Willamette University inks merger with Pacific Northwest College of Art

Willamette University will soon have more options for students studying art after finalizing a merger with the Pacific Northwest College of Art on Wednesday.

The college, which has a downtown Portland campus, will maintain its own admission process and be an independent college within Willamette, offering both undergraduate and graduate arts degrees.

Willamette President Steve Thorsett said the two institutions began discussing possible joint programs in November 2019.

The College of Art was looking for ways to serve art students in the 21st century, which required more technological offerings, Thorsett said. Artists who want to explore social issues like racial justice or climate change in their work also want to study liberal arts subjects like sociology and history, he said.

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