The College of the Illustrators, Musicians, Agents, Screenwriters, Grammy Winners, Seekers, Gaffers, Creatives, W Fearless, Filmmakers, Sopranos, Talented, Collaborators, Pioneers, Conductors, Artists, Bold, Sculptors, Archivists, Curators, UX Designers, Historians, Propmasters, Band Leaders, Improvisers, Storytellers, Free Spirits, Ensembles, Directors, Arts
Leaders in every profession treasure creativity, because creative thinkers find innovative solutions to complex problems.
Established in 2016, the College of the Arts at Georgia State University is a destination for students who want to unlock and enhance their creativity with a serious arts education in Atlanta’s vibrant downtown setting. Its mission is to inspire and empower students and faculty to excel in arts creation, scholarship, pedagogy and entrepreneurship.
Offering a variety of top degree programs in art, music, film, theatre and more, the College of the Arts connects students with Atlanta’s thriving arts scene and booming film and entertainment industries. Through partnerships with the city’s cultural organizations, students combine their craft with training in entrepreneurship, real world experiences, crossdiscipline opportunities and the latest digital technologies to support a successful, confident transition from college to career.
Students engage with a faculty of practicing professionals who help them develop their arts education and provide them with an understanding of the competitive and contemporary realities of arts professions.
The arts at Georgia State dominate the downtown Atlanta arts scene. More than 300 events (most free for students) including performances, concerts, theatre productions, recitals, artist lectures, workshops, gallery exhibitions and symposia are available for students, faculty and the general public to attend.
As the model for a 21st-century arts education and practice, the College of the Arts is making the arts visible, vital and innovative.
“Uniquely positioned in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the College of the Arts uses Georgia State’s urban campus as a laboratory in which our vibrant community of student artists and scholars can create.”
Wade Weast, Founding Dean
Learn More 35 Broad St. NW 4th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303
404-413-3151 cota@gsu.edu thearts.gsu.edu
Ernest G. Welch School of
ART & DESIGN
The Welch School of Art & Design programs are NASAD accredited through Georgia State University and feature an internationally active faculty with a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for professional careers in art, design, art history, art education and arts administration. The school fosters critical thinking and dynamic artistic production within an interdisciplinary environment.
The downtown location encourages connections with local art networks, such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Contemporary, MOCA GA and a solid network of commercial galleries, alternative spaces and grassroots artist organizations. Alumni, faculty, and students are very involved in the ever-evolving scene, having founded a number of artist-run organizations, nonprofits and creative publications.
The Visiting Artist & Scholar Lecture Series offers a year-round calendar of talks that provide students
Bachelor of Arts in Art
– Art History
– Studio
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio
– Drawing and Painting, Printmaking
– Graphic Design
– Interior Design
– Photography
– Textiles
– Three Dimensional Studies:
· Ceramics
· Sculpture
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary StudiesConcentration in Arts Administration*
– Art History Administration
– Studio Administration
Master of Arts in Art History
with access to a diverse mix of renowned artists and scholars, encouraging artistic discourse and leading studio critiques and workshops. The Welch School Galleries support the curriculum by curating regional, national and international art exhibitions throughout the year while providing a venue for thesis exhibitions. The galleries host presentations and panel discussions, connecting students with professional artists and scholars.
Students have 24-hour access to studio space, which allows for creative exploration and research in their area of study. Each area has discipline-specific studio spaces, which include a woodshop, metal shop, iron forge, 3D and laser cut printers, Adobe Creative Suite computer labs, wheel throwing and kilns, screen printing and lithography presses, a dark room, dye stations, looms, sewing machines, plotters and more.
Master of Arts Education
Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education
Master of Fine Arts in Studio - Concentrations in
– Drawing and Painting
– Printmaking
– Graphic Design
– Interior Design
– Photography
– Textiles
– Ceramics
– Sculpture
Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
– Art Education
Dual Degree
– Art History: Bachelor of Arts in Art and Master of Arts in Art History
Signature Experiences & Connections
More than ten arts-specific student organizations, national and regional art conferences, Open Studios, study abroad to Asia and Europe, international art fair participation for 3rd-year M.F.A. graduates, High Museum of Art, downtown Atlanta arts community, MOCA GA, Atlanta Contemporary, national and grassroots arts media and non-profit art organizations, galleries and project spaces, Ferrer Visisting Artist Program etc.
Learn More
404-413-5221
artdesign.gsu.edu
School of FILM, MEDIA & THEATRE
About the School
The School of Film, Media & Theatre is dedicated to making the next generation of critically aware media makers, scholars, theatre practitioners and citizens.
As the largest film and media program in the third largest media capital in America, the school is in the heart of a booming film and television industry, giving students access and experience to navigate the demands of a fast-changing and competitive film, media and theatre world.
The School of Film, Media & Theatre is committed to elevating both mainstream and alternative voices in film, television, new media and live theatre.
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts in Film & Media
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
– Concentration in Acting
– Concentration in Arts Administration - Theatre Administration*
Master of Arts in Communication:
Concentration in Film, Video & Digital Imaging
– Moving Image Production (Dual-Degree Students Only)
– Moving Image Studies
*administered by the College of the Arts
Signature Experiences & Connections
Atlanta Film Festival, Amplify, Georgia Film Academy at Trillium, Give Back Series, Atlanta City Theatre, travel abroad to Budapest, IndieATL Music Production, Speaker Series, Turner Broadcasting, Cartoon Network, Actors Express Theatre Company, Campus Movie Fest Cannes Experience, local, national and international film festivals, Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Ferrer Visisting Artist Program etc.
