A&A at a Glance
People
The College of Arts and Architecture’s faculty, staff, and students are committed, resourceful, and innovative, creating a vibrant and inquisitive arts and design community.
Student Demographics
1489 Undergrads
257 Grads
62.94% Female
36.83% Male
0.23% Gender Undisclosed
53.6% In-State
46.4% Out-of-State
90.1% Domestic
9.9% International
Distribution of Students
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
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.
Department of Art History
Department Head Elizabeth Mansfield
School of Music
Director David Frego
School of Theatre
Director Rick J. Lombardo
School of Visual Arts
Director Vagner Mendonça-Whitehead
Stuckeman School
Including the Departments of Architecture, Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture
Interim Director Patricia Kucker
Department of Architecture
Department Head Mehrdad Hadighi
Department of Graphic Design
Department Head Phil Choo
Department of Landscape Architecture
Department Head Roxi Thoren
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.
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.
Research, Engagement + 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.
Research + Creative Initiatives
A&A Sustainability
Director Mihyun Kang
Arts & Design Research Incubator
Director William Doan
Center for Pedagogy in Arts and Design
Director Susan Russell
Center for Virtual/Material Studies
Director Sarah Rich
E+D – Ecology plus Design
Director Andy Cole
Hamer Center for Community Design
Director Lisa D. Iulo
Stuckeman Center for Design Computing
Director José P. Duarte
Studio for Sustainability + Social Action
Director Simone Osthoff
Outreach + Performance
Center for the Performing Arts
Director Sita Frederick
Palmer Museum of Art
Director Erin M. Coe
Penn State Blue Band
DIrector Greg Drane
Penn State Centre Stage
Artistic Director Rick J. Lombardo
Penn’s Woods Music Festival
Music Director & Conductor Gerardo Edelstein
Venues + Galleries
500+
Performances Annually
10,000+
Objects in the Palmer Museum of Art permanent collection
Philanthropy
2020–21 Figures
Our alumni and friends provide integral support for our students, faculty, and programs. We are grateful for their generosity and commitment to nurturing the arts and design community at Penn State.
$122,441,821.50 Total College Endowment
398 Endowments + Annually Funded Accounts
$4,369,474 Endowment Income + Current Year Gifts Available for Awarding FY2021
$1,109,912 Undergraduate Student Aid (181 accounts)
$78,636 Graduate Student Aid (12 accounts)
$391,276 Graduate or Undergraduate Student Aid (42 accounts)
$794,330 Endowed Faculty Positions (10 accounts)
$1,995,320 Endowed Academic, Museum, Performing Arts Programs (153 accounts)
