Admissions

WELCOME!

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Academy’s Office of Admissions. Around the City of Brotherly Love, we are simply known as "PAFA" or "The Academy."

We welcome applications from artists and potential artists who are highly motivated, seeking to develop their abilities, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to the fine arts. We seek to enroll students who will benefit from our unique arts education.  

Programs Offered at PAFA

The Academy offers a series of outstanding educational programs in the studio arts of drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.

PAFA is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) to offer:

Certificate Program

The four-year Certificate Program remains the foundation of PAFA’s programs.  Admission to the Certificate program requires a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Based on a system introduced by Thomas Eakins, which emphasizes working from direct observation under the guidance of master artists.
• Offers majors in drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture.
• Third- and fourth-year Certificate students have private studios and work with an outstanding faculty of working artists.
• Third- and fourth-year Certificate students participate in PAFA's historic Annual Student Exhibition, the nation's largest and oldest student art show and thesis presentation.

Undergraduate Programs

Academy BFA Program: The Academy BFA program provides extraordinary training in the fine arts, as well as incorporating unique and creatively focused concepts in liberal arts education.  Admission to the Academy BFA requires a high school diploma or equivalent.

Coordinated BFA Program, offered in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania. 

Graduate Programs

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Graduate Studies: This one-year graduate course of study leads to a Certificate of completion. Students are assigned faculty critics, participate in critical seminars and graduate drawing and painting courses, and have a private studio.  Admission to the Post Baccalaureate Certificate requires a bachelors degree.

MFA Program: This two-year, full-time program (in the areas of painting, sculpture and printmaking) involves:

• daily interaction with an outstanding faculty of resident and visiting artists; regular private and group critiques
• seminars in critical readings
• a written thesis component
• exposure to an outstanding visiting artist program
• participation in drawing and painting classes

Admission to the MFA program requires a BFA in studio art or a bachelors degree with significant studio work or experience. 

PAFA at a Glance

Founded: 1805 in Philadelphia, PA
History: The nation’s first school of art and museum
Programs: Certificate (Cert), Academy BFA, BFA/U of Pennsylvania (Coordinated BFA), Post Baccalaureate (PB), Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Majors: Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture
Enrollment – Fall 2009: 322 total students in all degree programs
Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Member: Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD)