The Visual & Performing Arts (B.F.A.) program at Savannah State University prepares students to become creative professionals and cultural leaders through intensive study in Music Education, Performing Arts, and Visual Art.
Our interdisciplinary curriculum blends applied creative practice with real-world experience, guiding students to develop their artistic voice while gaining the professional skills needed to thrive in today’s creative economy. Whether you’re training as a teacher, performer, or visual artist, you’ll learn to create, lead, and engage through the arts.
Accreditation Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Overview
What Will I Study?
Future Careers
Our Visual and Performing Arts curriculum is the only of its kind in the coastal empire.
The Visual & Performing Arts (B.F.A.) program at Savannah State University prepares students to become creative professionals and cultural leaders through intensive study in Music Education, Performing Arts, and Visual Art.
Our interdisciplinary curriculum blends applied creative practice with real-world experience, guiding students to develop their artistic voice while gaining the professional skills needed to thrive in today’s creative economy. Whether you’re training as a teacher, performer, or visual artist, you’ll learn to create, lead, and engage through the arts.
Concentrations
Music Education Prepares students for teacher certification and careers in K–12 music instruction, ensemble direction, and community-based music education. Coursework combines performance, theory, pedagogy, and classroom leadership.
Performing Arts Emphasizes theatre and dance, with opportunities in acting, movement, choreography, stagecraft, directing, and production. Students collaborate on original works, public performances, and cross-disciplinary projects.
Visual Art Offers studio training in two- and three-dimensional media including drawing, painting, design, and sculpture. Students build a professional portfolio through critique, exhibition, and individualized mentorship.
Arts Leadership and Workforce Alignment
The VaPA program is uniquely positioned to support Georgia’s growing demand for creative, culturally competent professionals. With statewide initiatives emphasizing education-to-career pipelines and the expanding impact of the creative economy, our graduates are prepared to lead in both artistic and community-centered roles.
Students gain transferable skills in:
Creative problem solving and critical thinking
Communication, collaboration, and public presentation
Project and time management
Arts entrepreneurship and leadership
Portfolio and career development
Through performances, exhibitions, internships, and outreach projects, students graduate with both disciplinary expertise and cross-sector readiness—equipped to work as educators, performers, designers, producers, arts administrators, and advocates for the arts in Georgia and beyond.
Music Education
The Music Education concentration prepares students to become certified K–12 music educators who are both skilled performers and effective classroom leaders. Students receive a well-rounded education in musicianship, pedagogy, and ensemble direction—balancing rigorous applied training with real-world teaching experiences.
Through a combination of private instruction, music theory, conducting, vocal or instrumental performance, and education coursework, students develop the skills necessary to teach in diverse classroom settings, lead school-based ensembles, and advocate for the arts in their communities.
Key features include:
Applied instruction in voice or instrument
Ensemble participation and leadership
Methods courses for elementary and secondary music education
Conducting, music history, and theory
Field placements and student teaching in local schools
Preparation for teacher certification in Georgia
Our program aligns with state and regional workforce needs by helping to fill a critical shortage of qualified, culturally responsive music educators. Graduates are equipped to teach in public and private schools, direct school or community ensembles, and pursue advanced studies in music education or conducting.
Music Education students also benefit from:
One-on-one faculty mentorship
Recital and performance opportunities
Interdisciplinary collaboration with peers in Performing and Visual Arts
Training in community engagement and leadership in the arts
Whether leading a school band, teaching general music, or inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers, our graduates leave prepared to make a lasting impact through music and education.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts concentration offers an interdisciplinary approach to performance, blending theatre, dance, and music performance into a dynamic and collaborative experience. Students develop their creative voice as performers, choreographers, directors, and musicians, while gaining practical experience in production, stagecraft, and ensemble work.
This concentration is designed for students who want to explore multiple performance modalities while building the technical, creative, and leadership skills necessary to thrive in today’s performing arts landscape.
Students train in:
Acting for stage and camera
Vocal and instrumental performance
Dance fundamentals, choreography, and movement for actors
Stagecraft, technical production, and costume/makeup design
Improvisation, directing, and interdisciplinary collaboration
Ensemble performance across theatre, dance, and music
The curriculum encourages cross-training and allows students to tailor their path through performance labs, recitals, productions, and creative projects. Whether your focus is singing, acting, dancing—or all three—you’ll engage in public performances and develop a professional portfolio that showcases your range and talent.
Students also have the opportunity to enroll in courses through the Georgia Film Academy (GFA), gaining hands-on experience in film and television production that counts toward their B.F.A. degree. These courses provide direct pathways into Georgia’s rapidly growing entertainment industry and expand students’ skill sets in on-camera performance, set operations, and media production.