Students work closely with a faculty of professional filmmakers, visual and performing artists, scholars and educators to devise an optimum program of study integrating creative activities and critical scholarship.
Among the school’s highlights are the Atlanta City Theatre, the oldest student-run theatre company in the Southeast and the research group, liquid blackness that explores issues of blackness and aesthetics.
Master of Fine Arts
– Digital Filmmaking
Doctor of Philosophy in Communication Studies
– Concentration in Moving Image Studies
Dual Degree
– Film & Media (emphasis on film & video production): Bachelor of Arts in Film & Media and Master of Arts in Communication
Learn More
25 Park Place, Suite 1016
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-413-5171
fmt.gsu.edu
Degrees & Certificates
School of MUSIC
Located in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district of downtown Atlanta, the School of Music enrolls undergraduate and graduate students in numerous music concentrations. It is “Music in the Heart of Atlanta.”
With faculty comprised of dedicated performers, scholars, and GRAMMY Award winners, the School of Music enjoys a strong reputation for highlevel, innovative, creative artistry and research.
Faculty members perform at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, present at national and international conferences, and successfully obtain outside funding supporting various creative and scholarly activities.
The School of Music partners with arts organizations and foundations in outreach initiatives within the city and maintain frequent engagements with organizations such as the acclaimed contemporary music group Bent
Bachelor of Music - Concentrations in
– Composition
– Jazz Studies
– Music Education
– Music Performance
Bachelor of Science in Music IndustryConcentrations in
- Music Management
- Music Production & Audio Recording
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary StudiesConcentration in Arts Administration*
– Music Administration*
Master of Music in Music - Concentrations in
– Conducting
– Composition
– Jazz Studies
– Music Education
Frequency, the professional chamber group
Ensemble ATL, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).
The School of Music faculty and student ensembles perform in two campus venues: the Rialto Center for the Arts, a beautiful 833-seat professional theater, and the Florence Kopleff Recital Hall, an intimate 400-seat hall with superior acoustics perfect for solo and chamber music concerts.
Graduates of the School of Music have professional careers in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and other major orchestras and opera companies worldwide. Many alumni enjoy successful careers in the recording and music business as managers, composers, conductors, and teachers in public schools and universities.
The School of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
cont.
– Performance
– Piano Pedagogy
Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
– Music Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching & Learning
– Music Education
Dual Degree
– Music: Bachelor of Music and Master of Music
Artist Certificate in Music - Concentrations in
– Conducting
- Jazz Studies
- Performance
Non-Degree Program for Teacher Licensure in Music K-12
GSU Opera Theatre, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Holiday Gala, master classes with award-winning musicians, Georgia State Marching Band, eleven small & large music ensembles, regional, national and international music festivals, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, regional and national music conferences, choir tours to Europe, private and public performances, Brumby Concerto/Aria Competition, local music venues, Ferrer Visisting Artist Program etc.
75 Poplar Street
5th Floor Atlanta, GA 30303 404-413-5900 music.gsu.edu
About the School
RIALTO
Center for the Arts
Learn More 80 Forsyth Street
NW Atlanta, GA 30303
rialto.gsu.edu
404-413-9849
The Rialto has a rich history. It opened in 1916, in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district, as the Piedmont Theater (which became the Rialto Theater that same year) -- the largest theater in the Southeast and Atlanta’s first movie house, and has been downtown’s cultural centerpiece for over a century. Georgia State University acquired and refurbished the Rialto in 1993. Today, the intimate, 833-seat performing arts venue is home to the Rialto Series, presenting the best in jazz, global music and contemporary dance, as well as Georgia State’s School of Music performances. The Rialto is committed to serving the community through its signature education and outreach programs including Rialto Jazz for Kids, Rialto2Go and Feed Your Senses. As part of the College of the Arts, the Rialto offers dynamic opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Award-Winning Programming
– Live at the Rialto: The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, nominated for a 2022 Southeast EMMY Award in Arts/Entertainment
– Crucial Conversations: Burial Grounds won three Telly Awards in 2021:
• Bronze award for Craft Editing
• Bronze award for General Social Impact
• Silver award for General Public Interest/Awareness
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Learn More
35 Broad Street NW
4th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
thearts.gsu.edu/educational-outreach
404-413-5902
CMII
Learn More
25 Park Place Suite 219
Atlanta, GA 30302
cmii.gsu.edu
404-413-5706
Through the Educational Outreach office, creative students of all ages connect with Georgia State’s workshops and institutes to advance their learning and appreciation for the arts. Our programs serve public school students and teachers, collegiate and graduate level students, community members and professional artists through innovative programming. These programs are open to the community and feature “hands-on” experiences alongside renowned guest artists and critically acclaimed artist-faculty at Georgia State.
Workshops & Institutes
– Atlanta Saxophone Day
– Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute
– Double Reed Day
– Harrower Summer Opera Workshop
– Professional Development
– Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra
– SingFest!
– Summer Jazz Workshop
– Summer Leadership Institute
– Summer Music Institute
The Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), a crosscollege disciplinary institute affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of the Arts, organizes advanced technology media and arts training, as well as film and music artist residencies so Georgia State students are prepared to start careers in the entertainment and information industries. CMII is also building a model to nurture media entrepreneurs with a focus on industry collaboration – especially concentrated around the film and TV production, music industries and game design sectors – to generate research and economic development.
Signature Experiences & Connections
– Georgia Film Academy training programs at Trillith Studios
– State-of-the-art technologies such as 360-degree filmmaking, motion capture, virtual and augmented reality and multi-location music recording
– Collegiate Esports tournament play
– Playtest, a weekly deep dive into game mechanics, concepts and experiences
