Create a career in the arts. Cultivate your creativity. Find your voice.
At USCA, the Department of Visual and Performing Arts brings together three distinct programs—Music, Theater, and Visual Arts—to help students explore, develop, and elevate their artistic talents. Whether you’re composing music, designing sets, or creating visual masterpieces, you’ll be supported by expert faculty, modern facilities, and immersive learning experiences. Each program encourages creative expression, deep thinking, and professional preparation, so you graduate ready to make your mark—wherever your passion leads.
Visual Arts
Music Program
Distinctions
USCA is an All-Steinway School and a member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The Value of an Arts Degree — Skills That Go Beyond the Studio or Stage
Majoring in the visual and performing arts doesn’t just prepare students for careers in galleries, theaters, or music halls. It prepares them for life. No matter where your path leads—whether it’s a creative industry, graduate school, or a profession seemingly unrelated to the arts—you’ll carry with you a powerful toolkit of skills, experiences, and perspectives that are increasingly in demand.
Creativity Meets Critical Thinking
At the heart of every arts program is creativity—but not creativity in a vacuum. Arts majors learn to solve problems, think outside the box, and approach challenges from fresh angles. Whether you're composing music, directing a scene, or designing a visual piece, you're constantly making choices, evaluating meaning, and refining your work. These habits of mind transfer naturally to fields like marketing, education, user experience design, architecture, and entrepreneurship.
Communication and Collaboration
Performing and visual artists become master communicators—not only through their chosen medium, but also in the way they present, articulate, and collaborate. From group projects to ensemble performances and critique sessions, students gain essential experience in teamwork, feedback, and leadership. These communication skills are invaluable in any workplace and help set arts graduates apart.
Focus, Discipline, and Resilience
Arts training demands focus, perseverance, and attention to detail. Whether rehearsing for a performance, preparing an exhibition, or refining a design, students learn how to manage their time, take constructive criticism, and push through challenges. These experiences build the kind of emotional resilience and self-discipline that employers look for—and that life often demands.
Cultural Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
Through the study of literature, music, visual culture, and performance from a variety of traditions and time periods, arts students gain a deep understanding of human experience. They develop empathy, broaden their worldviews, and learn to navigate complex social and cultural dynamics. These qualities are not only essential for artists—they’re crucial for anyone working in diverse teams, global industries, or public-facing professions.
Practical Skills and Professional Preparation
From mastering industry-standard tools to presenting work publicly and completing internships, arts majors gain concrete, job-ready skills. Many programs also incorporate capstone projects, undergraduate research, and community engagement opportunities that help students connect their academic work to real-world outcomes.
A Foundation for Any Future
Visual and performing arts majors don’t always follow a straight line from degree to job title—and that’s a strength. Many combine their creative studies with other interests, double major, or pivot to new fields with ease. In fact, studies show that graduates with arts backgrounds often thrive in unexpected careers, from tech startups to nonprofit leadership, and even in business and law. Why? Because they’ve learned how to think, adapt, and lead.
In short: An arts degree from USCA doesn’t just teach you how to create—it teaches you how to think, collaborate, and contribute in meaningful ways to any profession you choose. Whether you’re heading into the studio, the classroom, the boardroom, or beyond, your education in the arts gives you an enduring advantage.