How to Apply

Ready to build your future at the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture? Fantastic! We are truly honored and delighted to have you join our college.

Start your A&A story

Whether you are applying as a first-year student, perhaps changing majors or transferring campuses, considering adding a minor, or returning for an advanced graduate degree, there are a number of steps to applying.

General admission requirements, important dates, and other information are described in detail on Penn State’s Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate School Admissions websites. In fact, you will have to submit new degree program applications through one of those two sites. Change of Major, Campus Transfer, and Minor students are encouraged to reach out to the A&A Advising Team for specific information about merging your current educational work with a new degree.

All students should look at the Program-Specific Admission Information section below to learn about specialized application, portfolio, or audition requirements for many A&A degree programs.

Paperwork and forms rarely grab the limelight as the best part of the process, but take some time to explore these resources and let us know if you have any questions along the way. We can help you step-by-step, and we will be cheering for you when you join A&A and help us grow!

    Want to learn more?

    Tell us a bit about you, what programs you’re considering, and we will provide detailed information or set up a meeting.

    Information Request Form

    Undergrad? Welcome!

    You’re just steps from expanding your horizons!

    The span of A&A’s degree programs across arts, design, and performance means you will find challenges, growth, and rewards throughout your undergraduate studies and experience. Find your passions. Change the world. Become your best self. Thrive. It all starts when you apply.

    Visit Undergraduate Admissions

    Want to add a minor?

    A&A minors are really rather major 🙂

    The minors available in A&A don’t just fit perfectly with A&A majors, they dovetail beautifully with degree programs from across the University. The best way to learn more about these minors, and to see how to fit a minor into your degree plans, is to talk to a member of the A&A Advising Team.

    Contact A&A Advising

    Grad study this way…

    Advanced degrees in the arts and design fields

    Scholars from around the globe choose the College of Arts and Architecture as the place to build and contribute to knowledge. As you make that choice, carefully review any program-specific information below, and then proceed with your application through the Graduate School website.

    Apply to the Graduate School

    Program-Specific Admission Information

    Due to the specialized nature of many programs within Arts and Architecture, there are program-specific requirements that are detailed in the sections below. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to (caaprospects@psu.edu)

    Consider Schreyer

    Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top honors programs. Arts and Architecture students frequently are leaders in their communities and in academics.

    Joining the Honors College means that you will join a group of students who define the best in academic achievement, but who are also committed to changing their communities, their workplaces, and the world for the better. Incoming A&A undergraduates are strongly encouraged to also apply to the Schreyer Honors College.

    Find out more about Schreyer

    Close-up shot of four Schreyer Honors College medals on a rich blue background. Photo by Steve Tressler.