About Us

The study and celebration of the arts has been central to Kent State University. Long before art, dance, music, fashion, and theatre were ever housed within the same College, the arts were a significant part of Kent State University’s identity and history. Coursework and extracurricular activities in art, dance, music, and theatre were present at Kent State soon after its founding in 1910 and, rounded out by the later addition of fashion studies, have grown into a powerhouse fixture of the university.

Our Schools

The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine and Professional Arts, was founded in 2006 and is comprised of the School of Art, the School of Fashion, the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance.

The KSU Museum

The Kent State University Museum contains important collections of fashion and decorative arts. Its eight galleries feature changing exhibitions of work by many of the world's great artists and designers.

Kent Blossom Arts Summer Programs

The College is also the home of the noted Kent/Blossom Arts summer programs, including the Kent Blossom Music Festival, Porthouse Theatre, and the Kent Blossom Art Intensives.

Our Numbers & Values

With more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 15,000 alumni, the College of the Arts is a center of professional and artistic excellence with a mission to empower global leaders who ignite creativity, inspire discovery and transform all lives through the arts. Students experience a curriculum of specialized arts courses within a liberal arts foundation that place emphasis on professional practice and career preparedness. Learning takes place not only in the traditional classroom, but also on stage and backstage, in numerous design labs and shops, in studios, galleries, and beyond. Experts in their fields, faculty and staff are professional artists, actors, designers, educators, managers, merchandisers, musicians, researchers, and technicians whose work is recognized nationally and internationally.

Strategic Roadmap 2019-2024

1. Improve career preparation for students (University Priority 1 – Students First)

2. Innovate the curriculum (University Priority 1 – Students First and Priority 2 – A Distinctive Kent State)

3. Improve College of the Arts learning environment based on climate study feedback (University Priority 5 – Organizational Stewardship)

4. Increase student scholarships (University Priority 1 – Students First)

5. Focus marketing efforts for undergraduate and graduate student recruitment (University Priority 2 – A Distinctive Kent State and Priority 4 – Regional Impact)

6. Engage in more focused community engagement (University Priority 4 – Regional Impact)

7. Increase national rankings and international recognition (University Priority 3 – Global Competitiveness)

8. Increase research/creative activity profile and consistently track it (University Priority 2 – A Distinctive Kent State and Priority 3 – Global Competitiveness)

9. Create intentional and strategic College-funded interdisciplinary faculty appointments (University Priority 2 – A Distinctive Kent State and Priority 3 – Global Competitiveness)

10. Increase alumni engagement initiatives (University Priority 4 – Regional Impact and Priority 5 – Organizational Stewardship)

Mission

To empower global leaders who ignite creativity, inspire discovery and transform all lives through the arts.

Vision

The College of the Arts will lead as innovators and global changemakers advancing a creative and collaborative culture.