About The Department of Art and Design

The Department of Art and Design provides students with a broad-based liberal arts education infused with the principles of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Inclusive within the vibrant liberal arts education the department offers modern programs focused on specific professional skills in graphic design, media arts, photography, videography studio arts, self-designed program in the arts, and the therapeutic dimensions of art therapy.

There is an emphasis upon an interdisciplinary approach toward the visual arts and design, psychology and the creative arts therapies. In the classroom professors emphasize a broad understanding of the dignity of humankind, the importance of developing compassion, and the need to cultivate the awareness of just and ethical practice.

Essential to all programs is The Studio Model. In a studio course, students work in a specifically designed space which creates an open collaborative environment. This Studio Model provides an expansive and expressive atmosphere for learning. The studio environment allows open communication and constructive criticism to enrich and forward art practice. Imperative to the model is the required work outside of designated meeting times. The studio demands the constant process of production-critique-production, seeking feedback from all participants. The faculty teaches, guides, and nurtures the group or cohort.

In the junior and senior years, advanced course work is designed to run concurrently with community field placements to afford students the opportunity to observe and work alongside professionals. Each student’s placement in the community is chosen to directly reflect her/his interest and to provide a comprehensive and hands-on, team approach to learning. Students are placed by the College in appropriate settings and supervised by College personnel. The internships/practica are credit-bearing and are available to students in all of the above disciplines. Art Therapy placements range from public and private hospitals, community treatment centers providing therapeutic services to a wide range of clientele. Graphic Design  Media Art, and Art internships provide students with real world experiences.

Additionally, students are encouraged to experience study abroad through programs ranging from summer study in the creative arts, to a spring break in Berlin, Paris or Vienna with our Urban Seminar program. It is important to note that Anna Maria College is a member of The American Art Therapy Association.

Our bachelor’s degree from the Department of Art and Design prepares students for a wide range of graduate study and career options in art therapy, marketing/advertising/social media, creative industries, graphic design, media production, studio artist, or museum/gallery study.

Our Masters of Art Degree in Integrated Media Arts provides an exciting opportunity for advanced work in visual media arts. The program is mentorship based, emphasizing close learning, and working relationship between faculty and students. The program’s interdisciplinary approach promotes an expansive, process oriented, combining image, object, and communication. Every student in the program will receive a Media Package which includes  the essential tools and equipment necessary to produce professional results. The diverse faculty will provide an expansive approach to media practice and thought. The program is committed to integrating traditional, and emerging practices, grounded in new media. Working with a wide range of artists, designers, and thinkers, students will learn to conceptualize, create, and produce new works integrating lens and light arts, media arts, and communications.

The program also invites critics and artists to be part of the Graduate IMA Studio, presenting unique critique and review from professionals in a variety of fields, providing valuable knowledge and feedback to the students.