that consider compositional emphasis and layering of materials. Students will be exposed to and encouraged to explore a variety of media—watercolor, ink, acrylic, charcoal, and graphite—to experiment with scale, interpretation, grouping, and presentation.

Theatre Tech & Design

Design, Technology & Management for the Theatre

Experience Illinois Theatre backstage and beyond! Students will explore what it means to work behind the scenes in theatre. Learn the skills and techniques you need to successfully put up a show. Gain hands-on experience in a variety of theatrical jobs including scenic/props design and technology, costume design, lighting design and technology, sound design, and stage management.

Please note: Course descriptions are subject to change. Courses may have an additional course fee or required supplies.

Other Features

Portfolio Counseling

Students are encouraged to bring their portfolios for informal feedback from Summer Intensive instructors and FAA faculty members.

Audition and Portfolio Tips

Faculty and staff members from the School of Art and Design, Dance at Illinois, and Illinois Theatre will offer sessions focused on portfolio tips and audition preparation.

Instruction

Current FAA faculty members and graduate students will teach all the tracks. These enthusiastic artists and educators are dedicated to providing a profoundly satisfying experience that represents what it’s like to live, work, and study at FAA.

Housing and Meals

Students staying on campus during the FAA Summer Intensive will spend the week in shared rooms in University of Illinois residence halls. Each room is furnished with beds, desks, and dressers. Students must provide their own linens and will have access to laundry facilities. Housing is staffed and supervised by resident advisors and FAA Summer Intensive counselors. The FAA Summer Intensive has a 10:1 student-to-counselor ratio in the residence halls. Resident advisors are currently enrolled University of Illinois students trained in community building, problem solving, and emergency procedures.

Those staying in the residence halls are automatically enrolled in a plan that includes three meals per day served in the dining halls. Commuter students are automatically enrolled in a meal plan that includes Sunday dinner and lunch and dinner only Monday–Friday.

A nightly room check of 10 p.m. is strictly enforced.

Fees

Program deposit with application: $50 (nonrefundable)

Residential program fee: $900 (includes instruction, housing, and meals)

Commuter program fee: $500 (includes instruction plus lunch and dinner Monday–Friday)

Additional Expenses

Course Supplies

Upon acceptance, students may receive a course supply list. Supply costs range from $20 to $60 and vary by course.

Spending Money

Although it’s not required, a student may appreciate having access to $50 in spending money for the week on campus. Teens especially enjoy shopping at the Illini Union Bookstore for Illinois attire.

Scholarships

Several scholarships will be awarded during the Discover FAA High School Competition.

Applying

Eligibility

Students must have completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior year of high school by summer 2025. Teens at all ability levels are invited to apply.

Placement

Early application to the program is encouraged, as students are placed in specific tracks on a first-come, first-served basis. Although every effort will be made to assign applicants to their first or second choices, placements cannot be guaranteed.

Application Process

  1. The application deadline is April 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted after April 1 if space is available. The $50 application fee must accompany the application to secure space in classes.
  2. International students must prove competency in the English language at the time of application by submitting TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS scores or a supporting letter from a school counselor or English teacher.
  3. Applicants will be notified of their admission status on a rolling basis beginning in April 2025 and will be assigned to their track on a first-come, first-served basis.
  4. Submit the program fee no later than May 15, 2025, unless otherwise approved. Any accepted student who has not paid the program fee by May 15 will be dropped from all courses. Contact Brenda Williams-Cannon at wllmscn2@illinois.edu to create a payment plan.

The application opens on February 1, 2025.

Apply Today!

COVID-19 Policy

All University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign summer programs must adhere to COVID-19 operating and safety protocols.

Refund Policy

All withdrawals must be requested in writing. The postmark date or email date will be honored as the withdrawal date.

  • Withdrawal before May 20, 2025: 100 percent refund minus $50 nonrefundable application fee
  • Withdrawal after May 20, 2025: 50 percent refund minus $50 nonrefundable application fee
  • Withdrawal after June 1, 2025: No refund

If a student is asked to leave the program for violations of school policies or regulations, no refund will be issued.

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