UNCW strongly believes that developing an appreciation for, and providing learning opportunities for, involvement with the arts is an integral part of its educational mission. Consequently, the university houses five distinct departments offering specialized degrees in arts-related disciplines: Art & Art History, Creative Writing, Film Studies, Music and Theatre.
New campus facilities include a new
state-of-the-art recital hall and proscenium theatre, “black box” theater, art gallery, dance
studio, printmaking studio, publishing lab, specialized computer labs and cinema studios. In addition the campus now is home to a
newly-renovated 1000-seat auditorium where students in a variety of ensembles perform, and in which the entire academic community is enriched via exposure to internationally-acclaimed artists and performers of the highest professional caliber.
With its state-of-the-art facilities and nationally-acclaimed faculties, UNCW is powerfully positioned to develop the hands-on skills necessary to an increasingly wide selection of arts-oriented professions.
The Department of Art & Art History offers a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, an Art History Minor, a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, and a Studio Art Minor. The Art History curriculum covers a wide range of art froms from ancient to modern times. The Studio curriculum includes drawing, painting, graphic design, ceramics, photography, sculpture and printmaking among others.
The Creative Writing Department offers degree programs leading to the Master of Fine Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts, in addition to a minor in creative writing. Primary genres include fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction; classes in screenwriting are also available, as is the study of editing and publishing through the department's Publishing Laboratory.
The Department of Film Studies offers a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and a variety of courses in the art, history, and business of film and filmmaking. Students of the film studies department benefit from an active local film community and a close relationship with EUE/Screen Gems Studios, the largest film studio outside of Hollywood.
The Department of Music offers a Bachelor of Music in Performance, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Performance majors select from the areas of instrumental, keyboard, vocal, and jazz studies, and have the opportunity to perform in one of the many student ensembles, such as Jazz Ensembles, Wind Syphony, and Concert Choir.
The Department of Theatre offers a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, a Theatre Minor, and a Concentration in Theatre for students enrolled in the Watson School of Education. The theatre curriculum includes courses in performance, design, production, directing, and theatre history. The Department of Theatre also offers numerous courses and Master Classes in Dance.
