Everything in art and design begins with visual communication.
Creativity in all forms takes strategy and practice — often starting with a sketch — to bring what you see and feel into the world. The Tyler School of Art and Architecture teaches you that and more. It’s why you spend your first year in Temple University’s art and design degrees immersed in the Art Foundations Program. Your success builds upon it.
Tyler requires a full year of art foundation classes to build your creativity and your technical and practical skills.
Beginning with foundational experiences in drawing, 2D, 3D, time-based, and digital media, you will expand your creative abilities, develop essential studio practices, and discover your full potential as a maker and thinker.
You also gain transferable skills like these, no matter which art major you choose:
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture features its own admissions team, who can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your educational and career goals.
Tyler’s first-year Foundations Program gives you the opportunity to begin your art school career by expanding your mind and building your art studio skills.
Slow down and truly see everything around you with fresh eyes and a clear head.
Balance your creative bursts and experimental tangents with ways to hone your focus (that work for your brain and how your rhythms of inspiration hit).
Experiment with your work persona, materials, and methods to find clarity about your messages and motivations.
Question and move beyond what you already believe about the creative process, visual communication, and design. That’s where innovators and change-makers thrive.
Transform your life and creative work with the support and feedback from your clever and welcoming classmates.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture offers a close-knit community of interdisciplinary thinkers and creators dedicated to using creative disciplines to drive change.
Your creative education encourages you to explore what’s possible and to establish meaningful bonds.
“I love teaching in Foundations — I teach drawing. No matter what you’re going to do as a designer or an artist, you’re going to need to communicate visually with people. Drawing is super direct and connects people.”
Meet the faculty who teach Tyler’s first-year foundation courses for all art majors.
Experience the creativity, art, and expression of your future classmates.
Lamont Speller Student
Student
Daphne Philippoussis Student
Student
Hayley Clayton Student
Ruby Shtino Student
You ask. We answer the most common questions about why and how Tyler structures art degree programs and design degree programs for your academic and career success.
Short answer? Because art and design basics matter a lot. The highly structured, immersive, and trans-disciplinary foundation classes prepare you for success — before and after graduation. These courses give you the chance to try various types of art and design potentially uncover new strengths and interests.
Natural creativity and talent only take you so far. Successful artists, designers and other creative professionals need trans-disciplinary knowledge and practical skills too. Via foundational courses, you gain these skills and beyond.
Yes, Temple University houses 17 schools or colleges, including the Tyler School of Art and Architecture on its campuses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Depending on your chosen major and other interests, your classes include options from both Tyler and Temple.
