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Willamette University

Undergraduate Academics

With ten BFA programs, an array of minors and a rich liberal arts curriculum, the Pacific Northwest College of Art prepares you for fulfilling creative careers of all kinds.

PNCA undergrad students sit at desks in a circle in a classroom, laptops in front of them
PNCA undergrad students sit in a line in an art gallery during a painting critique

Your Questions, Answered

Do you have questions about the undergraduate programs at PNCA? Complete this form and we’ll get in touch!

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BFA Degree Programs

Work under the guidance of talented faculty mentors. Not only are they top-notch teachers, but they also are active artists who care deeply about their craft—and your success.

  • Animated Arts

    Combine fine art practices with digital technology—and reimagine ways to create frame-based work in a variety of contexts.

    A PNCA student adjusts a blue plastic model of a human in front of a green screen in the Animated Arts lab

  • Creative Writing

    Explore language as a visual medium, experiment with storytelling in multiple genres and build your writing practice.

    Several PNCA students sit around a table during a creative writing workshop

  • General Fine Arts

    Work with a variety of materials and processes while developing multiple artistic competencies in this flexible program.

    A PNCA undergrad student holds a fuzzy white sculpture in PNCA's 3-D Design classroom

  • Graphic Design

    Gain skills and knowledge that go beyond traditional graphic design as you prepare for creative careers in industries of all kinds.

    A PNCA undergrad student draws on a piece of paper on a gridded table in PNCA's 3-D Design classroom

  • Illustration

    Blend technical and artistic skill in a program that prepares you for careers in traditional media and emerging tech.

    A PNCA student draws patterns on a piece of paper, filling in a disk-shaped grid

  • Intermedia

    Design your own curriculum in an innovative program that harnesses the hybrid: traditional techniques + new applications.

    A camera on a tripod and a computer monitor sit on a table in the back of a classroom where a PNCA professor is teaching

  • Painting and Drawing

    Master the use of painting and drawing materials, and then experiment widely as you lean into your own voice and vision.

    A PNCA student paints a pink and yellow streak down a large canvas during a mural painting class

  • Photography

    Uncover expansive ways of making images, from embracing the analog to mastering digital techniques and lighting strategies.

    A series of black-and-white photographs in silver frames from a PNCA photography class sit on a wooden table

  • Printmaking

    Immerse yourself in the traditional and contemporary processes that emphasize craftsmanship and creative expression.

    Several open boxes of pieces for a Kingsley Hot Foil Stamping Machine sit on a table in PNCA's printmaking studio

  • Sculpture

    Investigate a wide spectrum of structural methods as you follow your customized pathway into various 3D labs and studios.

    A PNCA student works on a large sculpture in the ceramic studio

Our Minors

Enrich your PNCA academic experience by adding a minor (or two). Deepen your understanding of the world around you, pick up new skills and knowledge, and explore new-to-you forms and mediums.

  • Art & Ecology

    Explore the intersection of art and environment—and how your creative work can impact and interact with a changing world.

    A PNCA instructor stands at the front of a class, leading a critique of a sculpture on a pedestal

  • Art History

    Discover the breadth of human creativity throughout the millennia—and how it reflected and influenced the culture of its time.

    A group of PNCA students sit on grass-covered concrete steps in a park, writing in their notebooks

  • Ceramics

    Hone your clay sculpting or fabricating technique with courses such as Mold Making and Experimenting with Materials.

    Several rough pieces of pottery sit on a shelf in the PNCA ceramic studio

  • Creative Writing

    Incorporate writing into your visual work or learn about world-building and character development as you explore poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting. 

    A PNCA student sits at a table in a classroom using a typewriter while another student attaches pages to a bulletin board

  • Fashion

    Delve into materials, construction, textiles, patterns, sketching and more as you consider fashion as an embedded aspect of contemporary society.

    A PNCA professor writes on a whiteboard as a student in a yellow hat watches

  • Game

    Learn about the philosophies, systems and mechanics of digital and analog games, as well as the communities and cultures surrounding this entertainment form.

    A hand with black fingernails holds a numerical keyboard on a green screen background

  • Graphic Design

    Build fundamental skills and knowledge as you explore typography, iconography, visual systems, branding—and the overall process from ideation to final draft.

    A collection of writing and drawing implements including various scissors, knives and rulers lay artfully arranged on a table

  • Painting and Drawing

    Support your creative practice by studying a universal exploratory medium. Sharpen your skills to use to translate your ideas to form, through courses like The Figure.

    A PNCA student draws coffee mugs in a small notebook with a pencil during a 2-D design class

  • Photography

    Develop your foundational knowledge of photography, from composition and lighting to darkroom techniques; plus, learn how photos interact with other mediums.

    Three sheets of photography negatives lay on a white table

  • Stop Motion

    Gain experience in a fast-growing, multidisciplinary field as you cover topics like puppet fabrication, prop sculpture, storyboarding and animation.

    A PNCA student arranges a doll in a pink dress in front of a green screen

The Four-Year Flow

  • Foundation Year

    During this year of discovery, you’ll be immersed from day one in media of all kinds from drawing to digital design.

    A PNCA student sits at a counter and looks at a tablet covered in stickers while taking notes in a notebook

  • Year Two + Three

    Your sophomore and junior year will be full of courses from your chosen major and minors. You’ll develop professional skills and productive studio habits, while learning to think critically about your work.

    A PNCA student sits at a coffee table and looks at her laptop in a classroom with computer desks, bookshelves, and whiteboard

  • Senior Year

    This is your thesis year. With your own dedicated studio space, you’ll plan and produce a significant body of work or creative project. During Focus Week, you’ll present to your peers and professionals.

    A PNCA BFA undergrad student works in the printmaking studio

Liberal Arts

PNCA's Liberal Arts courses are specifically designed for artists and designers, providing diverse perspectives, worldviews, and experiences that enrich a creative education. These courses expand your understanding of the world, encouraging students to explore and express complex ideas while building essential skills in communication and critical thinking.

Two students in a lecture classroom.
"PNCA has so many resources and opportunities for you to really have your own grasp on your art education. Places like the Risograph printing lab or the Creative Design Lab have tools that you can make wild art whenever you want."
Camryn Clary
Painting ’26

Career-Focused Learning

Our BFA programs emphasize portfolio development and professional practice. And our Office of Career Design offers an array of services to help you find an internship, prepare for a job interview or connect with other artists and designers.

Career development working in the office.

The Student Experience

Your time at PNCA is more than classes and studio time. You’ll also become part of a creative community that extends beyond campus and into Portland’s vibrant arts scene.

PNCA graphic design students lean over a computer monitor displaying logo illustrations

Willamette University

Connect With PNCA

  • Glass Building

    Address

    2139 N Kerby Ave
    Portland Oregon 97227 U.S.A.

    Contact

    503-226-4391

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