Mission & Accreditation

Mission

Paris College of Art’s mission is to prepare the next generation of creative professionals to be globally aware, engaged and open-minded citizens with the critical thinking and creative skills required to tackle complex problems. In an evolving world, we fulfill this mission by:

providing the highest international standard of art and design education taught within an American higher education paradigm, emphasizing critical reflection about the present, and designing the future through open and honest debate that considers contradictory viewpoints;
bridging cultures, being informed and drawing from our European environment to opening up educational opportunities to students from around the world;
facilitating mentorship and opportunities for students’ creative growth in their chosen field, while promoting an awareness of global issues

French Accreditation

Rectorat de Paris

Paris College of Art (PCA) is recognized by the French Ministry of Education as a Private Establishment of Higher Education (Etablissement d’Enseignement Supérieur Privé) and as is listed with the Rector of Paris under establishment code 075 45 87 D as such.

American Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Paris College of Art is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD, an association of approximately 322 schools of art and design, is the US national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.

The major responsibility of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design is the accreditation of education programs in art and design, including the establishment of curricular standards and guidelines for specific degrees and credentials.

The Association also provides counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions and programs. NASAD is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all art and design curricula.

Accreditation, in practical terms, is a stamp of approval, a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers. In some cases, accreditation assists in the transfer of credits from one institution to another. In all cases, it indicates that threshold standards are adhered to in a fashion that provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity.¹

¹ From http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/ viewed on September 25, 2010

Department of Education of the State of Delaware

Paris College of Art holds degree granting authority from the State of Delaware’s Department of Education, allowing it to offer courses, programs of courses, and degrees. The degree granting authority is contingent upon continued accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

New England Commission for Higher Education (NECHE)

Paris College of Art has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Candidacy is not accreditation nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidacy is a formal affiliation with the New England Commission of Higher Education. It indicates that the institution has achieved initial recognition and is progressing toward accreditation. Inquiries regarding an institution’s affiliation status with the Commission should be directed to: The New England Commission of Higher Education 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 Burlington, MA 01803, U.S.A. Direct line to Commission offices: (781) 425-7785 E-mail: info@neche.org Website: www.neche.org

Academic and Professional Affiliation

Cumulus the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media.

Cumulus, the only global association to serve art and design education and research, is a forum for partnership and transfer of knowledge and best practices. Membership is restricted to schools and institutions that have past through a rigorous application procedure and have been recommended and reviewed by a board of member schools. Paris College of Art was sponsored for membership by Domus Academy, University of Art and Design Helsinki TaiK (Aalto University 1/9/2009), Unitec, and Hongik University.

AACRAO American Association of Collegiate Registrars
APUAF Association des Programmes Universitaires en France
ELIA European League of Institutes of the Arts
FATE Foundations in Art: Theory and Education
FNEP Fédération Nationale de l’Enseignement Privé
NPDA National Portfolio Day Association

Are Paris College of Art degrees French national diplomas?

Paris College of Art (PCA) awards American degrees, which are recognized in the United States and around the world. PCA is not a French public university, and its degrees are not French national diplomas (diplômes nationaux), but they are recognized as equivalent to French degrees for the purpose of pursuing further study. US degrees do not automatically confer the same rights as French state-protected Diplôme national de Licence or Diplôme national de Master.

Is Paris College of Art accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education?

PCA is recognized by the Rectorat de Paris, the regional authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education, as a degree-granting higher education institution, but it is not accredited to award French national degrees by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Under French law, institutions that deliver programs exclusively in a language other than French cannot receive national degree accreditation. In this context, institutional recognition is the highest level of approval available.

Are PCA diplomas listed in the RNCP or another French national register?

PCA’s American Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are not listed in the RNCP (Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles) and are not French state-recognized diplomas. However, PCA’s American degrees are recognized in France by European Network of National Academic Recognition Information centers ENIC-NARIC as equivalent to a French university Licence (Bachelor-level degree) and Master (graduate –level degree). In the European nomenclature, the American Master’s degree is categorized as level CEC 7.

Can I obtain official recognition of my PCA degree in France through an equivalency attestation?

Yes. Graduates of Paris College of Art may request an equivalency attestation (attestation de comparabilité) from ENIC-NARIC France, the official body responsible for evaluating foreign degrees.

This document, which currently costs approximately €100, is an administrative evaluation that establishes the equivalency of your PCA degree to the equivalent level within the French education system (for example, Bachelor/Licence or Master level).

It is important to note that:

The attestation does not convert your PCA degree into a French national diploma.

It does not grant RNCP registration or state accreditation.

It serves as an official reference document that can be requested by employers, universities, or administrative authorities in France to better understand the academic level of your degree.

Many PCA alumni use this attestation when applying for jobs, further studies, or professional opportunities in France.

If I am already in France on a visa, will attending PCA disrupt my existing student visa or residence permit?

It shouldn‘t. PCA’s institutional recognition allows it to enroll international students and issue the documentation required for French student visas and residence permits. PCA full-time (12-19 credits per semester) students regularly obtain and renew student residence permits in France while enrolled in degree programs.

We have a dedicated Student Success team to assist students with visa applications and renewals. Please also note that PCA cannot provide documentation for French student visas to part-time students.

Can I apply for French nationality after completing a two-year Master’s program at PCA?

Completing a two-year Master’s program at PCA does not automatically qualify you for the accelerated two-year naturalization route reserved for graduates of French national Master’s degrees.

Eligibility for French nationality depends on multiple factors, including:

Type of degree earned

Length and continuity of legal residence in France

Employment status and professional integration

Language proficiency and overall integration

Many PCA graduates do choose to remain in France after graduation, but outcomes vary based on individual circumstances, nationality, and career path. We advise you to seek counsel from your home country’s consulate in France, or from a specialized immigration lawyer.

What’s the difference between a joint degree and a dual degree?

In the context of U.S. higher education and accreditation standards, dual degrees and joint degrees are distinct academic pathways, each with its own structure and implications. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

Dual Degree Programs

Definition: A dual degree program allows a student to earn two separate degrees.
Structure: Students complete the full requirements for both degrees, though there may be some overlap in coursework that reduces the total time.
Accreditation Implications:
- Each degree must meet the accreditation standards independently.
- Accrediting bodies (e.g., Middle States Commission on Higher Education, AACSB, ABET) will evaluate each program separately.
- If the degrees are from different institutions, each institution must be accredited appropriately.

Enrollment status and tuition implications: Students are sequentially enrolled at, and pay tuition to, one institution at a time. PCA does not administer US financial aid, so during their enrollment at PCA students cannot benefit from federal financial aid. They can benefit from PCA financial assistance.

Joint Degree Programs

Definition: A joint degree program results in a single degree that integrates coursework from two schools with a shared curriculum.
Structure: Students follow a coordinated curriculum designed to blend credits issued from the two institutions.
Accreditation Implications:
- The joint program must meet the standards of all relevant accrediting bodies.
- The institution must demonstrate that the integrated curriculum maintains academic rigor and learning outcomes and that both institutions have academic control.

Enrollment status and tuition implications: Students are enrolled at two institutions simultaneously. One institution collects tuition and shares the revenue with the other institution according to terms set forth in a contract. If students complete 51% or more of their credits at an institution that administers US financial aid, they can benefit from federal financial aid for the entire duration of their degree completion.