Parsons The New School for Design is one of the world's leading centers for teaching and research in the fields of art, design and new media. At Parsons, we believe that artists perform an essential role in our society; to that end, we create a challenging and diverse learning environment for developing studio-based research and critical scholarship. We embrace interdisciplinary approaches to making and thinking about visual culture and promote global understanding of the arts.

The programs in Fine Arts offer an exciting immersion in the world of art. Our goal is to familiarize students with the means, the context and the interpretation of art through intensive instruction in the manifold techniques that contemporary creators have at their disposal. Students acquire comprehensive understanding of both the material elements that compose artworks and the ideas that make them meaningful. Through ongoing dialogues with a diverse faculty of arts professionals who provide individualized attention and a variety of perspectives on art's place in the global culture, students develop their own individual voice and critical apparatus.

The MFA in Fine Arts is a two-year program committed to expanding the formal, intellectual and conceptual work of advanced students. The MFA program encourages its students to approach the creation, presentation and interpretation of their work with thoughtfulness and refined skill in order to successfully launch their careers as professional artists. In addition to intensive ongoing studio critiques with faculty and peers, students also benefit from interaction with an impressive array of visiting artists who represent the range of art practices and cultural orientations that are redefining the cutting edge of art in the 21st century.