Foundation Certificate
The Foundation Certificate at PAFA provides rigorous, immersive instruction for emerging artists. This program is designed for students who are looking to develop their skills in a variety of artistic media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media.
Foundation Certificate
30 Credits | 1 Year (Full-Time)
The Foundation Certificate offers rigorous foundational curriculum in visual arts that introduces students to the fundamental skills, concepts, and disciplines that are critical to their growth as artists. This thirty-credit studio art program is a holistic learning experience that integrates perceptual skills with the practice of imaginative and creative art making. This program provides art training with immersion in both conventional as well as alternative media emphasizing a high level of competency with materials and processes.
Art Seminar provides an enhanced understanding of art through direct observation utilizing PAFA Museum collection and archives and other cultural institutions in Philadelphia, including PMA, Barnes, and the African American Museum, to name a few. These encounters complement the studio experience to build visual and verbal skills in art analysis that can be applied to any level of PAFA programs or beyond.
The strength of this program is made possible due to the multi-faceted expertise of a faculty of working artists. Rare in today's world of art education, the unique skills delivered by the faculty merge to produce an artist who can conceptualize and create with context as well as craft in boundless ways.
Program Highlights:
- 30 credits of immersive study (1 year, full-time)
- Focus on painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media
- Art Seminars that incorporate context from PAFA’s collections and partner institutions
- Opportunity to participate in PAFA student exhibitions and events
- Fully accredited, stand-alone certificate
Curriculum (30.0 credits):
| Semester One | 15.0 | Semester Two | 15.0 | |
| Structural and Spatial Drawing | 1.5 | Figure Modeling | 3.0 | |
| Drawing the Casts | 1.5 | Figure Painting | 3.0 | |
| Digital Media | 1.5 | Digital Drawing/Painting II | 1.5 | |
| Intaglio | 1.5 | Relief Printmaking | 1.5 | |
| 2D Human Anatomy | 1.5 | Inventive Drawing | 1.5 | |
| Figure Drawing | 1.5 | Form/Structure in Sculpture | 1.5 | |
| Painting Practices | 3.0 | Art Seminar | 3.0 | |
| Art Seminar | 3.0 | Shop Safety | 0.0 |
PAFA grants a Foundation Certificate to students who have met the following requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credits
- Achievement of a minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Fulfillment of credit requirements
- Fulfillment of financial obligations and return of PAFA property
- Participation in the Annual Student Exhibition
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $35,000 for 30 credits. All applications received by the priority scholarship deadline will be considered for merit-based scholarships based on the overall strength of the submission.
Tuition Breakdown:
$35,000 for 30 credits($1,400 for 1.5 credits, $2,800 for 3 credits)
Fees:
- Academy Service Fee (non-refundable): $500
- Student Damage Deposit (refundable, annual): $200
- Locker Fee (refundable): $25 per semester, $50 annually
- Foundry Fee (per class): $40
- Sculpture Fee (per class): $25
For priority scholarship consideration, submit your application by June 1, 2025. All applications received by this deadline will be reviewed for institutional scholarships based on the overall strength of the application.