Department of Contemporary Art, Communication, and Theater
About the Department
Whether it’s strategic communication studies or sculpture, we adopt a contemporary approach to teaching that is constantly evolving to reflect the important skill sets and concepts of the 21st century.
Majors
Art, B.F.A. | Art Education, B.A. | Communication and New Media, B.A./B.S. | Contemporary Theater Studies, B.A.
Minors
Art | Art History | Communication and New Media | Graphic Design | Journalism | Photography/Computer Imagery | Theater
Explore how mass communication and digital media are changing the ways people generate, disseminate, and use ideas through our Communication and New Media program. Expand your artistic skills, develop your craft, and learn how to market yourself through our cross-disciplinary art programs. Or gain hands-on theater experience paired with theory and practical application in our Contemporary Theater Studies program, where we offer the only contemporary theatre studies degree in the country offered by a public university.
Student Spotlight
Sam Jones ’15 | Founder and Designer, Origin Design Collective
Art major, graphic design concentration
“I was very fortunate to have the professors that I did during my time at Shepherd. We hosted and attended top-notch portfolio reviews and competed in regional and national design competitions, exposing us to hiring professionals in the field. Our projects allowed us to graduate with diverse, thorough, and relevant portfolios, and our group critique sessions and annual reviews enabled us to learn how to stand behind our work and communicate our conceptual processes clearly—all skills I use on a daily basis in my own business today.“