Welcome to the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). I am honored to lead this dynamic college of faculty who are committed to their art form and their students. Through our focus on arts entrepreneurship, global citizenship, and the highest quality arts training, the College of Fine Arts is your gateway to the world. Students in our programs work side-by-side with world-class artists, musicians, dancers, actors, writers, designers, directors, and educators in developing professional skills and dispositions that lead to successful careers in the arts and a wide spectrum of industries outside of the arts.
Students, whether majors or non-majors, will find a home in our welcoming community where students and faculty support — and care for — one another. A university as large as UTRGV can be overwhelming for some students. But in the College of Fine Arts, you are part of a much smaller community where you will find the opportunity to belong and make a difference. Our faculty are committed to supporting all students in pursuit of their academic, professional, and personal goals.
The college offers undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificates in art, music, theatre, and dance. Through the Creative Writing Department, undergraduate students can also earn a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Also, the college offers a Master of Fine Arts in Art and Creative Writing, a Master of Arts in Art History, and Master of Music degrees. I encourage you to explore this site, which highlights our program offerings, including:
- Art concentrations: Art education, ceramics, graphic design, sculpture, studio art, and Latin American art history. · Music concentrations: Music education, composition, guitar, piano, strings, voice, winds, percussion, conducting, ethnomusicology, jazz, mariachi, and music technology.
- Theatre concentrations: Performance, design, TV and film, and theatre education.
- In addition to a BFA in Dance, students can earn a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Mexican Folk Dance.
- In addition to a BA in English (Creative Writing Concentration) and the MFA in Creative Writing, the Creative Writing Department offers a Certificate in Creative Writing.
Regardless of major, all UTRGV students can take part in our many artistic endeavors, such as:
- Theatre and dance productions
- Visual art and creative writing courses
- Music ensembles, including an expansion of our spirit bands, which ultimately led to the formation of the UTRGV Marching Band
Students in our programs will master a diversity of art forms from the Rio Grande Valley, Latin America, and worldwide. The Center for Latin American Arts is a distinguished research center, connecting artists throughout Latin America to our university and to the Rio Grande Valley. Through this center and our many faculty initiatives, like undergraduate and graduate research and creative activity, study abroad, and service learning, students within the College of Fine Arts have the support to achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals, as well as a broad range of life-changing experiences.
Dr. Jeffrey Ward
Dean