BA Art at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Programme overview

The BA in Art gives a broad foundation in materials, techniques and contemporary art practice. All undergraduates share a foundation studio curriculum, and BA students then take wider liberal arts requirements instead of a studio concentration. The art degree requirements total 42 credits.

Faculty: Mason Gross School of the Arts | Department: Art & Design | Study mode: full-time | Location: New Brunswick, NJ, United States

What you will study

Foundation studio (Drawing Fundamentals, 4D Fundamentals, Visual Thinking A and B), art history and critical issues (Introduction to Art History, Seminar in Contemporary Art A and B) and 2 credits of Visual Arts Practice.

Career pathways

Museum educator or staff, gallerist, archivist, art handler, professional artist, arts educator, arts nonprofit work, photographer, designer, preparation for art therapy study, arts administration and creative direction.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Mason Gross BA in Art: students must be Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduates whose school (SAS or SEBS) approves the declaration and must be accepted by the Department of Art & Design. Transfer from BA to BFA requires a school-to-school transfer and a portfolio review (applications due March-May for fall, October-December for spring). First-year applicants to Mason Gross also submit a portfolio, audition or interview with the Rutgers application.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Fall (September) entry: first-year Early Action application due November 1, 2026 and Regular Decision due December 1, 2026 for September 2027 entry; Spring (January) entry for 2027 is open to first-year and transfer applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, with an application due date of October 1, 2026.

New Brunswick, Fall/September 2027: first-year Early Action November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31, 2027); first-year Regular Decision December 1, 2026 (decision by February 28, 2027); all transfer applicants February 1, 2027; candidate reply date May 1, 2027. Applications after the due dates are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. Applicants must apply by December 1 to be considered for honors and merit-based scholarships.

New Brunswick, Spring/January 2027: all first-year and transfer applications due October 1, 2026; online decision December 1, 2026; candidate reply date December 7, 2026.

Applications are submitted through the Rutgers Application or the Common App. SAT and ACT scores are optional for Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduate applicants (SAT code 2765, ACT code 2592); Rutgers maintains test-optional and test-blind policies through 2027. Application fee is paid online by credit card or by mailed check; fee waivers are accepted from the National School Lunch Program, military or veteran applicants, College Board, NACAC, ACT and EOF.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply

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