Natural Science Illustration Program

Certificate Program Requirements

Students who would like to pursue a Certificate in Natural Science Illustration may announce their intention to seek the certificate at any time during their tenure in the program. To earn the certificate, a student must satisfactorily complete a total of 336 course hours. This includes the 10 core courses below (240 hours), a minimum of 93 additional hours of elective courses, and a 3-hour consultation for the final portfolio requirement.

Successful completion of courses for certification credit is based on in-class exercises, critiques, and final project evaluations.  Certificate students must complete a final project demonstrating proficiency for each course taken.

Required Core Courses

• Drawing I
• Drawing II
• Pen and Ink I
• Composition and Design
• Colored Pencil I
• Watercolor I
• Vertebrate Anatomy
• Plant Morphology
• Marketing for Illustrators
• Introduction to Adobe Photoshop for Natural Science Illustrators

Sample Elective Courses

• Colored Pencil II
• Watercolor II
• Insects Writ Large
• Field Sketching
• Botanical Illustration

After completing all course work, students seeking the certificate will register for Portfolio Development. In this one-to-one consultation with an NSI instructor, a student will define final portfolio goals to produce 6 new works in a medium and theme that represent their strongest skills. The student also submits an artist’s statement with the final portfolio.

The new works in the completed portfolio are reviewed by a committee of NSI program instructors. Professionals in an allied scientific or artistic field may also review the work. This assessment is made on the student’s artistic skills and knowledge of the subject(s) as expressed in the accompanying artist’s statement. A certificate of completion is awarded after approval of the submitted portfolio. Certificate awardees will have created a professional portfolio that reflects their training under experienced professional artists with certification by the Yale Peabody Museum.

The course work for a Certificate in Natural Science Illustration can usually be completed in 2 to 3 years. At current rates, a student can expect to pay approximately $7,000 in registration fees to complete the minimum number of courses required for the certificate. Art supplies and incidentals are additional.

Enrollment Eligibility

• Courses are designed for adults. All participants must be at least 18 years of age. There will be no exceptions.

Course Prerequisites

• Courses numbered 200 and above require Course 101 Drawing I as a prerequisite. Check individual course descriptions for additional prerequisites.

Location of Classes and Course Information

• Classes are currently offered online via Zoom and also in-person at the Peabody Museum’s Education Center at Yale’s West Campus in Orange, CT. Please refer to the course description for location information.

Cancellations & Course Changes

• Courses may be canceled for low enrollment or for any other reason. Registrants will be refunded 100% of the course fee or can receive credit toward a future course.
• The Yale Peabody Museum reserves the right to reschedule courses, withdraw or modify a course, and substitute instructors at its sole discretion. The Museum will make every effort to notify students of such changes in advance.
• In case of class cancellations because of inclement weather, the instructor will make every effort to contact students by email or phone in a timely manner. However, it is the registrant’s responsibility to check with the instructor to confirm whether a class will meet. Instructor contact information is provided to enrolled students before the first class of each course.

Registration & Payment

• Register and pay for courses using our online form. Contact us with any questions about registration and payment.

Refunds

• Students who withdraw from a class or workshop up to 30 days before the first class are eligible for a full refund. Students who withdraw up to 14 days before the first class are eligible for a credit provided their spot is filled by another student and the course runs. Withdrawals within 14 days of the start of the course will forfeit the registration fee. Consideration will be given to those with a written medical excuse or in the case of other extraordinary circumstances, as determined by YPM staff.

Reproduction Rights

• On registration, the Yale Peabody Museum requests permission to photograph both the student’s image or likeness and the student’s artwork created in each course, along with the rights to reproduce these for educational and publicity purposes. The Yale Peabody Museum will not use such images if the student does not grant permission.