There are no lecture halls at PNCA.

All of our programs rely on a studio-based curriculum that allows students to focus on developing their practice. Classes are kept small to foster a collaborative environment and allow students and faculty to become familiar with and respond to one another’s work. Our instructors are working artists and designers with a wealth of experience and connections and are committed to encouraging the talent of the next generation.

Majors

• Animated Arts

• Creative Writing

• General Fine Arts

• Graphic Design

• Illustration

• Intermedia

• Painting & Drawing

• Photography

• Printmaking

• Sculpture

Minors

• Art & Ecology

• Art History

• Ceramics

• Creative Writing

• Fashion

• Game

• Graphic Design

• Painting & Drawing

• Photography

• Stop-Motion

"Working in a tight-knit creative community like PNCA, we're constantly surrounded by art, ideas, and people that shape our creative processes and hone our work."

-LottieMaude Caldwell, '27 Intermedia

FOUR YEAR FLOW

Year One

Foundation Year

Your first year at PNCA is characterized by exploration, skill-building, and discovery. You will engage with all kinds of media from drawing to digital design, helping you choose your major and begin developing your creative practice.

Year Two + Three

Sophomore & Junior Year

These years will be spent taking classes in your chosen major and minors. By focusing on developing studio habits, students build a sustainable creative practice and the ability to think critically about their work and the role of art in general.

Year Four

Senior Year

The final year is centered around your thesis. During this year, you will have the time, support, and resources you need to plan and produce a project or body of work –including your own studio space and one-on-one mentorship.

Focus Week

Thesis

During the first semester of your senior year, you will present your thesis proposal to a faculty panel for approval. Panelists will offer feedback and discuss your proposal with you, helping you get on track to create your strongest work. The entire PNCA community comes together during Focus Week to support the seniors as they present their ideas.

Animated Arts

Animation is where fine art meets digital technology and at PNCA, our students have the support and resources to become well-versed in both. In our Animated Arts Lab, students gain experience working with 2D and 3D animation for a variety of genres from nonfiction documentaries to video games. Courses allow students to work independently and collaboratively to create animation projects.

Creative Writing

We consider language to be one of many tools available to modern writers. Because we offer a creative writing program within the context of an arts school, we challenge our students to integrate visual art into their writing. PNCA writers explore a wide range of genres, consider the role and possibilities of storytelling in today’s world, and develop a sustainable writing practice they can carry into their careers long after graduation.

General Fine Arts

Multifaceted artists can build skills in a wide range of creative mediums to develop a well-rounded practice. The General Fine Arts program allows students to put equal focus on many different materials and creative processes, building proficiency in a variety of skills and giving them more flexibility in their careers. Students take classes across disciplines and are able to dedicate their studio time to their varied interests.

Graphic Design

Graphic design is one of the most flexible and widely-applicable creative mediums, being utilized in many different industries. PNCA students can prepare for real-world design work through our Center for Design, our student-staffed professional design studio. Through Center for Design, students gain hands-on experience in design, art direction, and project management while working for real clients such as adidas, Mercy Corps, and Pendleton.

Illustration

Pursue a creative medium that merges storytelling with image-making. Illustrators provide visual narration for everything from video games and graphic novels to branding materials and designs for companies in a variety of industries. Our Wacom Lab, Digital Fine Art Printing Lab, and Creative Technology Lab offer our students top-ofthe-line equipment and workspaces to develop their craft and gain professional experience.

Intermedia

Develop a creative practice that integrates a variety of mediums. The Intermedia program is designed to allow room for students to employ emerging techniques and mediums into their creative practice, pushing the boundaries of art and design. From combining analog and digital methods to exploring the use of technology in creative work, intermedia students are often driven to innovate an entirely new style.

Painting & Drawing

In PNCA’s Painting and Drawing program, students develop their sense of shape, movement, color, and balance in visual art. Students can connect with visiting artists, participate in critiques, and take advantage of our on-campus studios to become stronger artists and discover their unique style. Whether students wish to explore traditional painting and drawing techniques or incorporate multimedia elements into their practice, we offer the support and resources they need.

Photography

As one of today’s most dynamic visual mediums, modern photography is about challenging tradition. PNCA’s industry-standard labs and studios, including a dark room, digital print studio, and lighting studio, provide students with the chance to develop professional-grade skills. From revitalizing analog methods to exploring digital techniques, our students are encouraged to consider the range of possibilities photography presents.

Printmaking

In the printmaking program, students can explore traditional and contemporary printing processes. PNCA’s professional print publishing program, Watershed, offers students the unique opportunity to work alongside working print masters. This program allows students to develop their printmaking skills, gain insight about printmaking as a career, and connect with established artists.

Sculpture

Our many 3D labs and studios allow students to experiment with different sculpture mediums as they develop their signature style. Sculpture students have the option to work with a variety of materials including metal, wood, clay, stone, fabric, and plastic and even incorporate digital elements into their pieces. Opportunities to exhibit work and connect with artists and curators helps students prepare for their post-graduation careers.

“Having working professionals among my faculty and colleagues has been a game-changer. My artistic practice and understanding of the world evolves with every class, conversation, and experience at PNCA."

-Ashley "Arthur" Pham, '27 Painting @ Drawing