Suffolk University's New England School of Art & Design (NESAD) offers a disciplined study of the visual arts and design with a comprehensive liberal arts component. Originally founded as the New England School of Art in 1923, NESAD is one of 18 departments within the University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Beginning with a challenging, interdisciplinary foundation program, students are trained to become flexible, adaptable artists and designers, who appreciate and assimilate technological change as they master traditional and current disciplines, techniques and conventions. Excellence in technique, the joy of creative expression, the passion to explore, the ability to think critically, to problem solve and to accommodate change are hallmarks of our mission.

Portfolio Reviews & Career Preparation

An integral part of NESAD’s educational philosophy involves career preparation, and a major component of this preparation is the portfolio review, from informal in-class critiques to a final senior review. The process helps prepare you for the rigors of the employment market and assists you in developing techniques for successful job placement. Regularly scheduled reviews are required of all MFA, MA and BFA candidates beginning in the foundation (freshman) year (and all certificate candidates prior to graduation), as is participation in senior group shows and graduate theses exhibitions.

Program Options & Requirements
BFA: Interior Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Arts
Certificate: Graphic Design
Continuing Education & Preparatory Programs
 

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Programs
The BFA programs require four years to complete (if done on a full-time basis) and involve one year of foundation studies and three years of major coursework. There is also a comprehensive liberal arts component throughout, providing a broad general studies background to complement the intensive professional art and design education. The combination provides a competitive edge when job hunting as well as strong preparation for an advanced degree in the arts.

In order to earn a BFA degree, a student must complete 124 credits, of which approximately 72 credits will be studio and related courses, 16 credits art history, and 36 credits liberal arts. Of these 124 credits, a minimum of 45 must be completed at Suffolk University in order for the degree to be granted.

The BFA may also be completed on a part-time basis (fewer than 12 credits per semester). While course loads will vary widely, we recommend that the BFA program be completed in no more than eight years. Course requirements for full- and part-time students are identical and part-time students will be held to the same academic standards and requirements as full-time students.

Completion of the Foundation Program or its equivalent is required for entry into any of the major programs, whether on a full- or part-time basis. Please see individual program outlines within this catalog for a list of required courses for your chosen major program.

Certificate Program
The Graphic Design Certificate is a shorter-term, part-time, flexible program with a narrower focus than the BFA in Graphic Design. For curriculum specifics and admission requirements, see the Graphic Design Certificate Program section in this catalog.

Continuing Education & Preparatory Programs
The Continuing Education Division offers programs and courses for adult learners, as well as three summer programs: the Pre-College Program for high school students, the Pre-Graduate Program for Master of Arts in Interior Design and Graphic Design applicants who need to build their admissions portfolio, and the Accelerated Graduate Program for admitted Master of Arts in Interior Design and Graphic Design students, who will begin their coursework in the fall.