Department of Visual and Performing Arts

School of Liberal Arts

Faculty:

Chair: Associate Professor Nancy Wynn, MFA

Professor Ellen Longsworth, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Dr. Kathleen Sills, Ph.D.

Associate Professor Dr. Laura Moore Pruett, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor Dan Vlahos, MFA

Assistant Professor Jonathan Latiano, MFA

Professor of Practice Fr. Richard Piatt, O.S.A.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts offers a variety of courses in studio art, art history, graphic design, music, theatre, film, and visual storytellling. It offers four Bachelor of Arts degree programs: Art and Art History, Graphic Design, Music, and Theatre Arts. It offers five minors: Art History, Graphic Design, Music, Studio Arts, Theatre Arts, as well as offers two interdisciplinary minors in Film Studies and Visual Storytelling.

Students are presented with opportunities for study in artistic practice, history and theory; in graphic design practice, history and theory; in music history, theory, appreciation, and performance; and in theatre practice, theory, performance, and appreciation. All of our programs explore traditional and innovative processes and practices of the visual arts and performance.

The courses offered by the Department serve to introduce students to the artistic traditions that are their heritage and to enable them to participate in the continuation and enrichment of these traditions. Many of its courses serve as arts and literature courses for the College’s Liberal Arts Core.

The Visual and Performing Arts Major in Art and Art History

The major in art and art history gives the student both a broad-based and a focused, historical and contemporary education in the arts. The core of the major consists of general history courses in art (i.e. painting, sculpture, architecture and related media), music, photography, and theatre, coupled with studio experience. More intensive courses in art, music, photography, theatre and literature are then taken in combination so that the student emerges from the major with an informed view of the arts in a given period of their choosing. A senior seminar with thesis provides students with the opportunity to relate in a meaningful and substantial manner the various strands of their coursework in the arts. The senior seminar is preceded by a course in methodology and art literature that prepares students for this capstone experience of their senior year. Majors are encouraged to attend cultural affairs on-and-off-campus: concerts, gallery exhibitions, lectures, and the like.

Upon successful completion of the art and art history major, students have a comprehensive understanding of the arts and be positioned to succeed in a variety of careers, including: critic, arts manager or coordinator, program consultant, museum and/or gallery positions, and educator of the arts. In addition, students have the background necessary to pursue graduate studies in art history, studio arts or arts administration.

The Visual and Performing Arts Major in Graphic Design

The Graphic Design Major at Merrimack College offers students a rich blend of art and design history, together with diverse opportunities to develop their artistic and creative expression in both design and the studio arts. Students receive a strong foundation in design thinking, theory, process and practice, along with a background in the Liberal Arts. The program challenges students to learn through research, critical questioning, problem analysis, and the methodologies of the design industry. Students also develop an understanding and working knowledge of current industry-standard technical skills.

The Graphic Design curriculum helps students build their knowledge, year by year, through courses of increasing complexity, as well as internships and opportunities for real-world design practice. In addition, students develop important transferrable skills that will serve them well in any setting including writing, listening, collaboration, self-management, how to make an oral presentation, as well as accountability and responsibility. To satisfy the Major, sophomores must pass a the Sophomore Portfolio Review, and seniors are required to complete classes in Senior Portfolio, Methodologies of Scholarship, and a Senior Capstone project.

Graphic designer majors can work in web and app design, print and e-publishing, or identity and branding design. As a graduate, students are confident and prepared for employment in advertising and marketing agencies, corporations, nonprofit institutions and much more. This major also serves as a foundation for creative work in the fine arts, or further study in a graduate program.

Transfer Students to the Graphic Design Program

For students transferring into the program, the transfer of studio courses and level of placement in the Graphic Design program will be determined by the Graphic Design Faculty. Students wishing to major in Graphic Design are required to submit a portfolio to the Department of Visual and Performing Arts for review.

During the portfolio review, the Graphic Design Faculty will assess the student’s studio skills, as well as the courses to be transferred toward the degree requirements. Faculty will compare the student’s level of accomplishment with the Graphic Design Program’s expectations to determine where the student is qualified for placement into the program.

Portfolios can be submitted in-person or digitally. To submit a portfolio, or ask questions about the process, please contact Nancy Wynn, Director of the Graphic Design program, by email: wynnn@merrimack.edu

The Visual and Performing Arts Major in Music

The music major provides students with a creative and comprehensive music education. Students analyze and interpret music, study theory, create original music, and perform. The degree reflects current trends in music production and engineering and introduces students to music production software and equipment, music composition programs, music theory and history, and more.

The music major is open to all students and there are no prerequisites to apply. Auditions are not required and students do not have to read music to declare the music major. The curriculum includes core classes, a required experiential internship, a required performance course, a required interdisciplinary course, a required non-classical/popular music content course, and a senior capstone project.

Upon graduation possible music careers for music majors may include: recording engineer in sound studios or performance venues; artist-in-residence or performer; music ministry; sound designer; music composer for the film and video game industries; music educator; and arts business or arts management within the music industry. Students are also well-prepared to enter a music-related graduate program at the master’s and doctoral levels to pursue music therapy, musicology, music librarianship or other programs.

The Visual and Performing Arts Major in Theatre Arts

The major in theatre arts combines a liberal arts perspective with in-depth study of theatre in its historical and cultural contexts. At the core of the program is the belief that the best theatre artist is one who possesses both a broad knowledge of the theory and literature of the field and highly developed artistic skills. The major recognizes the importance of all aspects of theatre and offers courses and/or practical training in performance, technical theatre, design, directing, arts management playwriting, and dramaturgy. Senior Capstone experiences offer students the opportunity to create and construct significant theatre-making projects as conclusion to their theatre studies.

The theatre arts major helps students prepare for a career in live theater production, arts management and/or performance. Students are well-equipped to pursue a range of opportunities, such as actor, director, writer, technician, and designer, in a number of arts-related fields including theatre, television, film, corporate communications, advertising and more. A theatre arts degree is also valuable in other careers that require collaborative skills, creative imagination, and discipline, such as education/training, management and the law. Furthermore, the degree provides students with the necessary foundation for further graduate school training.

Major GPA

Students must achieve a final grade point average of 2.00 or better within any majors offered by the Visual and Performing Arts Department. The GPA for majors will be calculated as the average of all courses taken within the major.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor