Overview

Art is an individual and social practice that makes an impact. When people create or respond to art, they make connections between themselves and the experiences of others.
In some cases, art provides a private encounter whereby individual thoughts and feelings are expressed through art, or recognized in the art of someone else. In other cases, art gives form to ideas and issues that concern entire communities.

It is because art extends personal and public awareness that it is highly valued as a cultural activity. Those who make art and write about art offer imaginative insights that challenge us to see things differently.

By creating artworks yourself, and enhancing your capacity to interpret artworks made by other individuals, communities, and cultures, you contribute to one of the most important purposes of art, which is to celebrate this unique human form of social communication that shapes the way we see ourselves.

Students enrolled in the School of Visual Arts at Pennsylvania State University may seek entrance into the B.F.A. program no earlier than the second semester and no later than the fourth semester.
There will be a continuous review of portfolio and performance of students enrolled in the Art (B.F.A) program throughout the entire program. Students who do not meet the standards or who do not want to continue in the B.F.A. program may return to the B.A. program in art or choose another program of study.

Careers

As a BFA graduate you have achieved a level of competence that grounds your creative and critical capabilities, which enables you to pursue a range of professional options in visual arts and related fields.
As a creative artist with a distinctive practice and specialized expertise in art media of your choosing, you are informed and prepared to negotiate the different forms of professional participation in the art world that can be built around artist residencies, sustained studio practice, and gallery work.

You will also have a body of work that will ensure you can prepare a competitive portfolio for application to graduate school.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Ideas as Visual Images
Ideas as Objects
Commentary on Art
Ancient to Medieval Art
Renaissance to Modern Art
Digital Art and Design Criticism
Figure Drawing
Drawing: Techniques, Materials, and Tools
Beginning Printmaking
Beginning Oil Painting
A Chronological Survey of Photography

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-05-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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Duolingo English Test

120

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Credits

123 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

University Park, United States

Disciplines

Visual Arts Art History View 1022 other Bachelors in Art History in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

Check IELTS test dates and locations. Book an IELTS test now!

Other requirements

General requirements

Application
Official secondary school records
Official test scores: SAT or ACT
English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Pennsylvania State University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
National

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

21098 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 21098 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for University Park

1000 - 1500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Art.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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