Online Courses FAQ

Course Advisement

• Q. Who should take an Online Course?
  A.

  Students join our online courses for a variety of reasons and come from diverse backgrounds, professions, and age groups. With online courses, you can

  • Advance your skill-set or begin a career change.
  • Take the next step in your formal education.
  • Ease the transition before entering a full-time academic program.
  • Enjoy learning a new topic.

  Whatever the reason, our online courses are a flexible way of learning about the art world without disrupting your daily life.

• Q. How do I select a course?
  A.

  Visit the course catalog to browse our offerings. In addition to searching by course duration and availability, you can also search by subject to ensure you find a course that reflects your interests. Though it is not required, we encourage those who have not studied art before to consider taking an art history course first to get a solid grounding in the discipline before exploring more specific disciplines. Our art history courses are the perfect first step before moving on to art market courses.

   

  Personal Course Advisement

  Still not sure what course is right for you? Feel free to contact us at online@sothebysinstitute.com with some information on your background and what you hope to learn. We can then provide some personalized course advisement.

• Q. Are there prerequisites or language requirements?
  A.

  There are no prerequisites. Our courses are open to students of all backgrounds who are 18 years of age and older.
  All courses are conducted in English. Video lectures include English subtitles and the option to slow-down, pause, or replay lectures for better retention. Discussion boards are a critical component of each of our courses; therefore, we suggest students have a conversational knowledge of English when pursuing a Certificate of Completion. For any of the art writing courses, students need to be 100% proficient in written English.

• Q. I am a high school student, can I join?
  A.

  Courses are open to all students 18 years or older. If you are under 18 years old, please contact us (online@sothebysinstitute.com) to discuss further.

• Q. Can I take more than one course at a time?
  A.

  If you are new to online learning, we recommend that you begin with one course. As our courses are offered frequently throughout the year, you can always come back and continue your studies with one or more topics.

• Q. What should I do if I need to start the course late?
  A.

  It is recommended that you begin your course promptly. If you do need to start the course a few days late, contact your instructor as soon as possible after the course has opened to discuss your options. Registration closes on the Friday after the course begins.

Registration Process & Financial Considerations

• Q. How do I register?
  A.

  Registration is available on our website. Just follow these simple steps:

  1. Click the “Apply Now” button in the top right corner of your screen.
  2. Select “Online Courses.”
  3. Choose your course(s).
  4. You will be asked for basic contact information and your credit card payment. We require full payment at the time of registration and all tuition is billed in US dollars. Be sure to check with your bank or credit card company, as your financial institution may charge a foreign transaction fee.
• Q. When should I register?
  A.

  Most courses are offered at least 3 times during the year. Certain courses can fill up quickly, so be sure to register early.

• Q. My payment did not go through. What do I do?
  A.

  We apologize for this inconvenience. We encourage you to reach out to your financial institution as further permissions may be needed to complete the payment. You are also welcome to write to online@sothebysinstitute.com for further guidance. Please wait a full 24 hours before trying again. A strong Internet connection and up-to-date browser are strongly recommended.

• Q. Do you provide financial assistance or payment plans?
  A.

  As noncredit courses, our online courses are not eligible for state or federal financial aid. Some students seek professional development support from their employer or from external scholarships. In the United States, fees paid for professional development are deductible from your personal income taxes to the extent permitted by current law.

  While we do not offer automatic payment plans at this time, please reach out to online@sia.edu to discuss payment alternatives, such as wire transfers.

• Q. Can I get a refund if I am unable to attend my Online Course?
  A.

  In order to be granted a full tuition refund, you must cancel your registration by sending an email to online@sothebysinstitute.com by 5:00 pm (your local time) 5 full business days before the course’s start date.  Please note we are unable to reimburse for any currency conversion fees charged by your credit-card issuer.

• Q. What are your Terms and Conditions?
  A.

  Visit our Terms and Conditions page for details.

• Q. I am registered. Now what?
  A.

  • You will receive a confirmation email with information on when and how you can access your course. Check the details.
  • Two weeks before the course begins, you will be given access to the SIA Online Community, a learning and networking space. This space provides you with guides and tools for successful online learning, and gives you an opportunity to introduce yourself to fellow students from across the globe.

  • Visit our How It Works page to learn more about the online experience.
  • Read about our online students’ experiences on our Student Stories page.

How It Works – The Online Learning Experience

• Q. How do I access my course?
  A.

  Canvas, our online learning platform, will become available to you two weeks before your course start date. At that time, Canvas is accessed by clicking on the "Students & Alumni" tab in the top right-hand corner of wwwhttps://sothebysinstitute.com and selecting "Canvas Login." You will log in with the email and password created at the time of registration. If you have registered less than two weeks before your course begins, Canvas is available to you within 24 hours of course booking.

