About
About the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
Welcome to A&A
The College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State, located on the University Park campus in beautiful central Pennsylvania, is the hub for arts and design education, outreach, and engagement, where new ways of thinking are encouraged and interdisciplinary collaboration is the norm.
Find contact information for all A&A schools, units, and offices in the college directory.
With academic programs spanning music, theatre, visual arts, graphic design, digital design, art history, architecture, and landscape architecture, we are a complete arts and design community committed to artistic and scholarly creativity, research, and the preparation of creators and educators whose innovation and industriousness make a positive impact around the world.
We offer a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as numerous ensembles and clubs open to all students regardless of major. The Center for the Performing Arts, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State Centre Stage, and Penn’s Woods Music Festival – also part of the college – are key organizations in the area’s thriving cultural landscape, offering performances, exhibitions, and educational outreach programs that are enjoyed by thousands each year.
In addition, the college’s research centers and institutes help to foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while at the same time leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university.
College of Arts and Architecture faculty are dedicated to providing high-quality professional instruction to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the college. They also are responsible for providing undergraduate literature, history, and studio courses in the arts for all students at Penn State.
The college is housed in sixteen buildings in the “Arts District” on the University Park campus. Learn more about our extensive facilities.
Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture proudly serves as one of the major cultural centers between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Academics
The College of Arts and Architecture offers more than 30 undergraduate and 15 graduate degrees in a resource-rich setting with world-class faculty and facilities, coupled with diverse arts, performance, and design programs. A&A also is committed to online education with some 262 courses engaging more than 4,400 online learners. Alumni from our programs get amazing jobs and make a difference.
View Degrees
Undergraduate Majors & Minors
A&A provides undergraduate majors, minors, and certificate programs that capture students’ imagination, expand their horizons, and prepare graduates for success across design, performing arts, and visual arts disciplines.
View Majors & Minors
Graduate Programs
Graduate programs housed in the College of Arts and Architecture – including master’s and doctoral level degrees, professional degrees, dual-title degrees, and graduate certificates – each challenge candidates to achieve significant contributions through research and performance.
View Graduate Programs
Student Demographics
53.6%
In-state
46.4%
Out-of-state
90.1%
Domestic
9.9%
International
62.94%
Female
36.83%
Male
0.23%
Gender Undisclosed
Student Distribution
1489
Undergrads
257
Grads
20.62%
Architecture
19.82%
Visual Arts
15.41%
Music
12.6%
Digital Multimedia Design (World Campus)
11.86%
Theatre
11.17%
Landscape Architecture
4.64%
Graphic Design
2.81%
Art History
0.74%
Integrative Arts
0.33%
Graduate Certificates
Faculty & Staff
212
Full Time Faculty (including admin)
51
Part Time Faculty
2
Postdocs
172
Grad Assistants
5:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
122
Full Time Staff
59
Part Time Staff
Research, Engagement and Outreach
The College of Arts and Architecture is home to a stunning variety of performances, exhibitions, and educational outreach programs that are enjoyed by thousands each year. From lectures by global thought leaders, to Broadway-caliber performances, to art and technology workshops, symposia, musical recitals, and so much more, the college fosters a vibrant and inclusive culture of inquiry and excellence within the arts and design disciplines.
500+
Performances Annually
10,000+
Objects in the Palmer Museum of Art Collection
Strategic Plan
The College of Arts and Architecture has developed a 5-year roadmap highlighting key goals, processes to achieve those goals, and impacts/outcomes.
Stay in Touch!
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