Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary programme blends foundational liberal arts study with practical and creative coursework across visual arts, music and theatre. First-year study typically emphasises drawing, design, music theory/ensemble participation and introductory performance courses to build technical skills and creative fluency. As you progress, you choose concentrations or elective pathways—such as studio art (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital media), music (applied lessons, ensembles, composition), and theatre (acting, directing, stagecraft, production design)—and take intermediate and advanced workshops in your chosen areas.

• Core studio and practice: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, digital art and time-based media.
• Performance and music: applied lessons, vocal/instrumental ensembles, music theory, sight-singing, performance practice and composition.
• Theatre and production: acting, movement, voice for the actor, stagecraft, lighting, set and costume design, and production practicum.
• Contextual study: art history, music history, dramatic literature and courses on criticism, aesthetics and cultural context.
• Professional practice: portfolio development, audition preparation, arts entrepreneurship, grant writing and internship or practicum placements with local arts organisations.
• Capstone experience: a senior exhibition, public recital or major production that synthesises your practical and scholarly learning.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high school diploma or an equivalent secondary qualification and submit an official transcript. As this is an arts-focused programme, applicants are generally required to provide a portfolio of visual work or to audition for music and theatre components; specific portfolio/audition guidelines are provided by the department. Successful applicants typically demonstrate prior coursework or experience in arts subjects, a readiness for university-level study and the ability to engage in both practical and academic work. International applicants will need to meet the university’s English language proficiency requirements. Additional recommendations or interviews may be requested for particular concentrations.

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme go on to a wide range of careers in the creative and cultural sectors. Typical pathways include:

• Professional artist or maker, working across galleries, commissions and freelance practice.
• Performer in music, theatre or interdisciplinary performance, including work in ensembles, touring productions and local companies.
• Arts educator in schools, community arts organisations or through further teacher-preparation programmes.
• Arts administration, programming and curation for museums, galleries, theatres and festivals.
• Creative industries roles such as design, multimedia production, stagecraft or technical theatre.
• Further study at the graduate level in fine arts, performance, arts management or related fields.

Why study at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Saint Mary’s offers a small-college environment with close faculty mentoring and opportunities to work across disciplines in a liberal arts context. The Visual and Performing Arts programme emphasises hands-on learning, regular public performances and exhibitions, and professional preparation through internships and community partnerships in the Winona region and beyond. Students benefit from dedicated studio and rehearsal spaces, personalised instruction, and a curriculum that integrates practical skills with historical and critical perspectives, preparing graduates for creative careers or advanced study.