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  • Fine Arts BFA

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    Selena Kimball, Program Director

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  • The BFA Fine Arts program guides you to discover your artistic voice, familiarizing you with traditional techniques of painting, drawing, sculpture, and video, as well as interdisciplinary methods that can include performance, multimedia installation, and digital interaction. Internships and electives in topics such as art history, theory, and professional practices broaden your perspective and prepare you for a successful future in the field.

    Program Highlights

    • Expanding the Field

      Study painting, drawing, sculpture, and 4D media including video, experimental sound, social practice, and performance.

    • Theory and Making

      Develop new approaches to intellectual thought and problem solving through the production of works of art.

    • Holistic Learning

      Access lecture courses and electives in the humanities, social sciences, media studies, and professional practices to develop your critical abilities for a career in fine art.

    • NYC: Global Art Capital

      Access legendary museums, countless art galleries, and opportunities for internships, and engage with active artists through your faculty and the Visiting Artist Lecture series.

    • Degree Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
    • Format Full-time, on campus
    • Credits 120
    • Duration 4 years

  • Curriculum

    Your BFA begins with Parsons’ first-year curriculum, which serves as the academic foundation for all undergraduate programs at Parsons. From your second year on, you dive into Core Studio and Core Seminar courses that support your critical making practice. Art and design history and theory courses develop your research, writing, and critical reasoning  skills, and university electives broaden your perspectives.

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  • Career Paths

    Graduates of the BFA Fine Arts find success in fields such as fine art practice; arts administration; curatorial studies and practice; museum, auction house, gallery, and art fair management; art history and criticism; publishing; and art installation.

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  • Parsons faculty represent a broad range of expertise and are acknowledged as leading practitioners and scholars in their fields. 

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  • Beyond the Classroom

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      Internships

      New York City’s thriving creative industry and cultural institutions are part of your Parsons education. Our Career Services Office is deeply connected to the art and design industries and can help you advance your career with industry-oriented internships.

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      Industry Engagement

      Connect to the organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs driving global creativity and commerce. In classes, internships, and extracurricular projects, you gain marketable problem-solving skills in sectors ranging from government and nonprofits to tech and creative industries.

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      Study Abroad

      Enrich your learning and prepare for work in global contexts with study abroad that exposes you to new perspectives and settings in which to apply your creativity. Our study abroad destinations include, Paris, London, Florence, and more.

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      Making & Academic Resources

      Enjoy access to extensive resources including New School libraries, computer labs, archives, and studios, along with Parsons’ state-of-the-art Making Center, facilities offering a broad array of tools to support your creative and academic growth.

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    To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

    Undergraduate Adult Learners

    To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

    Graduates

    To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.