Pratt Institute offers 41 undergraduate majors across art, design, architecture, and liberal arts — one of the most comprehensive curricula of any dedicated art school in the United States. Understanding Pratt’s program landscape, what each program is known for, and which programs are strongest helps Korean students make informed decisions about where to direct their preparation and application.
The Foundation Year: Where Every Pratt Student Begins
All Pratt undergraduate students begin with a Foundation Program — one year of broad studio exploration before entering their chosen major. The Foundation year covers: – Drawing (observational and conceptual) – 2D and 3D design fundamentals – Color theory – Digital tools introduction – Art history
This structured first year develops technical foundation across disciplines before specialization — a model similar to RISD’s Foundation year and different from SVA’s immediate major entry. For Korean students, Pratt’s Foundation year provides a developmental transition period that SVA does not.
School of Design
Communications Design BFA: Pratt’s most popular design program — encompassing graphic design, branding, typography, and communication design. Strong industry connections in New York’s advertising and brand identity markets.
Industrial Design BFA: Pratt’s signature program. Consistently ranked in the US Top 5 for industrial design. Strong workshop facilities (fabrication, model-making, materials testing) support 3D design and product development. Alumni work at Apple, Google, Nike, and major product companies.
Interior Design BFA: One of New York’s most respected interior design programs. Strong connections to the architecture and interior design industry.
Fashion Design BFA: Fashion design at Pratt — different from Parsons’ commercially oriented fashion program, Pratt’s fashion program emphasizes design with an art school sensibility.
Digital Arts & Design BFA: Digital media, interactive design, and emerging technology-adjacent design.
School of Art
Fine Arts BFA: Painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and mixed media. Studio-based with strong art history integration.
Photography BFA: Documentary, fine art, and commercial photography in New York’s specific photographic context.
Film/Video BFA: Narrative and documentary filmmaking.
Art and Design Education BFA: Preparation for teaching art at K-12 levels.
School of Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch): Pratt’s BArch is a five-year professional architecture degree — one of the most established in New York. The program integrates design studio with technical building systems, architectural history, and professional practice.
Architecture: Urban Design (BArch): Architecture with a specific urban design focus.
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Art History BA: Academic study of art history within the studio school context.
Writing BA / Creative Writing:
Pratt’s liberal arts programs provide the academic breadth that supports studio education.
Graduate Programs
Pratt’s graduate programs are extensive — MFA, MArch, MS, MPS, and MA programs across most undergraduate disciplines. The MFA programs at Pratt are strong, particularly in Fine Arts, Communications Design, and Architecture.
For Korean Students: The Most Relevant Programs
Industrial Design: The strongest reason to choose Pratt over other New York schools for design-oriented Korean students. No other New York school has an industrial design program that competes with Pratt’s in depth and reputation.
Communications Design: A strong graphic design program — less conceptually experimental than RISD’s or SVA’s design programs, more technically grounded.
Architecture: For Korean students interested in architecture, Pratt’s BArch is the most serious professional architecture degree available at a New York art school.
The Korean Student Association: Pratt PKSA is among the most popular student organizations at Pratt — reflecting a substantial and organized Korean student community.
The Presidential Scholarship and Program Choice
Pratt’s Presidential Scholarship (up to $27,000+/year) is awarded automatically to admitted students based on portfolio quality, GPA, and academic credentials. The scholarship is competitive across all programs — applying to the program that genuinely fits your creative interests (not the “most accessible” program) produces the strongest scholarship applications, because faculty-reviewed portfolios evaluated within the right disciplinary context are more competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pratt’s industrial design program really top 5 in the US? Yes — Pratt’s industrial design program is consistently ranked in the top 5 US programs, alongside RISD, Carnegie Mellon, Art Center, and a small number of other programs. For Korean students interested in product design, Pratt’s industrial design is genuinely exceptional.
What is the architecture program length at Pratt? Pratt’s BArch is a 5-year professional degree. This is longer than a standard 4-year BFA — Korean students applying to architecture should factor the additional year into financial planning.
Does Pratt have a specific graphic design program or is it within Communications Design? At Pratt, graphic design is offered as a concentration within the Communications Design BFA — the umbrella program that encompasses graphic design, illustration (as a communications emphasis), and digital communication.
Royal Blue Art & Design는압구정에위치한유학미술학원으로, 19년간한국학생들의RISD, Parsons, CalArts 등미국최상위미술대학입시를도와왔습니다. [상담 문의하기 →]