Open Academy

* Courses must be taken for credit and meet grade eligibility requirements to be transferred to PAFA or other college programs.  All courses must be evaluated for transfer to PAFA's BFA program, based on satisfactory completion of coursework and review of the student's course portfolio.  If approved, a maximum of 15 credits (CE or Open Academy) may be accepted as transfer credits. 

** Students seeking to transfer credits to another institution should first confirm with their School Registrar or Admissions Office that PAFA courses meet their school's eligibility requirements.  PAFA is accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).  PAFA is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). 

Fall 2022 Registration is now closed. 

Only select BFA courses are available for Open Academy registration.  See course list and policy information below.  

• Fall 2022 Courses
• Open Academy Policy Information

The Fall 2022 semester runs Wednesday, August 31 - Friday, December 16.  See course list above for course schedules. Courses with prerequisites indicated require final registration approval from the College Registrar, based on enrollment history.  See course descriptions.

Open Academy tuition is comparable to PAFA BFA per-class rates.  Tuition costs are calculated based a course's contact hours and available credits (select appropriate credit option when registering):

• Half-day/1.5-credit studio courses (45 total contact hours at 3 hours/session for 15 weeks) are available for $1,150 for non-credit or $1,400 for credit. 
• Full-day/3.0-credit studio courses (90 total contact hours at 6 hours/session, excluding lunch breaks, for 15 weeks) are offered for $2,300 non-credit or $2,800 for credit. 
• Half-day/3.0-credit liberal arts courses (45 total contact hours at 3 hours/session for 15 weeks), when available, are offered for $2,300 non-credit or $2,800 for credit. 

By enrolling in a PAFA BFA/Post-Baccalaureate class through the Open Academy, students agree to abide by the policies and regulations defined by the program and detailed in PAFA's Student Policies.  Students are responsible for reviewing this important information prior to the first day of class.  Failure to comply with these policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal with forfeiture of tuition and fees.

Please note:  Acceptance to Open Academy classes constitutes CE student enrollment, not full-time student status; as such, students are ineligible for BFA/MFA/Post-Baccalaureate extracurricular activities or studio rentals and will not be charged said fees.

Updated for Fall 2022

All students must submit proof of full COVID vaccination and booster(s) upon registration.  Vaccine documentation must be uploaded to a specified Google drive; onsite card display and card images emailed to the CE office cannot be accepted.  Registration for any on-campus course is pending without vaccination documentation or exemption approval. Requests for exceptions for medical or religious reasons must be submitted with appropriate documentation and approved by PAFA’s head of security. See CE's Policies and Procedures for complete COVID-19 safety requirements.