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Visual and Performing Arts Pathway

Expand your expertise and turn your talent in visual arts, dance, music or theatre into a rewarding career.

Opportunities

Find your niche — in the classroom and beyond. We’ll help you find your passion and build skills for your career. These are just a few of the resources you’ll have access to at WVU that will prepare you life after WVU.

View Pathway Majors

Student Organizations

Start your professional network (and add leadership experience to your résumé) by joining major-related clubs.

Facilities

Develop real-world skills in our specialized laboratories, clinics and research centers.

Antoinette E. Falbo Theatre
Art Museum of WVU
Brown Computer Aided Drafting and Rendering Lab
Costume Shop
Gladys G. Davis Theatre
Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre
Mary Katherine Wiedebusch Dance Studio
Mesaros Galleries
Scene Shops

Courses

Personalize your curriculum with classes related to your interests and career goals.

Careers

Wondering where this pathway leads? Check out some possible jobs.

View Related Majors Below ↓

Academics

A Pianist-Turned-Neuroscientist

Jacob Bumgarner
Music Performance: Piano, Class of 2019

Jacob had been an aspiring musician; however, a life-changing hand injury in 2017 inspired him to find a new career as a neuroscientist. His college career is marked by a blend of musical performances, self-employment, internship experience and undergraduate research.

More About Jacob

Related Majors

Explore majors related to this pathway.

Acting
Our program combines an intensive conservatory experience with the campus life of a major land-grant university. You’ll perform on our mainstage and in our laboratory theatre, and train with renowned faculty and guest artists (including Academy and Tony Award nominees).

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Art Education
We combine the benefits of a small studio program with the resources and facilities of a major research university. Our graduates are certified to teach grades pre-K through 12 and have a high job placement rate.

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Art History
An interdisciplinary field drawing on philosophy, history, literature, religion and mythology, Art History examines works of art and their contexts. Our program combines the benefits of a small, close-knit program with the facilities and resources of a major research university.

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Ceramics
Our nationally recognized Ceramics program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. We offer an immersive art experience that combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research university.

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Dance
Develop and hone your techniques in a program that offers both experiential and theoretical dance education. You’ll study a variety of dance genres and subjects — ballet, modern, jazz, tap, world dance, choreography, dance history and dance criticism.

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Design Studies
This flexible, interdisciplinary program prepares you to work in creative industries and provide innovative solutions to challenges facing our world today.

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Fashion, Dress and Merchandising
Fashion is one of the most dynamic, globally integrated and culturally significant industries in the world. Peer behind the gloss and glamour to discover how design concepts come to life – and then are marketed to consumers.

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Graphic Design
Our immersive art experience combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research university. You’ll get the skills, theory and aesthetic practice you’ll need for a career in the ever-evolving field of graphic design.

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Interactive Design for Media
A hybrid program of the College of Creative Arts and Reed College of Media, this major blends art, coding and design with an understanding of media platforms.

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Interior Design
Our graduates do much more than design houses; they design hospitals and hotels, offices and schools, textiles and furniture. They represent manufacturers, create lighting systems and preserve historic buildings.

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Intermedia and Photography
Our program offers an immersive art experience that combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research university. You'll build a portfolio to jump-start your career in photography, digital editing, video or animation.

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Journalism
Being a journalist today is about connecting people to the world 24/7 and engaging with audiences on the go. Our program prepares you to be an innovative, adaptive, problem-solving storyteller.

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Landscape Architecture
Landscape architects design for landscape and community sustainability, solve practical issues — from soil to water to poverty — and combine qualitative analysis with the design process. The ultimate goal: creating a vision for the future.

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Music
The Music BA program is for students who wish to specialize in music and still have time to explore WVU's academic offerings. It’s also perfect if you want to combine the study of music by double majoring in a non-music field.

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Music (Contemporary and Integrative Performance)
This program focuses on contemporary music performance within an integrative curriculum that includes electives from arts, theatre, dance, industry and philosophy.

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Music Composition
Society's increased interest in the arts is creating many new opportunities for professional composers and teachers. This program will prepare you to be a composer in both acoustic and electronic styles.

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Music Education
If you successfully complete this program (and all tests required by the West Virginia Department of Education), you’ll qualify for a Birth–Adult Music professional certificate that allows you to teach instrumental, vocal and general music in West Virginia schools.

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Music Industry
Learn the fundamental analytical, regulatory and creative knowledge and skills necessary for jobs in the music industry.

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Music Performance: Instrumental
In the School of Music, you’ll be surrounded by elite faculty who are some of the nation's brightest and most adept musicians. You’ll have weekly lessons, chamber music coaching, large ensemble rehearsal and opportunities in musical organizations.

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Music Performance: Jazz Studies
Jazz Studies encourages study, training and performance in all forms of creative improvised music, jazz and world music. You’ll expand your creative vision and gain a global perspective.

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Music Performance: Piano
The Music Performance: Piano program is designed for students who want to prepare as performers or teachers. Society’s increased interest in the arts is creating many new opportunities for professional musicians and private music teachers.

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Music Performance: Voice
The Music Performance: Voice program is designed for students who want to prepare as performers or teachers. Society's increased interest in the arts is creating many new opportunities for professional musicians and private music teachers.

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Music Therapy
Music therapists use a variety of instruments and musical experiences to help babies, children, adolescents, adults and older adults work toward non-music goals related to education, health, rehabilitation and wellness needs.

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Musical Theatre
We combine an intensive conservatory experience with the college experience of a major university. You’ll perform on our mainstage and in our laboratory theatre, and train with renowned faculty and guest artists (including Academy and Tony Award nominees).

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Painting
We offer an immersive art experience that combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research institution. You'll train in traditional and experimental oil and acrylic media and explore both figurative and abstract imagery.

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Printmaking
Our BFA program focuses on the development of personal imagery while cultivating foundational skills. Along with the resources of a major research university, we offer an immersive art experience in a small studio environment, providing individual attention to promote student growth.

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Puppetry
Puppetry course work includes intensive study in children’s theatre, the practice of puppetry as a theatrical art form, and educational and creative dramatic activity as methods of learning and self-development for children.

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Sculpture
Our BFA program provides training in many different materials and processes for making three-dimensional work. We offer an immersive art experience that combines a small studio environment with the resources of a major research university.

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Technical Art History
This is the first degree of its kind in the U.S., and brings together art, science and the humanities.

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Theatre
The BA Theatre program allows you to explore and customize your education to include a more multidisciplinary approach to theatre studies, including performance, design and technology, dramaturgy and playwriting.

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Theatre Design and Technology
We provide hands-on training through work on the Theatre and Dance mainstage. Working side by side with faculty, you'll develop a variety of theatre environments using the most current technology and tools available.

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