Moore College of Art & Design is dedicated to excellence in art and design. Founded in 1848, Moore is the first and only visual arts college for women in the United States. Through its undergraduate bachelor of fine arts degrees for women and its coeducational graduate programs, Moore cultivates creativity, promotes scholarship and prepares its students for professional careers in the arts by emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, risk-taking, and strong communication skills. Moore is dedicated to producing graduates that distinguish themselves as leaders in their fields.

What makes your school’s art & design programs different & unique from other art & design school programs? What are the top 3 program features that make your program stand out?

Moore provides a number of unique opportunities for its students, specific to the College: 

It is the only higher education institution devoted to art and design in the U. S. that provides $1,000 paid internships for all undergraduate students in every major.  This opportunity is an important key to Moore’s career-focused education and offers a first-hand experience in a professional setting.  

Only 11% of those working in the gaming industry are women.  Moore saw a need to change this and launched its Animation & Game Arts major in 2013. It is the only college that provides this program exclusively for women and is designed to help them pursue careers as visual artists in the fields of animation, game art and mobile media design.

Graduate Studies offers an MA in Art in Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations, the only graduate degree of its kind in the country. This rigorous program educates art teachers to develop skills for adapting and implementing strategies that enrich the lives of all students, with a particular emphasis on students with disabilities. Courses focusing on teaching students with disabilities are also taught at the undergraduate level.

Can students take courses in other schools?

While the College collaborates with Temple University, Philadelphia University and other local institutions of higher education on exhibitions and educational programs, students at Moore do not take courses at other schools.  However, Moore is in partnership with Arcadia University, through which it provides its students with international studies opportunities that enhance their understanding of global creative industries early in their college experiences.

What steps do you take to evaluate a student’s candidacy, apart from reviewing their creative portfolio?

When evaluating the student’s candidacy, the Admissions office reviews their transcripts, GPA and test scores, as well as their portfolio, to ensure that the student has the academic and artistic ability to be successful in Moore’s rigorous liberal arts and foundation programs.  

What does your program look for most in the creative portfolio during admissions? What do you think makes an A+ portfolio? 


The Admissions office looks at the following areas during the portfolio review process: drawing, composition, craftsmanship, value, color, concept and originality. The top portfolios show a high level of proficiency in each of these areas. The portfolio should demonstrate the student’s strengths and allow submissions from any media or style. Work does not need to reflect a theme or concentration.

How are new technologies affecting students’ curriculums and/or ways of learning/collaborating at your school? 


Moore recently added a new Animation & Game Arts major, placing the college as a major partner in the growing Philadelphia technology sector. The major is designed for women who want to pursue careers in
the fields of animation, game art and mobile media design. Students are also learning how to integrate digital technologies into their art practice through Moore’s fabrication lab, or “Fab Lab,” comprised of digital fabrication tools and equipment, including a 3-D printer, laser cutter and engraver and digital embroidery machine.

How does your program help graduating students with internships or jobs? Can students expect job placement more at your program than in others? If so, how or why? What kinds of job opportunities have you seen students take once they completed their degrees?

Moore is the only art and design school to provide $1,000 paid internships for each student in every major. Students are required to complete a 240-hour internship during the summer before their senior year. About 40 percent of Moore students have been hired immediately from their internship. Moore’s Locks Career Center has built up a large network of employers and motivated alumni in art and design fields. The Center provides free resume advice, career coaching and an electronic job bank, while also sponsoring an annual Senior Show VIP Reception, a launching pad for students, ensuring that several hundred employers, collectors and internship hosts are in attendance to view and purchase student work and meet and interview students. 94 percent of 2014 Moore undergraduates are employed or in graduate school, 87 percent in their fields of study. Students are employed at such high-profile companies as Destination Maternity, Anthropologie, Lenox and Campbell’s Soup.

Are there any exciting developments for your programs that students should know about?

Moore is expanding its partnerships with businesses to provide students with academic enhancements tied to product development and merchandising with such companies as Campbell’s Soup and Century 21 Department Store.  These initiatives expose students to real world experiences tied directly to the classroom resulting in creative and curatorial projects that generate greater exposure for their work. 

The College has integrated technology more heavily into the learning process.   The number of online courses has increased to 16, including hybrid courses in the Graduate Studies program.  The FabLab Studio, which includes a MakerBot 3D printer, digital embroidery machine and laser cutter has provided the tools for advanced instruction.

In addition, after extensive renovations, Moore recently opened its new Campus Commons, which includes a contemporary Dining Hall, lounge with a fireplace, café, and a wall on which students can express their creativity. 

What is the most distinguished feature at your school?

Founded in 1848, Moore is the first and only visual arts college for undergraduate women in the United States with one of the oldest, ongoing Young Artists Workshop programs, founded in 1921.

What is the best advice you have for students entering the art, design & architecture field? What role does the artist play today?

If these are fields you feel passionate about, do not let anyone dissuade you from your path toward mastery and career success. Ignore naysayers who give into the stereotypes that are meant to stop you from following your destiny. This is not to say you should take to the path without a good road map and a disciplined practice to sustain you. Ask for help but don’t act helpless. Don’t be afraid--plow ahead. Yes, you will get tired, disappointed and discouraged. Buck up. Don’t whine. Develop grit. You will work harder than you thought possible, but you will achieve a meaningful life and have the chance to offer your best self to the world.

Interviewed by Michele Cohen, Associate Director of Communications

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Online Application

PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS

12–20 pieces

TRANSCRIPTS

Required

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS

One letter is suggested

APPLICATIONS DEADLINES

Rolling basis all year

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

TOEFL: 79 (iBT)
IELTS: 6.5
PTE: N/A

TIPS

First-year students who submit an application and are admitted by December 1st, are eligible for Early Action. The benefits of Early Action include a $500 scholarship on your first year at Moore as well as priority financial aid and housing consideration.

ALUMNI

Alice Neel, Portrait artist
Myra Levick, Artist
Adrienne Vittadini, Fashion designer
Anne Occi, Designer
Dom Streater, winner of “Project Runway,” season 12
Polly Smith, Emmy Prize winner
Sharon Wohlmuth, Pulitzer Prize winner

FACT!

BFA Tuition & Fees 2015-2016

Tuition: $35,608
General College Fees: $1,220
Room & Board: $13,836
Total: $50,664

FACT!

2014 Fall Enrollment

412 – BFA Students
36 – Grad Students
6 – Post Bacc

DID YOU KNOW?

Founded in 1848 as the Philadelphia School of Design for Women; became Moore College of Art & Design in 1989. Educating women for careers in art and design for over 160 years.

ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Admissions Office, Moore College of Art & Design
20th Street and The Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

+1 (215)-965-4015 or (800)-523-2025