Art and Design
Commitment. Excellence. Creativity.
We provide strong training in the professional degree areas, including the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Fine Arts, Photography, Graphic Design and Art Education. We also offer the Bachelor of Arts in Art History and the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. Our primary purpose is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue careers in these disciplines. Emphasis is placed on the production of intensive studio-based arts research, on the development of critical evaluative skills, and the practice of excellent oral and written communication abilities.
Our students develop research in state-of-the art studios that include expansive technologies for graphic design, printmaking, ceramics, wood and metal installation work, painting, illustration, digital and darkroom photography. Most importantly, our faculty members are committed to offering individualized instruction, academic advising and professional mentoring. Devoted solely to undergraduate learning, we offer small faculty-to-student ratios (1:12) that ensure high-quality contact with instructors. Our instructors are leaders in their professional fields, all committed to excellence in research and in teaching.
The University of Dayton is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
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Learn more about all of the academic programs, scholarships, and experiential learning we have to offer.
Our faculty are dedicated to mentoring students, preparing them for the job market. Students explore a range of vocations within corporate and non-profit organizations and are encouraged to undertake Internships with local arts organizations, design firms and professional groups.
Our students can take advantage of several curricular and extra-curricular activities which help enrich their learning and creativity in the visual arts.
Please contact us for more information about our programs. We look forward to hearing from you.
In this video, learn about arts degrees at the University of Dayton. Hear from students majoring in Music, Art and Design, and Theatre, Dance, and Performance Technology.
In this video, learn about arts degrees at the University of Dayton. Hear from students majoring in Music, Art and Design, and Theatre, Dance, and Performance Technology.
The Ohio Arts Council honored two University of Dayton College of Arts and Sciences faculty Individual Excellence Awards for their respective creative work in filmmaking and graphic design. Jesseca Ynez Simmons, assistant professor of communication, and Misty Thomas-Trout ’11, assistant professor of art and design, received the awards and $4,000 grants to develop their skills and advance their careers.
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Department of Art and Design faculty Glenna Jennings, Julie R. Jones Ruse and Joel Whitaker were among several local photographers whose work was recently published in The Dayton Daily News' special publication In the Balance: Reflections of Our Community During COVID. Enjoy this story and follow other recent media coverage of the service, research, scholarship and commentary of College of Arts and Sciences programs and their faculty.
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Experiential learning takes place across the University of Dayton College of Arts and Sciences in many forms, including the annual Dean’s Summer Fellowship program. Faculty-mentored undergraduate research helps students make connections between coursework and research, providing a spark that leads to greater engagement in their studies and a clear path to graduation.
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At the University of Dayton, the visual and performing arts link learning across disciplines for all first-year students. See some of the ways that learning is enhanced through the arts.
Common Academic Program (CAP) courses offered by the Department of Art and Design feature an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to learning and creative research.
The Department of Art and Design recognizes the scholarly efforts of our majors as they work toward their goals.
Four-year scholarships are awarded to first-year, full-time students in any Department of Art and Design program of study.