The School

The School of Visual Arts (SVA) is currently the largest independent college of art in the country, with a full-time enrollment of approximately 3,500. Students who choose SVA are often attracted by the breadth and professional standing of the faculty members, the passion of the student body, the rigors of the curriculum, the industry standards within the studio facilities, and the energy and excitement that is New York City.

Location

Located in the heart of New York City, SVA offers students the opportunity to become involved in one of America’s largest and most vibrant cities, the art capital of the world. The energy, the spirit, and the desire to be the best—three characteristics of New York City—constantly challenge and inspire the students. The unparalleled leadership and accomplishment of the city’s arts and design communities demand excellence, and the School of Visual Arts prepares students to compete successfully in this environment.

Academic Programs

The curriculum has been designed to prepare students to graduate as working professionals in the arts. Consequently, the four-year curriculum is designed to allow students greater freedom of choice in electives and requirements with each succeeding year. The first year of the program, a foundation year, ensures the mastery of basic skills in the chosen discipline as well as in writing and art history. After the first year, students choose their own area of concentration and, under the guidance of the academic advisers and faculty members, pursue their own individual goals. The B.F.A. degree programs require the completion of 120 credits, including 72 studio credits, 12 in art history, 6 in electives, and 30 in humanities and sciences.

Off-Campus Programs

Students have the opportunity to participate in art programs abroad during the summer semester in Barcelona, Florence, and Toulouse. SVA also offers third-year students in photography, graphic design, illustration, interior design, film and video, and fine arts the opportunity to study abroad at an AIAS (Association of Independent Art Schools) affiliate in Europe.

Faculty

The faculty at SVA is composed of more than 900 practicing artists and designers who represent an array of fields in the fine and applied arts. Each faculty member has chosen to commit to the professional art world as well as to teaching the next generation of artists. As a result of the college’s policy of using working professionals to teach, the college has been able to attract to the faculty some of the most prominent artists in New York.