Moore College of Art and Design
Moore College of Art and Design is a private women's college in Philadelphia specializing in art and design education, founded in 1848 as the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. The college, the first and only women's art and design college in the United States, maintains commitment to women's education while opening graduate and continuing education programs to all genders. Located in the Parkway Museums District, Moore offers BFA and graduate programs in fine arts, design, curatorial studies, and related fields, preparing students for careers in creative industries while maintaining historic focus on women's professional advancement.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Sarah Peter founded the Philadelphia School of Design for Women in 1848, responding to limited educational opportunities for women seeking professional training in design and industrial arts. The school initially focused on practical arts—textile design, illustration, teaching—that provided women economic independence through professional work. This vocational emphasis reflected Victorian-era constraints while providing meaningful alternatives to the limited occupations then available to women.[1]
The institution evolved through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, expanding programs while maintaining focus on women's education. Renamed Moore Institute of Art, Science and Industry in 1932 and later Moore College of Art, the school adapted to changing art and design fields while preserving commitment to women's advancement. The transition to Moore College of Art and Design in 1990 recognized the institution's contemporary focus while honoring historical traditions.[1]
Academic Programs
[edit | edit source]Moore offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in animation and game arts, curatorial studies, fashion design, fine arts, graphic design, illustration, interior design, and photography and digital arts. Graduate programs include Master of Arts in art education with an emphasis on special populations, Master of Fine Arts in low-residency format, and Master of Arts in socially engaged art. These programs combine rigorous studio training with professional preparation emphasizing portfolio development and career readiness.[1]
The Locks Career Center provides career services, internship placement, and professional development that connect students with creative industries. Moore's location in Philadelphia provides access to museums, galleries, design firms, and other cultural institutions that serve as learning sites and employment destinations. The college's focused mission—art and design education for women—creates intimate community and targeted support that larger coeducational institutions cannot replicate.[1]
Campus
[edit | edit source]Moore's campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway places students within Philadelphia's premier cultural corridor, adjacent to the Barnes Foundation and near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, and other institutions. The Parkway location provides constant exposure to major art collections while situating students within walking distance of Center City cultural resources. Campus facilities include studios, computer labs, galleries, and residential facilities serving approximately 400 undergraduate students.[1]
The Galleries at Moore present exhibitions featuring contemporary artists, student work, and collection materials. These exhibitions provide students professional gallery experience while contributing to Philadelphia's contemporary art scene. The exhibition program's focus on women artists, social engagement, and underrepresented perspectives reflects Moore's mission while distinguishing its gallery program from other Philadelphia institutions.[1]
Women's Education Legacy
[edit | edit source]Moore's identity as a women's college shapes campus culture, academic programs, and institutional mission. Single-sex education in art and design creates environment where women lead, compete, and collaborate without coeducational dynamics that can disadvantage women in creative fields. The college's history of women's education connects contemporary students to traditions of women's professional advancement and feminist cultural production.[1]
Research suggests women's colleges produce disproportionate numbers of women leaders, scientists, and professionals—outcomes that Moore's art and design focus channels toward creative industries. The college's commitment to women's advancement extends beyond undergraduate education through graduate programs, continuing education, and community engagement that support women's participation in art and design fields throughout their careers.[1]
See Also
[edit | edit source]- Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Women's Education
- Art and Design Education
- Barnes Foundation
- Philadelphia Museum of Art