Illinois State University Arts Programs 2025

The College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University’s mission is to educate developing artists, performers, scholars, teachers, and therapists. The School of Art offers Bachelor degrees in Studio Arts, Graphic Design, Art History, and Art Teacher Education; Master of Arts and/or Master of Science degrees in Visual Culture, Studio Arts and Art Education; and a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. Additionally, the School has a highly selective Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Studio areas include ceramics, drawing, glass, printmaking, metalwork and jewelry design, integrated media, painting, photography, sculpture, video, and wood. Admission is through portfolio. The School of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education, music therapy, performance, and composition. Additional undergraduate programs include music business, musical theatre, and liberal arts as well as a graduate degree in conducting. Furthermore, a summers only program in the graduate program in Music Education affords teachers the flexibility to complete a Masters. More than fifteen ensemble opportunities are available to all students on-campus, plus multiple chamber music ensembles, and musical theatre/opera productions. Admission to the program is through audition. The School of Theatre and Dance offers conservatory-level training within the context of a liberal arts education. Bachelors degrees are offered in Acting, Design/Production, Dance, Dance Education, Theatre Education, and Theatre Studies. Masters degrees in Acting, Directing, Scene Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design, and Theatre. Performance opportunities include the professional Illinois Shakespeare Festival, extensive mainstage, second-stage and studio productions, plus student produced works. Admission to the Acting, Dance, and Dance Education sequences are through audition. Admission to the Design/Production sequence is through portfolio. The Arts Technology Program integrates study across the arts with the study of digital technology. Students take coursework in multiple arts disciplines as well as courses specific to Arts Technology. Coursework includes sound and audio design, programming and design for interactive media, and 2-D and 3-D animation for web and other applications. Both an undergraduate and a graduate degree are offered. Admission to the Program in Arts Technology is through portfolio.