About the College
The College of Fine Arts and Communications houses the Departments of Art, Dance, Design, and Theatre and Media Arts, as well as the School of Communications and the School of Music. It also fosters lifelong learning and enriches the educational environment across campus through hundreds of performances and presentations by students and faculty each year as well as through the exhibits and collections of the Museum of Art. Beyond the borders of campus, our students undertake research projects, pursue internships, participate in experiential learning activities both domestically and internationally as well as study abroad programs across the globe, and our performing ensembles reach worldwide audiences through annual tours.
The curricula of the College of Fine Arts and Communications encourage students to aspire to the highest scholastic and artistic standards, following within their respective specialties the sacred injunction to seek, inquire, discern, and articulate knowledge. The college celebrates creative and scholarly work as an exploration of humanity and divinity.
Students in the college balance a strong liberal arts foundation with specialized, rigorous training in the methods, theories, histories, and practices of their chosen disciplines. Each of the programs within the college seeks to produce graduates whose creative and professional work contributes positively to society while benefiting the organizations for which they work and enriching the audiences they reach. By encouraging exceptional performance, presentation, and communication, graduates emerge as scholars and professionals within their disciplines and informed, creative voices within their communities.
Inspiring Learning
President Kevin J. Worthen announced a university-wide initiative focused on inspiring learning in August 2016. Inspired learning encompasses three sections—mentoring, innovative teaching and experiential learning. Experiential Learning allows students to have both educational and meaningful experiences outside of the classroom through internships, studying abroad, performances, field studies, touring and service projects. These experiences deepen learning and lead to inspiration.
Faith + Works
Faith and Works lectures are presented by faculty within the college. These lectures describe journeys of faith within a disciplinary context by focusing on ways that faculty members’ faith and work intersect and enhance each other. Lectures take place on the first Thursdays of the month during Fall and Winter semesters.
Museum of Art
One of the largest and best-attended art museums in the Mountain West, the BYU Museum of Art offers a dynamic exhibition schedule that includes displays of its permanent collection, world-class traveling shows and thought-provoking exhibitions organized by museum curators.
From the research and study of the artworks in the permanent collection to the teaching and learning that occurs in classrooms and galleries, the museum plays an important role in the academic pursuits of many students at BYU. The museum also seeks to connect to broad community audiences through exhibitions and educational programming.
Belonging
“As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are united in our testimony of the restored gospel and our commitment to keep God’s commandments. But we are diverse in our cultural, social, and political preferences. The Church thrives when we take advantage of this diversity…”
-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Four Titles,” April 2013 General Conference
The College of Fine Arts and Communications strives to create an intellectual and artistic environment informed by diverse voices, backgrounds, and perspectives, and one where all students, faculty, and staff feel valued, supported, and heard. In this effort we support BYU’s Statement of Belonging:
We value and embrace the variety of individual characteristics, life experiences, and circumstances, perspectives, talents, and gifts of each member of the community and the richness and strength they bring to the community (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
We act on these values both generally, in our interpersonal and professional practices and interactions, and specifically, in our curricula and programming. As a college, the CFAC supports our departments in their Belonging initiatives by developing best practices, providing targeted grants for professional and curricular development, and collaborating on interdisciplinary projects that further the University’s Belonging goals.
We encourage students to avail themselves of the many campus resources available to help all students thrive, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or socio-economic circumstance.
Listen Up! Series
The Listen Up! Series was introduced in late 2020 as the College of Fine Arts and Communications seeks to magnify the campus conversation about Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility. "This ongoing initiative is meant to connect students and faculty with artists from around the world who bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas to the table,” said the producer, Lyndsay Keith. “I hope that meaningful conversations are started at these lectures that will continue to shape how we think about inclusivity and accessibility."
External Relations Office
The College External Relations Office works to secure greater local and global visibility for the College of Fine Arts and Communications by maximizing the positive impact of external relationships on the college’s reputation, resources and programming; thereby increasing the strength of the college’s academic programs and influence in the world.
BYU ARTS PERFORMING ARTS
