Expand Your Make-up Knowledge

MUD students and grads have the opportunity to take individual courses alone, in order to expand a particular area of expertise. Courses can also be taken by individuals in related fields who are trying to build their professional capabilities in their chosen area of employment. MUD offers individual courses during the school day at our Campus in Los Angeles. You may also enroll for individual courses at MUD Studios and MUD Extensions.

Our Individual Courses

Beauty 101: Fundamentals of Beauty Make-up

This course is designed to emphasize the skills and attention to detail required for beauty make-up application for film, high-definition television, print photography, advertising, and retail cosmetics.

It provides instruction on the basics of skin tone matching, highlights and shadows, facial analysis, contouring, color theory, corrective make-up, and proper cosmetic hygiene.

Students are guided through the basics before progressing to creating flawless beauty make-ups or male corrective looks. As part of this course, students will be required to complete projects that range from natural make-up to avant-garde looks.

210 Clock Hours

Beauty 201: Studio Hairstyling For The Make-up Artist

This course concentrates on the basic fundamentals of hairstyling, from simple blow-drying techniques to creating elaborate, period-inspired hairstyles.

Students will learn to create modern styles, as well as edgy and creative hair designs, using hot tools and roller sets.

The course incorporates daily projects and skill-building sessions, to encourage learning by practice. As part of this course, students are required to complete hair and make-up projects, which relate to on-the-job experience.

105 Clock Hours

Beauty 301: Beauty Lab / Portfolio Development

This course prepares students for work in their selected fields of study through a series of challenging, real-world projects.

Students will be required to complete make-up and hairstyle setups on professional models for a series of photo shoots, which are designed to simulate actual working environments.

Each set-up will be captured digitally by a professional photographer for the student to use in his or her portfolio. While students receive lessons on the business of make-up artistry in all courses, this course devotes time to instructing students on website design, resume skills, marketing techniques, and other business acumen necessary to help them succeed in their careers.

77 Clock Hours

Special Make-up Effects 201: Character Make-up

This course focuses on character development, with an emphasis on the fundamental elements of prosthetic application and special make-up effects.

Students will learn the techniques of professional make-up artists and will gain familiarity with traditional make-up, as well as new materials and tools. Students are also shown a variety of special make-up effects skills, including the creation of simulated injuries and aging make-ups and the application of effects like bald caps and facial hair.

At the end of the course, students will design and create a character, which will be captured in a photo shoot.

210 Clock Hours

Special Make-up Effects 301: Lab Techniques

This course is designed to provide instruction in the lab and formulation techniques that are required to create contemporary film and television make-up effects.

Students will learn prosthetic application, with a focus on the details of prosthetic appliance development. The courses guide students through all phases of project conceptualization and prosthetic application, including design, sculpture, molding, formulation of foam latex and gelatin, as well as seaming, painting, and applying prosthetic pieces.

For class projects, students may create original prosthetics or may develop characters inspired by current film and television effects. As part of the course, students will be required to design and create a fully developed prosthetic character, which will be captured in a photo shoot.

210 Clock Hours

Animatronic Character Design and Creation

The Animatronic Character Design and Creation course offers an exciting opportunity for students to delve into the world of animatronics and learn the skills needed to bring lifelike characters to life. This hands-on course combines both modern and traditional techniques to build budget-friendly animatronic characters, employing mechanisms such as cable, RC-style motors, and microcontrollers for precise control of movements.

Throughout the course, students will be introduced to essential tools, materials, and suppliers specific to animatronic design. They will gain a comprehensive understanding of various mechanisms used in animatronics, including eye mechanisms for expressive movements, push-pull mechanisms for controlling eyebrows, lips, and cheek areas, wire lip mechanisms for realistic lip movements, neck mechanisms for lifelike head movements, tail/tentacle movements, and jointed mechanisms for fingers.

In addition to mechanics, students will explore the world of digital design using 3D design programs and harness the power of 3D printing to fabricate custom parts for their animatronic creations. They will create unique characters from scratch using sculpting and mold-making techniques to develop molds for key components of animatronics.

The course places emphasis on the creation of skins and the mechanical structure that underpins animatronic characters. Students will learn various techniques to fabricate realistic and flexible skins, using different materials and textures to achieve desired visual effects. They will also gain hands-on experience in constructing the internal mechanical structure, ensuring seamless integration of mechanisms and optimal functionality.

Furthermore, the course equips students with the skills to puppeteer their animatronic characters effectively for camera performances. They will learn the nuances of timing, movement synchronization, and character expression to bring their creations to life in a captivating and believable manner.

