Fall Open House
There’s no better way to get to know UArts than by attending and exploring our virtual Open House, which will feature live events and videos that give you deeper insight into our creative community. Meet our award-winning faculty, and experience firsthand what life is like as a UArts student. We hope to see you there!
Our live events have concluded for the season. Explore the welcome videos below to learn more about undergraduate programs. Be sure to check out the Virtual Information Fair to hear from current students and alumni and learn more about departments from across the university.
If you are a prospective graduate student, learn more about attending our Graduate Information Session.
Welcome
We’re excited to welcome you to our creative community and can’t wait to see where your extraordinary talent takes you. Below, you can view messages from program directors and representatives of our different schools.
Welcome to the School of Art
Creative Writing
Learn about the Creative Writing (BFA) program with Interim Program Director Steven Kleinman. Explore Creative Writing (BFA) at UArts.
Fine Arts
Learn about the Fine Arts (BFA) programs with Program Director Rebecca Sack. Find your Fine Arts (BFA) program.
Photography
Learn about the Photography (BFA) program with Interim Program Director Julianna Foster. Explore Photography (BFA) at UArts.
Welcome to the School of Dance
Learn about the Dance (BFA) program with Dean Donna Faye Burchfield. Explore Dance (BFA) at UArts.
Welcome to the School of Design
Learn about the School of Design BFA programs with Dean Mark Tocchet, Graphic Design Program Director Angela Reichers, Illustration and Product Design Program Director Phil Holcombe, and Interaction Design Program Director Juan Parada. Find your School of Design program.
Welcome to the School of Film
Animation
Learn about the Animation (BFA) program with Program Director Karl Staven. Explore Animation (BFA) and Film & Animation (BFA) at UArts.
Film and Film Design
Learn about the Film (BFA) and Film Design (BFA) programs with Program Director Mike Attie. Explore Film (BFA) and Film Design (BFA) at UArts.
Game Art
Learn about the Game Art (BFA) program with Program Director Erik Van Horn. Explore Game Art (BFA) at UArts.
Screenwriting
Learn about the Screenwriting (BFA) program with Program Director Susan Skoog. Explore Screenwriting (BFA) at UArts.
Welcome to the School of Music
Composition
Learn about the Composition (BM) program with Program Director David Thomas. Explore Composition (BM) at UArts.
Instrumental Performance
Learn about the Instrumental Performance (BM) program with Program Director Chris Farr. Explore Instrumental Performance (BM) at UArts.
Vocal Performance
Lean about the Vocal Performance (BM) program with Program Director Elizabeth Radigonda. Explore Vocal Performance (BM) at UArts.
Music Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology
Learn about the Music Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology (BS) program with Program Director Michael Johnson. Explore MBET (BS) at UArts.
Welcome to the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts
Welcome from Incoming Dean Kym Moore
Learn about the Brind School with incoming Dean Kym Moore.
Brind School Theater Programs
Learn about the Brind School Theater (BFA) programs with Acting Program Director Justin Lujan; Directing, Playwriting and Production Program Director Amy Dugas Brown; Musical Theater Program Director Katie Donovan; Theater Design and Technology Program Director Natalie Robin; and Musical Theater minor Advisor Rob Tucker. Find your Theater (BFA) program.
Virtual Information Fair
Our Virtual Information Fair is a collection of introductory videos and frequently asked questions from departments across the university. You can visit the content any time to hear from current students and alumni and learn more about Critical Studies, Student Affairs and Student Financial Services.
Welcome from Student Affairs
Learn more about the Advising Center, Career Services, Campus Life, the Counseling Center, International Student Programs, Residence Life & Community Standards, and Student Health Services.
Watch the introduction to Student Affairs.
Welcome from Student Financial Services
Find out more about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), billing, financial aid and student employment.
Welcome from Critical Studies
Learn more about Critical Studies courses, which connect you with other students from all other majors to discuss how to use critical thinking and creative insight in your artistic practice.
Watch the introduction to Critical Studies.
Alumni FAQ Videos
Hear from UArts alumni and how UArts prepared them for success.
Student FAQ Videos
Learn more about what life is like for a UArts student.
Office of Educational Accessibility
The Office of Educational Accessibility works to break down the barriers that hinder student success and promotes inclusive best practices for teaching and learning.
Ira Brind School of Theater Arts Fall 2020 Events
The Brind School is working with the fall season directors to create dynamic and groundbreaking theater experiences. Performances include musicals, screenplays, workshops and senior projects. All events are ticketed. Prospective students can obtain free tickets by contacting Lindsay Cram, lcram@uarts.edu, no less than two hours before showtime.
School of Design 1st Year Core
The School of Design 1st Year Core is a unique and critical first-year experience for all undergraduate design majors. These collaborative courses will expose you to multiple modes of practice and technologies while providing a solid grounding in design thinking, drawing as thinking, communication, audience and meaning, design technology, and collaboration and team building.
