Fine Arts Degree Programs

Express Your Creativity in Our Fine Arts Degree Programs

Let your creative spirit soar and your artistic side shine with fine arts degrees from Grand Canyon University. Study in one of our fine arts degree programs to develop skills relevant to the performing arts industry and professional technology. With small class sizes and plenty of performance opportunities, the College of Arts and Media helps you gain experience and channel your creative talent into a degree program experience you may find meaningful.

If you love to perform, we offer fine arts degrees in theatre, dance and music so that you can refine your skills and share your talents. Prefer to create artwork used in advertising or film? Check out degrees in fields like digital design, advertising design and digital film. Whatever your passion, a College of Arts and Media degree can help you find your purpose.

Make the most out of your college experience by taking classes on GCU’s main campus in sunny Phoenix. Explore this oasis in the heart of the desert.

LEARN MORE

The fine arts degree programs from the College of Arts and Media can help you pursue your passion. Find out about our latest productions, events and more.

LEARN MORE


Questions About Fine Arts Degrees

Thinking about earning a fine arts and production degree from GCU? If you are considering one of our programs, but you are not sure which one might be right for you, take a look at some questions that might help guide you as your explore our fine arts degree programs.

Graphic design is a form of visual communication using images, words and colors to convey ideas to different audiences. Those who earn a graphic design degree might pursue a career as a graphic designer, web or digital interface designer or a special effects artist and animator. If you are interested in this field, you may want to consider GCU’s advertising design degree or digital design degrees.

Earning a dance degree can help you on your path to becoming a dance instructor. If you wish to teach in a studio, you could choose to earn a performance degree or a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education. However, if you are hoping to earn a position as a dance teacher at a public or private school, you will need to earn a dance education degree and pursue certification.

While you may earn a variety of degrees and still pursue a career in theatre, GCU’s theatre and theatre education degrees allow you to train collaboratively both on stage and behind the scenes so that you can prepare for a variety of roles. This cooperative approach can help prepare you for the modern theatre industry.

As a music major, you can potentially open the door to diverse career pathways, encompassing roles like musician, singer and music teacher. These opportunities can extend across various workplaces, from production agencies, radio stations and private clubs to performance groups, ensuring a broad spectrum for your professional journey. If you pursue a music education degree, you may find a career in a K-12 setting helping students to develop their musical abilities.

Get More Information

Loading Form


Theatre and Drama Program

Chimney Sweep portion of the Mary Poppins production at Ethington Theatre

GCU’s theatre department is known for its outstanding programs. The College of Arts and Media uses a uniquely cooperative approach. In addition to regular classroom studies, you are encouraged to take part in the University Theatre Series in numerous capacities, allowing you to explore the creative process from rehearsal to live performance. This global approach to theatre education training can help you develop a variety of skills and can prepare you for today's marketplace.

The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama can provide you with the foundation needed to pursue a career in professional theatre, film and television, concerts and more.

The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education is designed for students with a passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation of performing arts professionals.

Dance Degree

Group of dances in winter dance performance do a form of jete dance leap

GCU’s dance degree programs are designed to help you not only refine and expand your knowledge of dance, but also help you grow as a dancer and choreographer, mastering dance techniques in areas like ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip hop. The Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education can prepare you to become a certified dance teacher by blending both the theory and practice of dance performance and its related fields.

With a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, you may be able to position yourself to choreograph in professional dance settings, collaborate with other artists, prepare to start your own dance company and more.

Help students explore the art of dance by becoming a dance teacher. If you are interested in teaching dance in a K-12 setting, consider the dance education program at GCU.

Music Major

Pep band brass section performs at the ABSN Chandler Grand Opening

Interested in pursuing a career in musical performance? Do you want to become a music teacher? Advance your education in a field you are passionate about by becoming a music major. GCU’s Bachelor of Arts in Music can help you develop musical skills, understand composition and refine your performance skills. The Bachelor of Arts in Music Education program, which leads to a teaching certification, is designed for students interested in the education of children in grades K-12.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Education – Instrumental: Brass, Woodwind, Percussion or Strings helps you prepare to teach music or instrumental conducting to students.

Prepare for a career teaching music, with a focus on vocal performance and choral techniques, by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education - Choral: Voice.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Instrumental Performance offers you the opportunity to perform and practice musical scores, arrangements and instrumentals.

In the Bachelor of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Piano Performance degree program, you have the opportunity to enhance your skills through practice and collaboration.

Develop your skills in singing, vocal arrangements, harmonizing and performing by earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an Emphasis in Voice Performance from GCU.

Design Degrees

The world of design is expanding to include a variety of areas, including social media and web, animation and print design. For students looking to enter this highly creative space, GCU offers several design degrees. If you are looking to enter the world of animation, you can learn the basic principles of animation and create projects that can be used in professional portfolios. If you enjoy communicating ideas visually, you may want to consider a degree in advertising design or web design.

Group of students gather around a computer screen when working on digital and advertising design
Digital film student group prepares a shot for 48-hour film challenge

The digital film degree is designed to develop leaders in the fields of narrative film and video production. The program is built on developing a strong foundation in narrative storytelling, technical skills and the hands-on experience necessary to design and deliver poignant messages. The production emphasis is for students interested in the technical side of filmmaking, while the screenwriting emphasis involves writing and molding stories into films.

Interested in filmmaking? The Bachelor of Arts in Digital Film with an Emphasis in Production helps you explore the technical and aesthetic aspects of digital productions.

Explore the art of storytelling in specific genres of film, including dialogue and conflict, with the Bachelor of Arts in Digital Film with an Emphasis in Screenwriting from GCU. 

 

If seeking licensure or certification, applicants to the program are responsible for contacting their state department of education for licensure requirements and program approval. In addition, fingerprint and background clearance is required.

Scroll back to top