The Barnes–de Mazia Certificate Program

About the Program

This special track offers a deep immersion in the Barnes Method alongside an introduction to other interpretive approaches to art.

The Barnes–de Mazia Certificate Program is designed for anyone seeking a structured, rigorous learning experience in the arts or a respected credential that reflects sustained engagement with visual analysis and interpretation. The program is equally suited for those pursuing professional development or personal enrichment. A college degree is not required, and many participants who hold degrees completed them in fields outside the arts.

The program is intentionally flexible. Students may complete the certificate at their own pace, with no fixed deadline and no required course order. Those who take one course per semester can earn the certificate in approximately two years, though some students choose to take multiple courses at once and finish sooner. The certificate can be completed on-site, online, or through a combination of both formats.

Required Barnes Method Courses

The Elements of Art—The Barnes Method
Understanding the fundamentals of visual language can transform how you experience art. This course explores the building blocks of artistic expression—color, light, line, and space—through close looking and guided discussion of works in the Barnes collection. This object-based approach encourages connections between artworks and the visual world we encounter every day. Ideal for beginners and experienced learners alike, the course helps students recognize how artists communicate ideas through formal choices.

The Traditions of Art—The Barnes Method
Art serves as a visual record of how artists have perceived and responded to the world across time. This course examines key developments in painting and sculpture in Western Europe while also considering older artistic traditions from Africa and Asia. Students consider how artists—including modernists of the 19th and 20th centuries—learned from and reinterpreted earlier traditions.

Collection Concentration—The Barnes Method
This course focuses intensively on the Barnes collection, with topics ranging from individual artists like Renoir or Cézanne to broader themes including modernism, impressionism, or the Barnes’s distinctive ensembles.

The three Barnes Method courses are offered on a rotating basis. Each semester, at least one course is available online via the Barnes’s Visual Experience Platform (VXP), and at least one is offered on-site in the galleries. These 14-week courses meet weekly for three hours each session. Certificate students complete three to four written assignments (depending on the course) and a final written project. While live participation in online sessions is strongly encouraged, asynchronous options are available when needed.

Students may declare their intent to pursue the certificate while enrolled in any of the three Barnes Method semester courses.

Additional Required Courses

In addition to the Barnes Method courses, certificate students must complete three four-week courses outside that category.

These shorter courses introduce other interpretive approaches to art and explore topics related to special exhibitions, artists’ materials and techniques, and the political, social, and cultural contexts in which artworks were created. Offered at varied times throughout the year, these courses typically do not include formal assignments.

Tuition

Prices are subject to change. Current rates are as follows:

On-site courses
• 14-week courses: $600 ($540 for members)
• 4-week courses: $250 ($225 for members)

Online courses
• 14-week courses: $550 ($495 for members)
• 4-week courses: $220 ($198 for members)

Have questions? Email us for more information.

Barnes–de Mazia Certificate Program Scholarships

Scholarships for the certificate program are offered in the fall and spring. Applicants submit a written statement describing their interest in pursuing the two-year certificate, along with a letter of support from a mentor, former teacher, supervisor, or colleague. Students awarded a two-year certificate scholarship are automatically enrolled in the required courses each semester.

It is also possible to apply for individual class scholarships and complete the certificate by applying each semester.

Learn more about scholarships at the Barnes, then apply for a class or certificate scholarship.

Sponsors

The Barnes is grateful for the support that established the Violette de Mazia Scholarship Program as well as the generous contributions that sustain this program.

The Barnes–de Mazia Adult Education Program and scholarships from the Richard J. Wattenmaker Scholarship Fund are made possible in part by Betsy Z. and Edward E. Cohen. Endowment support is provided by the Julia B. Spears Education Fund, with additional support from the Frederick J. Rosenau Foundation, Joanne and Joseph Noreika Family, and other generous individuals.

What Our Students Say

“I have completed all three Barnes Method semester classes and found them well worth the time and cost. I found them informative as well as inspiring. The trend in museums nowadays seems to be so heavily, and sometimes solely, focused on concepts and causes [that] aesthetics and craftsmanship [are ignored]. It was refreshing to look at and discuss works for their aesthetic purpose and merit.” Barnes-de Mazia Certificate Program

“This class opened up a world for me that has deepened my understanding and appreciation of art, both medieval and modern.” Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern

“The instructor, through an impressive teaching ability and deep knowledge of the subject matter, expanded my understanding of art more than I had hoped for.” The Elements of Art

“Fascinating and challenging. I learned so much and am now getting much more out of my encounters with art. I found myself excited to do the homework and to come to class. Loved the in-person format—more opportunity to learn from classmates. Can’t wait for my next class!” The Traditions of Art