SoVA student exhibition Pushing it to the limit.

Art, B.F.A.

B.F.A. in Art

Inspire us. Grow. Create.Make your art. Make an impact.

Art is essential. A BFA from Penn State is the difference between you knowing that your art matters and the rest of the world knowing it, too.

Our internationally exhibiting and award-winning faculty are devoted to helping you grow your abilities, learn new skills, see in new ways, and find your true voice.

Earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art at Penn State

Are you ready for your next step? Take it with us.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program prepares students to be leaders in the contemporary art world. The degree features an intense, supportive studio culture, and broad access to the unparalleled resources of a Tier 1 university.

Students enrolled in the School of Visual Arts apply to the B.F.A. program between their second and fourth semesters. Entrance is awarded following a successful portfolio review.

Concentrations

With specialized resources and faculty, students will pursue a focused degree from the following concentration areas.

Next Steps

Is the B.F.A. in Art right for you?

Penn State’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program prepares students to be leaders in the contemporary art world.

You are a visual thinker who works with your hands, heart, and head. Artists earning this degree are creative makers and critical thinkers who shape our awareness about what is possible and, in doing so, change the way we see, experience, and understand our world. Students who earn this degree pursue careers as art directors, educators, and practicing artists.

Darkened silhouettes of Penn State visual arts students crouched around a foundry crucible pouring red-hot molten metal.

Alumni Spotlight

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alumni spotlight

“Penn State gave me the opportunity to explore the many career paths available in the film industry.”

A student internship with DreamWorks Animation led Caleb Yoder to a full-time videographer position with the company following his graduation. Caleb spent eight months as a videographer before moving to the DreamWorks TV division, where he worked as a production assistant and production coordinator on Harvey Street Kids. As a Schreyer Scholar, Caleb graduated with highest distinction, serving as college marshal for the College of Arts and Architecture. Caleb now is assistant animatic editor at DreamWorks.

Considering the B.F.A. in Art? Consider this.

Prepare yourself for a professional career and graduate studies in visual art.

  • Be part of the diverse and vibrant Penn State culture.
  • Exhibit your art in one of the SoVA galleries.
  • Faculty are scholars and visual artists whose work is known nationally and internationally.
  • Enjoy SoVA’s close-knit collaborative community.

Faculty Spotlight

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Cristin Millett

Professor of Art

Straddling traditional disciplinary boundaries, SoVA Professor Cristin Millett’s investigations of medicine and its history are integral to her artistic process. Her toolkit of sculptural processes incorporates new advances in digital technology along with established methods of sculpture, such as stone carving and bronze casting. The resulting objects and installations prompt a contemporary cultural critique of societal issues surrounding reproduction and gender identity. Millett was awarded a Fulbright to the University of Western Australia in 2020.

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