School of Art

Dear School of Art graduates:

Milestones such as graduations are bittersweet: I will miss seeing all of you in and around our School, but I am also eager to watch your next steps as you launch your lives as artists and arts professionals. I trust that the time that you spent in School of Art has prepared you to fully experience the joys, opportunities and challenges that come your way, now and in the future. The past year has been shaped by powerful external forces including wars in Ukraine and Gaza and a national election. The skills of resilience and problem solving that you have begun to develop as a university student will no doubt come to bear as you address complex dynamics such as these.

You can make a positive difference, to not only critique the status quo, but also to change it.

I hope that you carry with you the dedication of our faculty, the commitment of your peers and the mission of our School:

• to boldly change society for the better.

• to deepen your understanding of diverse viewpoints and perspectives.

• to champion a culture of inclusiveness in a sustained career in the arts.

Now and always, pay attention. Speak up. Be courageous. Channel your energy, ideas and creativity towards the common good.

To all of you, may your successes be many.

—Kate Bonansinga

Our Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program is an accredited degree crucial for developing complex and mature studio practices – like those expected of practicing artists by critics, curators, museums, and galleries. It is the ‘terminal’ Fine Art degree in the United States, necessary for teaching at the college level.

All students utilize our vast resources, our internationally recognized faculty, and our state-of-the-art equipment to develop multi-disciplinary studio work that is groundbreaking and affirmative for each unique student, an innovative research framework art practice, conceptual and technical skills, and lasting professional connections within the city and region.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a five-year, strong technical and critical thinking program for the future. Successful students have a passion for creating their art and a heightened intellectual and visual perception. Through the co-op experience, students are introduced to careers in a wide field of art professions.

DAAP's BFA program offers a broad curriculum with the ability to specialize in a single media, or work across media, as students develop their artistic paths. We provide instruction in areas that include Art & Technology, Ceramics, Drawing & Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture. We support interdisciplinary practice and encourage experimental artforms.

The Bachelor of Arts in Art History is a four-year critical thinking program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the history of art and its impact on society. Students have the opportunity to participate in co-op, complete internships in museums and galleries, study a foreign language, and take a variety of liberal arts electives to develop analytical, speaking, writing, and thinking skills that are highly valued in the modern workplace.

The skills developed through DAAP's Bachelor of Arts in Art History program are highly valued by employers in a variety of fields, including the arts, education, cultural heritage, and museums. Graduates may pursue careers as art historians, museum curators, art critics, or in related fields. They may also choose to continue their education by pursuing a Master's or PhD in Art History.