118 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Background Image: Parsons School of Design
Devoted to the training of artists, PAFA combines a world-class museum of American art with outstanding studio art programs in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and fine arts illustration. PAFA offers a 4-year, 120-credit Certificate, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Graduate Studies, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and a Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts Program.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is a rare combination of an outstanding museum of American art and a renowned School of Fine Arts. Students have access to one of the world's foremost collections of American art, housed in the Historic Landmark Building designed by the firm of Frank Furness and George Hewitt, and the contemporary Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building that houses the School of Fine Arts. Located on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts, PAFA is a strictly fine arts school, offering the MFA and BFA degrees, its historic Certificate program and a Post-Baccalaureate in graduate studies. Emphasizing traditional drawing and artmaking skills, PAFA offers majors in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Students work with an exceptionally large and diverse faculty of working artists in cutting edge studio and classroom facilities. They have daily access to a world-class museum and exhibitions, individual studios under the mentorship program and exposure to numerous visiting artists and critics. With many distinguished alumni, PAFA trains fine artists to go on to successful careers. Alumni include Bo Bartlett, Brett Bigbee, Astrid Bowlby, Moe Brooker, Vincent Desiderio, Barkley L. Hendricks, David Lynch, Sarah McEneaney, Elizabeth Osborne, William Scott, and many others.
GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: MFA
ACCREDITATION: MSCHE, NASAD
Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.
NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
APPLICATION:
Required
APPLICATION FEES:
$60
PORTFOLIO:
Required
INTERVIEW:
Not Required
ESSAY:
Required
CV / RESUMÉ:
Recommended
GRE:
Not Required
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:
Required (2)
IELTS:
Required if English is a second language Minimum score 6.5
TOEFL:
Required if English is a second language Minimum score 80
TRANSCRIPTS
COLLEGE:
Required
This institution may require additional program-specific materials in the admissions process. Please visit the institution's website to view the requirements in full.