Explore the core courses and see student work.
The Big Share
Explore projects and exhibitions by the School of Dance faculty, guests and students. You’re invited to wander and experience the contents of each project in your own time. Project pages will be available indefinitely, so enter, exit and return as you please.
Illustration Senior Portfolio 2020
UArts Illustrators are the imaginers of society. They develop their unique visual voice through
hands-on training in technique, image making, concept development, marketing and business. This booklet shows some of the incredible work created by the graduating class in 2020.
View the Illustration Senior Portfolio 2020.
Resist Covid Take 6!
Conceived by Carrie Mae Weems and Pierre Loving, Resist Covid Take 6! aims to create an artist-driven public awareness campaign to educate and enlighten Black, Latinx and Native American communities about the impact of COVID-19 on their lives. UArts is the exclusive presenter of Weems’ project in Philadelphia, where billboards, creative messaging and public art has been installed around Center City to highlight the virus’ staggering death toll.
See the project and learn more.
UArts Radio
Supported by the Music Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology (BFA) program, UArts Radio is an online radio station and blog bringing you the latest in music, culture and events. Students and faculty advisors contribute as bloggers, curators and DJs.
Five Films from Lightbox Film Center
Lightbox is a longstanding hub for cutting-edge cinema in Philadelphia. As a UArts student, you’ll have free access to Lightbox screenings on campus and special virtual events. In the meantime, Lightbox Film Center Director Jesse Pires has curated this set of five free short films you can watch now, which captures the unique and innovative approach to filmmaking that Lightbox brings to the foreground.
Class of 2020 Student Thesis Showcases
Explore the many virtual exhibits, galleries, projects, screenings and showcases that UArts programs put together to feature student theses and works from the Class of 2020. The diverse collections show the unique artistic perspectives of UArts students.
Explore the Class of 2020 Student Theses Showcases.
5 Questions with Visiting Artists
Visiting artists offer advice for aspiring professionals and answer questions about art education, collaboration, practice, portfolios and more.
“With a Little Help From My Friends”
The Class of 2020 students from the School of Music perform a virtual rendition of “With a Little Help From My Friends,” a UArts tradition.
Explore UArts’ 2020 Commencement.
Underground Pool
Underground Pool, the student literary magazine of the University of the Arts, is published each spring by the Creative Writing program. Each issue features short fiction, poetry and artwork by undergraduates from all majors at UArts. Students in Creative Writing and Graphic Design serve as each edition’s co-editors and designer, and submissions are read and reviewed by students in the Creative Writing major. Each magazine’s theme is chosen based on the particular concerns, questions and preoccupations raised in that year’s issue, which is described in the annual Letter from the Editors and reflected in the cover design.
School of Music Student Performances
Watch archived performances from the School of Music and other events held in our state-of-the-art, 140-seat Caplan Recital Hall. See where our ensembles—from ambient, hip hop and jazz, to funk/New Orleans and big band—perform. “The Caplan” hosts them all.
UArtist Playlist
There is a UArts playlist available, full of high energy tracks for studying, dreaming and creating. Showcasing the diverse talent and artistry of current students, faculty and alumni, #uartist is a celebration of the boundless creativity of the UArts community. No genre is off limits.
UArts’ YouTube Channel
Find out more about UArts students, alumni, visiting arts and more on our YouTube channel!
Student Financial Services
SFS helps thousands of students plan for a UArts education each year. Contact finaid@uarts.edu or 215-717-6170.
Learn more about Student Financial Services.
The Office of Residence Life & Community Standards
Residence Life and Community Standards can help you with all matters related to housing, including processes, residential programming and transition support. Contact reslife@uarts.edu.
Undergraduate Admissions Counselors
Christopher Bechen
Undergraduate counselor for students from AL, AR, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, WV, WI; from the following counties in southern NJ: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem; or from the following counties in PA: Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery
Sarah Serratore
Undergraduate counselor for students from CA, CO, GA, ID, MT, NV, NC, OR, SC, UT, WA, WY or the city of Philadelphia
Bronwyn Simons
Undergraduate counselor for students from CT, DE, FL, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT, or from the following counties in northern NJ: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Warren
Megan Webb
Undergraduate counselor for international students, as well as students from AK, AZ, DC, HI, MD, NM, PR, TX, VA and Western PA (not including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties)
Connect with Admissions
Jessica Smith
Admissions Engagement Assistant; while campus is closed due to Covid-19, Jessica remotely assists students and parents who contact the reception desk and helps answer general admissions-related email inquiries
Undergraduate degree programs
UArts offers a broad range of undergraduate programs in the visual and performing arts, design, and writing.
Residence halls
See what it's like to live on campus. Visit our residence halls virtually and learn more about housing.
UArtist
Check out #uartist campaign on Instagram! #UArtist celebrates the boundless creativity of the UArts community.
Start your application
Begin your application today. Our admissions team will help you throughout the process.