Art & Ecology | Minors at Pacific Northwest College of Art

Artist painting at a cluttered desk in a studio with art-covered walls.

Our Art and Ecology Minor

Discover how your work can comment on, interact with, and impact the world. Understand today's issues and their relationship to the social, political, cultural, and economic systems that shape our shared planet. Develop your contemporary art practice to inspire change.

Why choose an Art and Ecology minor at PNCA:

Engage with environmental issues and activism. PNCA's wide range of partnerships help students explore the rich, natural world around Portland. Learn more about the Columbia River Gorge, the Pacific Ocean, and the nearby forests and mountains.
Study in a trailblazing city. Portland is progressive, eco-conscious, and forward-thinking on social issues. Find like-minded artists, designers, scholars, and organizations to collaborate with.
Curriculum that connects different concepts. No matter what you're majoring in, our art and ecology program enriches your view of the world. Engage with guest speakers, guided hikes, and hands-on education to learn from the land.

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Our Faculty

Our faculty members are constantly exploring ecological issues and how they connect to art. Students will meet individually with Department Heads and chat with visiting artists to explore art and ecology.

Curriculum

Enrich your education by exploring the relationships of plants and animals to the world around them. Learn rhetoric, history, and solutions to make a positive change. Explore the close connection between art and ecology.

SCI223 Ecology and Resilience

Explore the complex relations between climate, oceans, and the biosphere, and discover how human activities are driving changes. Engage with environmental and social justice, develop resilience, and learn to navigate and influence our rapidly evolving world.
IM201 Theory & Practice: Global Culture and Ecology

Learn about the links between ecological principles and global issues in this studio-based seminar. Tackle topics like climate change through creative responses from artists and designers to address today's social and ecological challenges.

Requirements & Admission

To meet the Art and Ecology minor requirements, you need to take a variety of 3-credit courses that add up to 15 credits. You can work with your Academic Advisor to make a personalized plan that shows how this minor fits into your studies and makes sure your course choices match your goals and interests.

First-Year Admissions

Transfer Admissions

International Admissions