Today, the interpretation and communication of visual images and objects is paramount. While we have ready access to innumerable works of art, architecture, and design, we know far less about their entanglements in systems of meaning and power.

How do images work to support political regimes, religious systems, or institutions? How do they assist in the consumption of goods? To what extent do they condition our understanding of people, races and ethnicities, gender and sexual orientation, abilities and disabilities? The Visual Studies Program engages students with these and other questions, preparing them for careers as cultural creators and critics.

Graduates will be well prepared for careers in traditional areas of artistic culture–museums and galleries, arts journalism, government agencies, and art organizations—as well as in interior design, retail, marketing, advertising, and other fields that involve crafting lifestyle experiences with visual snap and savvy.

Students investigate a wide range of perspectives on the visual arts, including the history of art, architecture, design, film, video, and new media; aesthetics; semiotics; American studies; and cultural studies. They also take a sequence of studio courses in a single discipline or in multiple practices and media so that their study of the meaning of art and imagery emerges alongside their awareness of techniques of production. This integrative approach allows students to explore contemporary culture while developing strong writing skills to assist them in communicating about the visual world.

Innovative workshops, internships, and lecture series as well as access to other resources—including the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts and the Capp Street Project artist residency program—equip them with the tools and experiences necessary to shape the world's visual future.