By the end of the course, students will have the knowledge and practical skills necessary to design, build, and puppeteer animatronic characters. Whether their interests lie in film, television, or other creative industries, this course provides a foundation to add animatronic characters to their repertoire.

70 Clock Hours

Summer Beauty Make-up Artistry Workshop for ages 13-18

Ready to turn your love for all things make-up into a reality? Join MUD during the summer for a one-week intensive Beauty workshop where you’ll learn the art of make-up artistry, including how to identify skin tones and find the perfect color match for anyone, plus how to correct and conceal while creating make-up looks that are perfect for special events. This fun, glam intensive will build upon techniques used in fashion and editorial with emphasis on smoky eyes, winged liners and more!

35 Clock Hours

Summer Special Make-up Effects Application Techniques Workshop for ages 13-18

If you can imagine it, we’ll teach you how to create it! This workshop places emphasis on out-of-the-kit make-up effects, such as using highlight and shadow to create realistic and interesting character make-ups. We will provide demonstrations and advanced-level instruction on bullet wounds, bleeding effects, bruising, injury and trauma simulations, teeth staining, mouth effects, and more!

35 Clock Hours

Summer Special Make-up Effects Tech Lab Workshop for ages 13-18

Enrollment in the Tech Lab workshop will help you discover the strengths and advantages of translucen prosthetic materials. Our instructors will guide and demonstrate the production of prosthetic transfer appliances and foamed gelatin appliances using our own formulation of MUD’s Gel-foam Cubex. Create realistic effects through an investigation of sourcing and the study of reference material. Discover the technical and artistic aspects of sculpture and flat mold design, realistic skin textures, casting translucent prosthetic materials and pre-painting injury prosthetics.

35 Clock Hours

Evening Course: Beauty Essentials

Beauty Essentials covers the first 84 hours of Mud’s Beauty 101 and is designed as an introduction to beauty make-up, emphasizing the techniques required today in this multifaceted industry. Regardless of which of these areas students intend to work in, mastery of beauty make-up is a must. In this course, students will start by learning facial analysis, base matching and application, correction, and contours and highlights, with an added focus on eyes and lips. The course finishes with complete make-up applications ranging from full corrective to natural make-up.

84 Clock Hours

Evening Course: Airbrush

The Airbrushing course covers the basics of airbrushing, allowing students to implement this valuable tool in their work as make-up artists. Students are shown how to properly care for and maintain the airbrush while learning the techniques necessary to do beautiful, flawless makeup.

35 Clock Hours

Evening Course: Bridal

With a focus on the lucrative world of weddings, the Bridal Make-up Artistry Course takes the student from consultation to creating a bride’s perfect look. The Bridal Course begins with the idea that a successful wedding make-up application starts with a clear plan for the bride and her family. From there, students work on achieving the bride’s desired look and are introduced to some business aspects of bridal make-up artistry.

21 Clock Hours

I loved everything about it! As an international student, I highly recommend it!

Maria Camilla G.

Maria Camilla G.

I did a lot of research looking for the right makeup school for me and my interests. MUD was the best place for me. Teachers go above and beyond for their students and they have a great career placement program.

Lindsey B.

Lindsey B.

I took their master course and I don't regret taking it! This school really breaks that glass ceiling and gives you opportunities to meet and be around professionals in the industry. I graduated a little over a year ago, and I already have my dream job. Working for a recognized professional artist making feature films!

Rogue Z.

Rogue Z.

Best place for special effects; very convenient and parking right at the back of the school. All instructors are great. Be simple, love what you do and it will be a piece of cake.

Bertha A.

Bertha A.

Ready to Get Started?Let’s Talk!

Interested in enrolling for an individual course at MUD?

  • Consult with the MUD Admissions Office before you register, in order to ensure that you have completed all required prerequisites, or have obtained the appropriate equivalent experience.
  • Course prerequisites are noted in each course description. To review them, request a catalog.
  • To register for a particular course, you may need to demonstrate that you are a working make-up artist who possesses the skills required to enroll.
  • Students must also submit a one-time application fee of $100 for the first individual course they take (this fee will be waived for any subsequent enrollments.)
  • Certificates are awarded to students who successfully complete an individual course.
  • Please note that individual courses taken on a stand-alone basis are not accredited by the ACCSC.
  • If you have already graduated from a MUD program, you can audit courses that you’ve previously taken free of charge, in order to brush up your skills and refresh your memory.

Los Angeles

129 S. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502

818.729.9420

CAMPUS HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm

New York City

65 Broadway, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10006

212.925.9250

CAMPUS HOURS
Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm