About the Department

Mission Statement

The mission of the Azusa Pacific University Department of Art is to prepare art students for a lifetime of artistic expression and to cultivate individual creativity through the study of history, technique, presentation, and social engagement, as a reflector of the creative and transformative nature of God.

Faculty believe that art is a socially responsible calling that challenges students to act as transformers in the world. In human history, artists have been the vehicles for spiritual, social, political, and psychological definition and change. Therefore, art is presented as both a professional occupation and an essential part of a liberal arts education.

Programs Offered

The Department of Art offers undergraduate majors, minors, and master’s degrees, including a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art, an MA in Art Education, and an online MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History.

Accreditation

All programs offered through APU’s Department of Art are nationally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Continuing Education

The Department of Art is committed to encouraging post-baccalaureate study. Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree from APU have been successfully placed in a variety of graduate programs at schools such as Yale University; Harvard University; Boston University; the San Francisco Art Institute; Claremont Graduate University; Indiana University; Vermont College; Parsons The New School for Design; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Long Beach; University of California, Irvine; Savannah College of Art and Design; Columbia University; University of Glasgow, Scotland; and others.