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The Undergraduate Program

Established as an academic unit in 1891, the University of Kansas School of Fine Arts became one of the first national institutions to offer professional degrees in the arts. Now the School provides a premiere arts education to more than 1600 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in the performing and visual arts, visual art education, music therapy, and music education. This is accomplished through more than 40 undergraduate and graduate major programs within three academic departments: the Department of Art, the Department of Design, and the Department of Music and Dance.

The School is a major contributor to the arts community, through student, faculty, and professional exhibitions and performances in the Art and Design Art Gallery, Swarthout Recital Hall, Bales Organ Recital Hall, and notably in The Lied Center of Kansas, which was named among the top U.S. university arts presenters by "International Arts Manager Magazine" (September 1999).

Photo by Earl Richardson

KU Fine Arts academic departments have achieved national presence: The Departments of Art and Design are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the Department of Music and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

"U.S. News and World Report" ranks the Master of Fine Arts degree 54th among the nation's 300-plus accredited institutions and the Master of Music 26th among the 500-plus accredited musical institutions.

The Department of Art sponsors a thriving Visiting Artist Program, in which students and faculty collaborate in bringing to campus leading regional, national, and international artists. Additionally, the Department of Art participates in international faculty and student exchanges with the Staffordshire University, located in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the Edinburgh College of Art, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Department of Design offers the Hallmark Symposium, which brings internationally recognized designers to campus yearly. The Department of Design's Center for Design Research facilitates faculty and student collaboration with industry and institutional partners.

The Department of Music and Dance offers a variety of performance opportunities, from large and small ensembles to solos. Faculty are active performers who also encourage visiting artists to hold residencies. A multi-million dollar renovation of and addition to Murphy Hall adds 52,000 square feet to the existing space, including 12,000 square feet for the new Music and Dance Library.