Academics
The Department of Fine and Performing Arts offers coursework in Art History, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Studio Art, Theatre and Visual Communication. Students can choose a course of study from any of our 7 different majors or 10 different minors or simply choose to explore a class in the art that interests them. As an exclusively undergraduate liberal arts program, our courses are open to all Loyola students and require no audition or portfolio review for admittance into our programs. However several of our classes require the completion of pre-requisite courses and a few require placement auditions to assure students are placed in classes appropriate to their skill level. The DFPA also offers a certificate in Graphic Design for non-degree seeking students.
Art History
Students develop a general background in the history of art and also can concentrate in-depth in an area of their choosing. They complete their major by researching and writing a major paper on a topic of their choice. The program prepares students for admission to advanced degree programs.
Dance
This program is firmly grounded in solid classical dance pedagogy and explores the historical and social ramifications of dance in a variety of cultures. Students may take studio technique courses in ballet, modern and jazz and foundational courses in dance history, pedagogy and theory.
Music
The music program prepares students to create and appreciate music. Students receive a strong foundation in ear-training, keyboarding, sighting reading, music theory and history, participate in university ensembles and take private applied instruction. The music major culminates in a solo recital or capstone project.
Musical Theatre
The Musical Theatre Minor provides theatre, music and dance students a cross-disciplinary program that coupled with their major, prepare them for working in the musical theatre genre within the demands of a liberal arts education. The three tracks of the musical theatre minor require courses in the two performing art forms in which they are not majoring and a capstone course in musical theatre repertoire.
Studio Art
This major prepares students to enter a career directly after graduation or to pursue an advanced degree. Students gain a foundation in a variety of studio areas and art history; they then choose a particular medium such as drawing and painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics. The studio program culminates in a senior exhibition held in the Crown Center Fine Arts Gallery.
Theatre
Theatre students take courses in acting, directing, history, criticism and literature, as well as design and technology. Because of strong relationships between the theatre program and the world class Chicago theatre community, Loyola students receive many opportunities for practical experience under the direction of Chicago’s theatre professionals, both on and off campus.
Visual Communication
Students receive training in the elements of visual communication. One semester of internship in local advertising agencies or design studios complements academic study. VisCom students also produce a final body of new work for the senior exhibition, which represents the integration of their academic and professional experiences.
Certificates
A certificate in graphic design is available and can be completed in day and evening courses.