Welcome to the Fine Arts department at Seattle University. The fine arts programs connect a liberal arts education with the vibrant cultural and artistic resources of Seattle. Our interdisciplinary learning environment encourages collaboration as part of a diverse community of students and faculty.

MISSION: To provide our students with excellent training and experience in the arts that is deepened and focused by Seattle University’s rich Jesuit core education; to open meaningful connections between our students and the Seattle arts community; and to nurture our students’ growth as independent, self-reliant arts professionals. 

Our programs in music, theatre, visual art, photography, digital design, art history, and arts leadership are grounded in the creative and critical study of foundational works, histories and methods. Our focus on contemporary works and our active engagement with the arts community offer our students experiential training that is both professionally and personally rewarding. In concert with existing programs and resources in music, theatre & visual art, we celebrate significant advancements this year.

New to Fine Arts are two innovative degree programs, both focused on professional formation in the arts: a BFA in Photography and an MFA in Arts Leadership. The photography program will arm students with a professional portfolio of work and the training and practice necessary to begin a career in photography. The MFA program cultivates community leaders in the arts by combining classroom instruction with individually tailored practicum experiences. Both programs launched successfully in fall 2007.

A third new professional degree program is in the works, a Bachelor of Music in String Performance. The program is set to launch in Fall 2008.

Our commitment to connecting campus and community is strengthened in the programming at the Jeanne Marie & Rhoady Lee, Jr. Center for the Arts, now in its second year. The Lee Center enriches the artistic experience of Seattle University students, fosters the development of new creative work by Seattle-based artists, and supports arts education serving youth and adults in Seattle’s Central District and wider community.

The Fine Arts department at Seattle University is bursting with value and opportunity. Blending academics with practical applications, we are bridging the gap between study and practice and nurturing a new wave of artistic professionals.

Best,

Carol Wolfe Clay, Chair