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Post-Baccalaureate Residency

Craft a path toward your future as a practicing artist or designer in a mentor-supported, studio-based program. Earn a post-baccalaureate certificate to learn professional practice skills and prepare for a creative life.

Program Snapshot

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1 Year

PNCA Campus

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Our Post-Baccalaureate Art Program

Immerse yourself in a studio-based environment where art, design, and creative writing practices cross pathways. Develop a distinct artistic voice while enhancing your skills. Our program is comprised of mentor-guided studio work, studio electives, and theory courses.

Why choose a post-bacc art program at Pacific Northwest College of Art?

  • Mentorship program. Mentors inspire and challenge you to expand your creative horizons. Students are matched with mentors in their field of study, who are artists, designers, writers, and scholars with active practices.
  • Personal studio space. Residents have their own studios to make, create, and research. Utilize our Creative Technology Lab and shop facilities, which supports 2-D, 3-D, and time-based work.
  • See Exhibitions. Make Exhibitions. PNCA offers a wealth of exhibition venues where you'll not only see work from nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers, you'll have the opportunity to present exhibitions of your own work.

Schedule a Visit

Student Work

Polish a past undergraduate degree project or learn additional skills to enhance your creative practice. Our students are exploring a variety of mediums during our program. Students produce and exhibit work, develop professional contacts, and explore studio processes and methods. Explore student exhibitions to learn more about our program.
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Alumni Stories

Our alumni have explored Master of Fine Art programs and Master of Arts degrees. They've leveraged their studio experience to achieve remarkable success in their artistic careers. Graduates have secured exhibitions, residencies, and advanced opportunities. Learn how they're paving a path in the art world.

Alumni Stories (NEED LINK)

Our Faculty
Sara Huston is an Assistant Professor in the Sculpture, Foundation, Intermedia, and Thesis departments and identifies as an artist, designer, and craftsperson. Huston's studio practice explores rural living, manifestations of home, and the construction of societal and individual/collective values and expectations. She has taught for the past 16 years in art, design, and craft colleges and universities, including her role as a visiting artist and full-time professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 2015 to 2016. She also chaired the MFA in Applied Craft + Design at the Pacific Northwest College of Art from 2018-2024.
Headshot of Sara Huston

Curriculum

Our program is generally completed in one year or two semesters, but it can last a maximum of four semesters. We provide a flexible and tailored pathway designed to keep up with your goals and priorities. Learn more about how our curriculum sets students up for success.

  • Independent Studio

    Embark on self-directed studio exploration, conduct research relevant to your work, and participate in critiques and discussions. Your mentor will guide you through the process. You can opt to take Independent Studio for either 6 or 9 credits, based on your preferences or needs.

  • Studio Elective

    Support a specific area of specialization and career interest through our Studio Elective. Further skills by exploring new ideas and directions, while building reasoning skills. Choose one of PNCA's advanced undergraduate-level curricula with your mentor.

  • Upper-Level Art History/Theory

    Take courses about modern visual media, critical studies, theory and practice, and advanced art history content. Work with your mentor to find the right art history and theory courses.

  • Elective

    If you choose to take the 6-credit Independent Studio path, you can choose to take another elective. Speak to your mentor and the program director about this post-bacc path.

Program Requirements

To complete the Post-Baccalaureate Residency program, students undertake an Independent Studio for 6 or 9 credits, guided by a mentor, and engage in research and critiques. Additionally, they select a Studio Elective and an Upper Level Art History/Theory course tailored to their specialization and interests. An extra Elective is optional with mentor and director approval, if the Independent Studio is taken for 6 credits.

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Financial Aid & Scholarships

Starting Fall 2025, the Post-Baccalaureate program is eligible for Financial Aid.

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FAQs

Willamette University

Post-Baccalaureate Residency