Undergraduate Electives
All undergraduate majors within Parsons permit students to customize their studies by selecting elective courses offered throughout the university. Electives enable you to pursue your passions and goals, expand your skills, or focus on subjects closely related to your major. When considering options, allow yourself time to explore—you may discover interests that broaden your opportunities.
At Parsons, electives are organized into two categories: studio/business electives and liberal arts electives.
Both kinds are found in the University Course Catalog. Details of studio/business and liberal arts electives follow.
Studio/Business Electives
Studio/business electives are courses that focus on hands-on art and design learning and/or strategic design and business. You can take electives in subjects that are very similar to your required core studio coursework. For example, a BFA Photography student may select a Photo Processes elective to deepen their learning in that area. A BFA Fashion Design student may select a Digital Patternmaking elective.
Choosing electives that are different from your major will allow you to branch out and explore. A BBA Strategic Design and Management student may take a Painting elective to boost their hand-making techniques. A Product Design student may pursue a Brand Strategy elective to explore launching a business.
Liberal Arts Electives
Liberal arts electives are humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics courses that build your critical thinking, writing, analytical, science, and math skills. They are offered throughout The New School—the university home of Parsons—so you have access to electives in a range of topics including math, journalism, languages, psychology, and anthropology. If you're more interested in visual and material culture, you may select Parsons courses in Art and Design History and Theory.
Choosing Your Electives
Start your search by identifying topics that interest you in the studio/business elective and liberal arts elective categories. You can use topics as search terms in the search field at the top of the University Course Catalog page.
Below is a key to studio/business elective subject codes and related course topics.
Studio/Business Elective Subject Codes and Topics
You can fulfill your liberal arts elective requirements with courses offered throughout the university. Below are tips for researching classes and a key to subject codes of liberal arts electives offered at Parsons.
Liberal Arts Elective Subject Codes and Topics
Enter search terms for subjects that interest you on the University Course Catalog page. Look for the “Liberal Arts” tag found at the upper right-hand corner of the course pages or filter for “Liberal Arts” in the course catalog. Choose subjects in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. You can also scan for Parsons-specific liberal arts classes using the subject codes shown below.
Parsons Liberal Arts Elective Codes and Topics
PLAH: History of Art and Design
PLDS: Design Studies
PLFS: Fashion Studies
PLHT: History of Visual and Material Culture
PLSD: Spatial Design Studies
PLVS: Visual Studies
Electives and Course Levels
As you browse electives, you'll notice that each class has a number. The numbers are the course level and reflect how advanced the course material is. Higher course levels are more advanced. The guide shown below can help you choose among your options.
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1000-level courses (such as PSAM 1001) are introductory-level courses, designed to acquaint you with the basics. They are particularly suitable for first-year students and anyone looking to acquire a new skill.
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2000- to 3000-level courses (such as PLAH 3000) are intermediate-level classes, designed for second- or third-year students.
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4000-level courses (such as PSDS 4001) are more advanced classes that cover specialized topics in depth. These courses are best suited to seniors and students who already have a solid foundation in the subject.
Keep an eye out for any restrictions or prerequisites listed in the course descriptions, as some classes are open only to students of designated year levels or those who have completed specific courses.
Advising Support
Advisors can help you select electives throughout your academic journey at Parsons. Make an appointment with your advisor through Stellic. Schedule regular appointments with your advisor, so that you can stay on track with program requirements and electives and meet your learning objectives.
Electives and Minors
Electives enable you to pursue interests outside of your major, and you can focus on these subjects in even greater depth by pursuing a minor. Minors are sets of courses that develop skills in broadly applicable fields such as writing, psychology, immersive storytelling, coding, urban studies, and fashion communications. Most classes for minors fulfill elective requirements. By complementing what you learn in your major, minors help you become a well-rounded, adaptable graduate and tailor your own career path. Visit the Undergraduate Minors page to learn more about minors.
