Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at PAFA is a graduate-level program designed for individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to refine their artistic practice while building a professional portfolio. This one-year program is ideal for artists seeking to advance their careers or prepare for graduate study.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
30 Credits
The Post-Baccalaureate Program is a one-year studio-based curriculum of graduate-level study in studio art designed to improve the artistic abilities of every participant during an uninterrupted period of accelerated effort. Each student is assigned a personal studio and a team of faculty critics. Students and faculty meet regularly to assess each student's artistic needs. Every artwork is understood within its genre, with special attention to the subject, form, content, and the use of materials, skills, techniques, and images.
In addition to individual studio critiques with each faculty critic, group critiques with everyone in attendance are an integral part of the learning process. Every week, post-baccalaureate students participate in two courses: a seminar of readings, research, aesthetics, and criticism and a studio-based elective. In consultation with the faculty, students may also elect studio courses within PAFA's Studio Residency Certificate Program. Post-baccalaureate students are permitted to audit one certificate course each semester on a space-available basis.
The discussion seminars are intended to stimulate the intellectual rigor with which to refine and redefine the artistic interests of the participants. Ultimately, all these courses are meant to serve the needs of studio art making.
Program Highlights:
- 30 credits of graduate-level study (1 year, full-time)
- Personalized studio space with regular faculty mentorship
- Participation in group critiques and graduate seminars
- Access to PAFA exhibitions, events, and public programs
- Fully accredited certificate designed for professional development
Curriculum (30 Credits/10 Classes):
| Semester One | 15.0 | Semester Two | 15.0 | |
| Critique (3 critics) | 9.0 | Critique (3 critics) | 9.0 | |
| Seminar: Subject, Form & Content | 3.0 | Seminar: Artist as Curator | 3.0 | |
| Studio Elective | 3.0 | Studio Elective | 3.0 |
A Certificate of Completion is awarded upon the successful conclusion of both semesters of coursework.
PAFA’s Post-Baccalaureate program is ideal for students who wish to:
- Transition into rigorous art education after a career change or studying a different discipline
- Build a competitive portfolio for MFA applications
- Explore experimental art-making
- Strengthen technical and theoretical foundations through feedback from faculty and visiting critics
The curriculum emphasizes experimentation, new media, and collaboration. Students receive regular feedback through faculty critiques, have opportunities for one-on-one sessions with the visiting critic from the Visiting Artists Program, participate in one weekly seminar focused on research and criticism, and take graduate level studio classes. Additionally, students are encouraged to enhance their skills through independent studio practice.
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.