Parsons School of Design (PSD) Academics and Admissions

Academics

Parsons the New School for Design was founded in 1896 in New York City. The school offers a host of degrees and diplomas within five different schools including photography, architecture and design and management.

The School of Art Design and History offers two degrees including Art and Design Studies and the History of Decorative Arts and Design. The Art and Design Studies program offers courses in aesthetics, African art and renaissance art. The School of Art, Media and Technology offers degrees in design and technology, fine arts and illustration. The photography program offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees and includes courses like Bodies in Space, Exploring Portraiture and Performance and Photography.

The School of Fashion offers three degrees in fashion design, fashion marketing and fashion studies. The fashion design degree at the school is a bachelor’s degree with classes in fashion drawing, machine knitting and themes in fashion history.

Parsons offers a bevy of continuing education classes including digital design, fine arts and graphic design. There are also certificate programs offered in each discipline.

Parsons also offers pre-college and summer courses geared for high school and adult students. The Pre-College Academy serves students in grade 4-12 with courses in drawing, painting and architecture.

Parsons is fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Admissions

New students are required to submit a completed application form along with a non-refundable application fee. Official high school or prior college transcripts are required as well as an SAT or ACT score. All Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) applicants must submit a portfolio consisting of 8-12 pieces of work including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings and photographs. BFA students must also submit a six-part Parsons Challenge that requires an interpretation of three perspectives of questions students must ask themselves. Students may submit their work in any medium.

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Financial Aid

Students are required to submit the FAFSA form to be considered for aid. Parsons offers grants, scholarships and loans. Parsons offers loans in the form of federal Stafford, PLUS and FFELP loans.

The school also offers federal grants in the form of federal Pell grants, Academic Competitiveness grants and Federal Supplements Educational Opportunity grants.

Scholarships and fellowships are offered by the school on a need basis. Scholarships include the Stella Blum Research Grant, the Woman’s Studio Workshop and the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship

Students

Parsons was founded in 1896 and is located in Greenwich Village in the heart of New York City. Parsons the New School for Design was originally called the Chase School in honor of William Merritt Chase, the school’s founder.

An amazing list of artists have found their way through the doors of Parsons including Donna Karan, Jasper Johns and Edward Hopper.

Many clubs and organizations are found in the Parsons School including Buddhism for Global Peace, The New Alliance and Project Africa.

Recreation classes are also help at the school including salsa, yoga, and karate.

The school also offers intramural sports programs that include basketball, volleyball and soccer.

The Center for Students Leadership and Civic Engagement helps students to become effective leaders through workshops and speakers.

Interesting fact: Parsons the New School for Design is the setting for the Bravo reality TV series Project Runway.

Parsons School of Design