College of the Arts

Kresge Plaza on APU’s West Campus is flanked by the Felix Event Center (top) and Darling Library (right).

Azusa Pacific’s College of the Arts, encompassing the School of Music, School of Visual and Performing Arts, and the Department of Communication Studies, aims to further artistic collaboration and integration and expand the impact of the arts on campus, in local communities, and around the world. Within the college, art, cinema, communication, design, music, and theater students work in an environment that supports excellence and artistic integrity firmly grounded in the Christian faith. Among the full-time faculty are numerous industry professionals who bring decades of experience to the classroom.

The School of Music offers bachelor’s degree programs in Commercial Music (BM), Composition (BM), Music Education (Pre-Teacher Certification) (BM), Music Theory (BA), Performance (BA and BM), and Music and Worship (BM). The School of Visual and Performing Arts encompasses the Departments of Art, Cinematic Arts, Design, and Theater Arts, and includes bachelor’s degree programs in Acting for the Stage and Screen (BFA), Animation and Visual Effects (BA), Art (BA and BFA), Cinematic Arts (BA), Cinematic Arts Production (BFA), Games and Interactive Media (BA), Design Studies (BA), Screenwriting (BA), and Theater Arts (BA). The Department of Communication Studies offers bachelor’s degree programs in Communication Management (BA), Journalism (BA), and Public Relations (BA).

The School of Music offers a Master of Music in Composition, Conducting, and Performance, a Master of Music Education, and a Master of Arts in Music Industry. The School of Visual and Performing Arts offers an online Master of Arts in Modern and Contemporary Art History, a low-residency MFA in Visual Art, a Master of Arts in Art Education, a Master of Arts in Screenwriting, and a Master of Arts in User Experience Design. The Department of Communication Studies offers a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and a bachelor’s completion program in Digital Media and Communication (BA) for professional students.

All programs housed in the College of the Arts provide students with practical techniques, knowledge, analytical skills, preparation for professional success, and a solid integration of faith and scholarship that allow them to practice their craft and positively impact the world.

Faculty

Interim Dean

John E. Simons, DMA

Associate Deans

Zachary Cheney, PhD, Interim Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, College of the Arts, and of Undergraduate Studies, School of Music

Lyrica Taylor, PhD, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, School of Visual and Performing Arts