Moore College of Art and Design

About Moore College of Art and Design

Founded in 1848 by Sarah Worthington Peter, Moore College of Art and Design is a private, not-for-profit art school in Philadelphia, PA. Moore is proudly the first and only visual arts college for women in the United States although graduate studies programs are co-educational. For those who are looking for art schools in PA, Philly is rich with iconic landmarks, sculptures, murals and public art. All of which could make the perfect backdrop for a graduate degree from Moore College of Art and Design.

Type of Institution

4 yr

Private not-for-profit

Tuition Range

Over $35K

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

7:1

Financial Aid Percent

99%

Graduation Rate

72%

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Tuition

Range shown below is based on In-state tuition and does not include any external costs such as housing, books, etc.

Estimate Tuition Range

$$$$.................................. $0 - $15,000
$$$$.................................. $15,001 - $25,000
$$$$.................................. $25,001 - $35,000
$$$$.................................. $35,001 or above

Financial Aid Percent

Includes students receiving Federal work study aid as well as aid from pell grants,federal grants, scholarships, and other sources of financial aid.

Why Moore College of Art and Design?

With a wide range of Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Certificates, Moore College of Art and Design is located in the heart of Center City, Philly. Just steps away from Logan Circle and the Parkway, students could walk to the Barnes Foundation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, the Rodin Museum and more. Not much further Old City awaits with its charm and galleries. Plus, there are numerous artistic communities, mural arts programs, sculpture gardens, public fountains, and other iconic buildings to see and tap into for design inspiration. Of course, great restaurants, shops, and all that this dynamic city have to offer is accessible. Students could also take side excursions to the Big Apple. Philadelphia is not too far from the greater NYC area. This proximity might offer students a dynamic array of field research, networking and professional opportunities.

Moore’s Unique Masters Programs

Moore’s Graduate Studies offerings consist of unique programs in Socially-Engaged Art, Socially-Engaged Studio Art, and Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations. Through these programs, Moore aims to help cultivate creativity, promote scholarship and prepare its students to pursue professional careers in the arts. Graduates could take away an ability to think critically, solve problems, take risks with their creative process and communicate more effectively.

Gain Practical Experience at Moore

Moore College of Art and Design programs recognize the value of professional exposure and could require a field practicum, internship or international studio residency. Each program hosts an annual symposium that may feature guest speakers of national and international import, with a focus on contemporary issues in art, education and design.

Class Schedule Built for a Holistic Experience

Moore uses a semester-based academic calendar. All graduate studies programs at Moore College of Art and Design aim to hold classes from Tuesdays through Thursdays though there are exceptions to this goal. With this type of schedule, students might experience an intensive studio and research practice with wiggle room for potential employment and internship opportunities. Also, to take in the art and culture throughout the City of Philadelphia.

Moore College Student Resources

Students have easy access to Moore’s library, design studios, digital media labs, and other College Resources such as those listed below.

Academic Advising
Fox Center for Digital Arts, Design Media, & Printing (Latest technology and industry-utilized software)
Alumni Association
Exhibition Spaces
Career Center

Request Information

Mission, Vision and Values

While specific questions and approaches focus each of Moore’s degree programs, there are several objectives that weave throughout. Access & Social Justice, Education & Engagement, Direct Connections & Support, Professional Practices, Place-Based Inquiry, and Public Programs.

Admissions

Application requirements for all of Moore College’s graduate programs include the following guidelines.

Complete an Application (could be done online)
On-Site Interview (out of state applicants may arrange for telephone or Skype interviews)
Statement of Intent
2 Letters of Recommendation from an employer, professor, or professional colleague
Resume / CV
All Official College Transcripts
International Applicants only: English proficiency: TOEFL scores: 92 IBT (Internet-based test), 580 PBT (Paper-based test), 237 CBT (computer-based test) IELTS score of 6.5

Apart from this, applicants need to take note of program-specific requirements. For instance, applicants to Moore’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program must also submit the material below.

Have a Bachelors degree from an accredited institution in any discipline of studio, visual or fine arts, and have completed a minimum of 15 art history credits
The statement of intent includes a proposal related to the type of inquiry and investigation in community practice the candidate wishes to pursue
Portfolio (submitted via Slideroom or online gallery link) of recent artwork consisting of 15 to 20 images that show a mature and focused body of work

General Information

Special Learning Opportunities: Undergrad Distance, Grad Distance
Credit Accepted: Dual credit, Credit for life experiences, Advanced placement(AP) credits
Carnegie Classification: Schools of art, music, and design
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable

Faculty

There are 83 full-time faculty
111 Part-time instructional faculty

Student Services

Study Abroad Services
Remedial Services
Academic Career Counseling Services
Placement Services Completers
Library Services

Enrollment, Attendance, Retention Rates and Graduation

Moore College of Art and Design has a total graduate enrollment of 21

Graduate attendance rate of 62% part-time and 38% full-time

For the years 2018-2019 Moore College of Art and Design awarded: 85 bachelor's degrees, 13 master's degrees

Financial Aid

Moore may offer need-based financial aid as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Accreditation

Moore College of Arts and Design is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design and is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In 1941 actually, Moore became the first art & design school to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Universities.

Campus Locations

Moore College Of Art And Design: Philadelphia, PA
20th Street and The Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

Discover your artistic potential as you develop leadership skills in your field through one of Moore College’s graduate programs. Some programs meld online courses with hands-on practice in the community.

Master of Art in Art Education

The Master of Arts in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations at Moore aims to help graduates ready themselves to adapt and use strategies that could enrich the lives of diverse learners. Students could also pursue the MA jointly with teacher certification. Through action-based research in a field setting, students may get the chance to develop and test innovative techniques. Also, course work could help participants grasp the finer points of how to integrate technology into the classroom and the legalities of special education. At the same time, studio intensives ensure students maintain their creativity while they tackle theoretical and practical elements.

Master of Fine Arts

Moore’s MFA in Socially-Engaged Studio Art melds traditional studio practices with a focus in community practice and interconnectivity with the social world. To this point, Moore has a distinctive partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia, the largest public art agency in the country. The MFA program aims to foster students’ agility with various art media (painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, video, digital fabrication, metals and textiles), research and theory. Throughout their course of study, MFA students may engage in critical dialogue with faculty, visiting artists, critiques, seminars, lecture courses and in independent advising.

Master of Arts in Socially Engaged Art

Moore’s MA in Socially-Engaged Art has a cross-curriculum with socially-engaged studio art MFA candidates. It is a full time on-campus curriculum designed to be completed in two semesters. While it may share some content with the MFA, students spend their first year developing research skills. Coursework may take a deeper look at case studies from Philly’s Mural Arts Programs to get students to think about their final thesis and the documentary process. An intensive course plan could also provide more in-depth knowledge about global modernism, artist’s web presence and contemporary art. In addition, students may take a course in project management – built to teach the tools of arts administration to both MA students.