Key features include:
Opportunities to perform in plays, concerts, showcases, and campus/community events
Faculty mentorship from working artists in theatre, dance, and music
Interdisciplinary coursework that fosters creative flexibility and collaboration
Preparation for careers in performance, directing, arts production, and arts leadership
Foundational training that supports graduate study or professional audition pathways
By uniting music, theatre, and dance under one concentration, the Performing Arts track supports students who want to be versatile performers and cultural contributors—well-prepared for work in schools, theatres, arts organizations, and media industries across Georgia and beyond.
Visual Art
The Visual Art concentration offers students a strong foundation in studio practice while emphasizing applied and digital media—including Graphic Arts, Printmaking, Digital Production and Fabrication, and Sequential Art. This concentration prepares students for careers as visual storytellers, designers, and studio artists who work across both traditional and contemporary formats.
Students begin with core training in drawing, design, and color theory, then advance into specialized areas that explore visual communication, narrative, and material process. The program encourages both conceptual development and technical skill, guiding students toward a cohesive, professional portfolio.
Areas of study include:
Drawing, 2D and 3D Design
Painting, sculpture, and mixed media
Printmaking (relief, letterpress, and experimental processes)
Graphic design and digital imaging
Sequential art and visual storytelling
Typography, layout, and visual branding
Exhibition preparation and professional practices
Throughout the program, students engage in hands-on learning through critiques, exhibitions, interdisciplinary projects, and community-based art experiences. Faculty mentors support students in developing their creative identity, refining technique, and exploring career pathways in the visual arts and creative industries.
The Visual Art concentration is ideal for students interested in:
Graphic design and art direction
Printmaking and studio art
Sequential art, comics, and visual storytelling
Public art, gallery exhibition, and community engagement
Graduate study in studio art, illustration, or design
Graduates are prepared to contribute to Georgia’s creative economy in fields such as publishing, advertising, education, cultural production, and freelance art. By combining strong studio foundations with applied design and storytelling skills, the Visual Art concentration nurtures artists who can create, communicate, and lead through images.
What You’ll Study in the B.F.A. in Visual & Performing Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Visual & Performing Arts at Savannah State University is a professionally focused degree that blends creative practice with real-world preparation. Students choose one of three concentrations—Music Education, Performing Arts, or Visual Art—while sharing a common foundation in creative development, collaboration, and career readiness.
This program is designed for students who want to grow as artists, educators, and cultural leaders. You’ll build technical skills, explore your artistic voice, and gain the tools to succeed in today’s creative economy—whether on stage, in the classroom, in the studio, or in the community.
How It All Comes Together
Across all concentrations, students engage in:
Core coursework that builds a shared language of creativity and professionalism
Applied training in their chosen discipline
Interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts
Opportunities for public presentation—performances, exhibitions, and recitals
Career-focused experiences such as internships, community projects, and portfolio development
A senior capstone project that showcases creative and professional growth
Together, these elements form a unified B.F.A. that prepares students to enter the workforce with confidence, creativity, and the ability to lead in a variety of artistic and educational settings.
Aside from being a performing artist there are many possible career paths for the BFA graduate with a concentration in Performing Arts. Here are some of the possibilities:
Artistic Director An Artistic Director is a visionary leader who oversees the artistic direction and creative decisions of a theater, dance company, or arts organization, ensuring a cohesive and compelling artistic vision.
Cultural Arts Administrator A Cultural Arts Administrator is responsible for the management and coordination of cultural arts programs, events, and initiatives, fostering engagement and collaboration within the community.
Casting Director A Casting Director is responsible for finding and selecting the best actors and performers for a production, using their knowledge and expertise to match talent with the requirements and vision of the project.
Director A Director is the creative force behind a film, play, or other performance, responsible for guiding actors and crew members to bring a cohesive artistic vision to life.
Arts Business Management Arts Business Management involves the strategic planning and administration required to successfully operate arts organizations, including budgeting, marketing, and fundraising, to ensure long-term sustainability and success.
Producer A Producer is responsible for the financial, logistical, and creative aspects of bringing a project to fruition, overseeing budgets, coordinating resources, and collaborating with directors and artists.
Voice-over Talent Voice-over Talent refers to individuals with exceptional vocal abilities who provide voices for various forms of media, including commercials, animations, films, and audiobooks, utilizing their versatility in tone, delivery, and character interpretation.
Talent Agent A Talent Agent represents and advocates for actors, musicians, and other performers, leveraging their industry knowledge and network to secure auditions, negotiate contracts, and propel their clients’ careers forward.