• Q. How long is my course?
  A.

  We currently offer 4-week, 6-week, and 8-week courses. Check the course dates listed online prior to registration.

  • For a 4-week or 6-week course, you can expect to spend 5-7 hours a week reviewing and completing the course material.
  • For an 8-week course, you can expect to spend 8-10 hours a week reviewing and completing the course material.

  You will also have read-only access to your course in Canvas for 90 days after its conclusion to review the course materials at your leisure.

• Q. How many students are in a course? Who will be my classmates?
  A.

  Our classes are kept small, at no more than 30 students, to better facilitate and encourage personalized interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. Your classmates come from all over the globe and contribute their global perspectives and experience. Some are currently working within the arts while others are just beginning. All classmates share in their passion for the art world.

• Q. How does Online Learning work?
  A.

  Our How It Works page provides more information on what the online experience is and how you can expect to interact with your course. You can also read about our online students’ experiences on our Student Stories page.

• Q. Do I need specific equipment to take Online Courses?
  A.

  You should have an up-to-date web browser such as: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. For more detailed information, please see the guides for supported browsers and basic computer specifications. 

  Our Online Courses can be accessed on a mobile or tablet device, although we strongly encourage you to have access to a desktop or laptop computer and reliable internet connection for certain course components. Former students have told us it is easiest to read discussion threads and complete written assignments on a laptop or desktop computer.

• Q. How do I contact technical support during my course?
  A.

  For technical support, please email online.support@sothebysinstitute.com, 09:00 – 22:00 GMT, Monday – Friday. We are ready to help!

• Q. Is there an orientation for online students?
  A.

  Two weeks before your course starts you will be invited to join the SIA Online Community where our guides will introduce you to the technology and dynamics of online teaching and learning. It also gives you a chance to introduce yourself and network with fellow students.
  Should you have any questions or need help troubleshooting a piece of technology, our Online Team is only an email away and is ready to assist.

• Q. When and how often will my course meet?
  A.

  There is no set class time as your course can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We recommend logging on 3 - 4 times a week for two hours or more to stay engaged with the class discussion boards and the course materials, as well as to communicate with your instructor.

• Q. What should I do if I’m away for a few days?
  A.

  Please inform your instructor. Make every effort to continue working on the course while you’re away. It is important that you contact your instructor as soon as possible to determine what, if any, arrangements can be made for your situation.

• Q. Do I need to buy textbooks?
  A.

  All the reading materials you are required to access are included with your course. Instructors may provide recommended and suggested texts for further exploration.

Course Completion

• Q. I completed my course! Now what?
  A.

  Well done! If you’re enrolled in a flexible course, you will have 90 days of read-only access to revisit and reflect on the course material. If you’re enrolled in a Live course, you will have 30 days of read-only access.

  Get your certificate: When you successfully complete an Online Course, you are eligible to receive a digital certificate of completion. We encourage you to review your instructor’s syllabus to understand the Certificate of Completion requirements for your course. These requirements often include the following:

  • Active participation in the majority of discussion boards
  • Timely submission of all assignments

  Most courses have 1-2 short written assignments, but it can vary and it is important for you to follow -up with your instructor early in the course should you have any questions or concerns regarding your eligibility or the requirements.  Certificates of Completion are delivered to the email used at the time of registration, and can be expected no later than 3 weeks after the course ends. These digital verified credentials allow you to present a trustworthy record of your learning to anyone at any time.  

  Our certificate platform, Accredible, permits you to share your achievement on various social media platforms, embed it on your website, and add it to your LinkedIn profile.

• Q. Can I audit an Online Course?
  A.

  As a continuing education student, it is your decision how you participate in the course. Those who plan to audit the course and not receive a certificate of completion should send a message to the instructor at the start of the course so they understand your goals.

• Q. Can I put my Online Course(s) toward a professional certificate or degree program?
  A.

  Online Courses are intended to deepen your knowledge of a particular field, but cannot be formally applied as credits to other institutions or the Sotheby’s Institute MA degree.

• Q. How can Online Courses bolster my career options?
  A.

  Sotheby’s Institute of Art Online Courses demonstrate to future employers that you have current knowledge of art world topics, provided by a trusted institution and art world leader. Including Online Courses on your resume, posting your Certificate of Completion to your online profiles such as LinkedIn, and staying connected with your classmates to network are powerful ways to continue leveraging your experience long after your course has ended.

• Q. Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
  A.

  You can contact the Online Team at online@sothebysinstitute.com or at +1 212-897-6644.