Sessions College for Professional Design

What is the history of Sessions College for Professional Design?

Sessions College for Professional Design was founded in 1997 and developed around teaching creative skills at a distance. Its history helps explain why its Tempe, Arizona, address does not correspond to a conventional residential campus: online instruction is central to the college's identity.

Sessions has expanded from shorter-form design training to undergraduate degree and certificate study. Its continuing focus is professional design rather than a broad liberal-arts curriculum. Prospective students comparing older descriptions of the college with current offerings should use the current catalog to confirm which credentials and specializations are open for enrollment.

What are the faculties and departments at Sessions College for Professional Design?

Sessions College is a specialized design institution, not a university organized into multiple colleges or professional schools. Its academic offerings center on visual communication and related creative fields.

Program areas have included graphic design, illustration, web design, digital media, and photography. Depending on the field, students may find degree or certificate options; the credential attached to a subject matters because programs can differ substantially in length, general-education requirements, and transferability. Applicants should compare the current catalog's course sequence, software requirements, and final portfolio expectations for the specific program they want.

Reported staffing includes 23 full-time and 28 part-time faculty members. Those institution-wide counts do not indicate how many instructors teach in a particular program or whether an individual course will be available in a given term.

What is the location of Sessions College for Professional Design?

Sessions College is based in Tempe, Arizona, in the Phoenix metropolitan area, but its online format means most students need not relocate or commute there for ordinary coursework. A Tempe mailing address should not be mistaken for a residential campus experience.

For a remote student, location may matter more for administrative matters than for daily attendance. Time-zone differences, access to required design software and equipment, and the ability to participate in scheduled instructor interactions are more practical considerations. Applicants considering any in-person visit should confirm the purpose and availability of services at the Tempe location before making travel plans.

What is the mission and vision of Sessions College for Professional Design?

Sessions College's stated educational purpose is to provide career-oriented design education through online learning. Its emphasis on developing creative and technical skills is reflected in its specialized programs rather than a wide selection of unrelated majors.

That purpose is an institutional aim, not evidence that every student will obtain design work or a particular income. Prospective students can assess how the approach fits their goals by examining actual assignments, opportunities for instructor feedback, portfolio requirements, and the balance between independent work and scheduled interaction. A student seeking studios, campus exhibitions, or frequent face-to-face instruction should distinguish those preferences from what an online program is designed to provide.