Curriculum

Our aim is development of a disciplined practice that will both drive your creative endeavors and help you to locate yourself as an artist in the contemporary world. Professional issues are addressed throughout the curriculum, and include instruction in writing, studio management, portfolio development, galleries and exhibitions, and public presentation.

  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Junior
  • Senior
ID Course Title Course Req
Liberal Arts (6 cr. required)
LA122  Writing in Context 3
LA225  Perspectives on Society & Culture 3
Art History (6 cr. required)
AH125  Exploring Visual Culture 3
AH210  Intro to World Art History 3
Studio Courses (3 cr. required)
Studio Elective 3
Seminar (1 cr. required)
FD100  First Year Seminar* 1
Foundation Studio (15 cr. required)
FD101  Visual Elements: 2D 3
FD102  Visual Elements: Digital Tools 3
FD105  Drawing 1 3
FD112  Time Arts 3
FD111  3D Design 3
TOTAL 31
At the completion of First Year: 30 cr. earned to date 31

*FD100 First Year Seminar is required of all freshman with fewer than 30 transfer credits.

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
AH218  History of Painting & Drawing 3
Liberal Arts (9 cr. required)
LA225  Perspectives on Society & Culture 3
MTH101 Math or SCI223 Science 3
MTH101 Math or SCI223 Science 3
Studio Courses (18 cr. required)
PA261 Painting Studio: Materials & Methods or PA266 Observational Painting 3
PA262  Painting Studio: Techniques & Applications 3
*Studio course from 200-level options menu 3
*Studio course from 200-level options menu 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Second Year: 60 cr. earned to date 61

*Studio Courses (200-level):
DR265 Drawing Studio: Technique & Applications
DR266 Drawing Studio: Image in Context
DR261 The Figure
DR267 Anatomy

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
Art History 200/300-level 3
Liberal Arts (9 cr. required)
LA321  Social Science Seminar 3
LA325  Literature Seminar 3
Liberal Arts 300/400-level elective 3
Seminar (3 cr. required)
TH300  Studio Arts Professional Practice 3
Studio Courses (15 required cr.)
PADR361 Painting & Drawing Studio: Self-Directed or IM351 Hybrid Painting 3
PADR362 Painting & Drawing Studio: Pre-Thesis 3
*Studio course from 300-level options menu 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Third Year: 90 cr. earned to date 91

*300-level Course Options:

DR361 Advanced Figure
DR363 Drawing Seminar: The Mediated Image
DR364 Drawing Seminar: Systems, Structures & Strategies
PADR365 Special Topics
IM301 Theory & Practice
IM351 Intermedia Special Topics

ID Course Title Course Req
Art History (3 cr. required)
Art History 300/400-level 3
Liberal Arts (6 cr. required)
LA421  Research for a Creative Practice 3
Liberal Arts 300/400-level elective 3
Studio Courses (15 required cr.)
*400-level Studio course (from menu) 3
Studio course from 300-level options menu 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Studio Elective 3
Thesis (6 cr. required)
TH401  Thesis Critique Seminar (semester 1) 3
TH499  Thesis (semester 2) 3
TOTAL 30
At the completion of Fourth Year: 120 cr. earned to date 121

Learning Outcomes

Acquire a high level of skill in drawing and painting through exposure to principles of representation, abstraction and hybrid forms of painting. Be able to work fluently in a drawing or painting media of choice, as well as a variety of related dry and wet media.

Recognize, acknowledge and understand individual positionality and develop literacies regarding other practices and perspectives that may challenge existing views and modes of making that engage both studio and professional practices.

Refine ability to understand and critically assess the art historical and social context of painting and drawing practices. Create a conceptually and materially coherent body of work engaging the traditions and/or contemporary concerns in the field of drawing and painting. Create a generative and sustainable relationship to subjects, ideas and issues that translate into productive studio practices.

Cultivate a multifaceted skill set (oral, written, technical, collaborative, self-driven, network building, goal setting, planning, project management) to support flexible, adaptable innovative and diverse post graduate pathways.

Foundation Year

A time to explore

In your Foundation Year, you’ll be immersed from day one in media and making of all kinds from drawing, design, and sculpture, to digital tools, video, and performance. It’s a year of discovery, a time to explore new ways of thinking and making, meet new friends, and get to know your new community.

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Thesis

Preparing for graduation

Your senior year is an exciting time of tranistion from student to working artist or designer. The focus of your senior year is conceiving a thesis project of your own design and producing it with the support of faculty, your peers, and a mentor who works with you one-on-one.

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Areas of Study

Freedom to focus

PNCA offers ten undergraduate majors, all of which offer you choices in your electives and liberal arts courses. This means that whatever your major, you have the freedom to focus many of your course choices around your particular area of interest. We've outlined the following Areas of Study to give you a sense of the scope of courses available at PNCA.

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Liberal Arts

Fortify your intellectual foundation

Liberal Arts courses round out your education, helping you become a more thoughtful, well-rounded artist or designer. Explore widely or select your courses to focus on one of what we call Areas of Study.

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Come tour PNCA today

Come explore and experience how PNCA is dedicated to empowering students to reimagine what art and design can do in the world.

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