Art, Design & Performing Arts
Preparing for a career in a creativity-driven field will not only open your eyes to
how many products, markets and jobs rely on imagination, but will help you become
more inventive yourself. By studying the arts, you will learn about new cultures,
different forms of expression and using different methods to communicate ideas to
an audience.
Harper College provides easily transferable credit courses that combine creative courses
and first-hand learning opportunities. Programs include Art and Design, Architecture
Studies, Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Graphic Arts Technology, Interior
Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Web Development.

Share your talents through Harper’s numerous performance and exhibit spaces, events, publications, and contests.
Learn from highly trained faculty in a supportive, constructive environment. Our student to teacher ratio is 19:1.
Explore our programs
Harper College offers a number of art, design, and performing arts career and transfer programs. To get started, select one of the program areas below:
Interested in another subject? If you are interested in transferring to study an art-related subject not listed here, please meet with an academic advisor to learn what courses to take to meet your academic goals.
To get started in taking art, design and performing arts courses, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, submit a request information form, or submit an online application now.
Latest News
Find out what's happening in the arts, design and performing arts at Harper College.

Imagine: Harper College Fashion Show Spring 2020 Review
Harper College Fashion Design students share their work through "Imagine," the 2020 Fashion Show Spring Review. ... Watch the Video

2019 HOPE Giving Circle Recipient: Oyinkansola "Sol" Akinola
"I am determined to cultivate my own ethical and sustainable channel of production, focusing on the betterment of women of color.” - Oyikansola "Sol" Akinola... Watch the Video

New Makerspace and Entrepreneur Center bringing ideas to life
Harper College’s new Makerspace and Entrepreneur Center aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, inventors and engineers to pursue their creative passions and bring their ideas to life by building a vibrant and... Watch the Video

HOPE Giving Circle hits $100,000 milestone
The Harper College Educational Foundation's HOPE Giving Circle at a reception last week awarded $10,000 scholarships to four deserving students, bringing the total amount awarded to $100,000 for 10 young women since the... Watch the Video

Harper alumna makes her mark in the world of fashion
For Harper College fashion program alumna Kim Scanlan, the road to fashion designer began when her Girl Scout troop visited Harper’s fashion department. ... Watch the Video

Darren Buchanan, Scholarship Recipient
Darren Buchanan is the recipient of the 2016-2017 Gap Fashion Scholarship Fund and the 2016-2017 Marilyn Shiely Coste Memorial Endowed Scholarship. ... Watch the Video

Betty Gialdini, Founder of Harper's Fashion Design Program
When Betty Giladini approached Harper College's founding president Dr. Lahti about starting a fashion design program, he merely smiled and said "get started." Learn more about Betty's journey and the impact her dedication had on... Watch the Video

Harper student wins prestigious Gilman study abroad scholarship
Fashion studies student and Gilman Scholarship recipient Teagan Schirmbeck will hone her skills at one of the United Kingdom’s finest institutions for her field. In the spring, she'll head to Galashiels, Scotland, to study... Watch the Video
To get started in taking art, design and performing arts courses, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, submit a request information form, or submit an online application now.