The Department of Art & Design serves as the visual arts component of the College of the Arts, promoting an atmosphere of academic and creative excellence through student- centered, comprehensive professional and liberal arts degree programs. Collaboration among the department, students, and the community is designed to foster professional, artistic, and cultural development throughout the region.

About the Department of Art & Design

The Valdosta State University Department of Art & Design is committed to the goal of providing quality instruction and learning experiences for students and takes great pride in the national accreditation of its degree programs in art, interior design, and art education by a variety of professional accrediting agencies including the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The chief purpose of the Department of Art & Design is to provide an atmosphere of academic and creative excellence through the delivery of degree programs designed to meet the needs of a diverse student population. To this end, degrees are offered in both professional and liberal arts programs which span the fields of the visual arts, interior design, and visual arts education; the degrees offered are comprehensive in nature. Each degree program conforms to national standards and guidelines. Excellence in instruction is translated through the learning process and comes to fruition in the achievement of the students. Achievement is further enhanced through the pursuit of creative and scholarly research by faculty and students, the exhibition of creative works, professional presentations, and leadership in local, regional, state, and national professional visual arts and design associations. The development of significant academic programs in the visual arts and design while focused on the forty-one counties in southern Georgia has impact for the profession regionally, nationally, and internationally through exhibitions, exchanges, presentations, workshops, and seminars.

In addition to the academic and creative environment, the department provides cultural enlightenment and enrichment through various outreach programs including exhibitions, presentations, and conferences, workshops for art teachers and their students, and in-service programs for art educators. The Department of Art & Design supports the internationalization of students, faculty, and the curriculum through participation in study abroad programs by students and faculty, by promoting international student and teacher exchanges and by working closely with the Office of International Programs. In addition, service to the local arts community is provided by faculty and students who work in leadership and volunteer roles in a variety of arts and professional organizations. 

Central to the mission of Valdosta State University, the College of the Arts and the Department of Art & Design is the commitment to continued program development in order to meet the increasing needs of the region and the state. The department has developed and maintains outstanding equipment and facilities emphasizing safety, variety of media, and the inclusion of technology in each degree program which includes state-of-the-art hardware and software for electronic digital imaging & interior design.

Learn more about the history of the Department of Art & Design