Academic Programs

The School of Architecture immerses students in the architectural field. Through a comprehensive approach that focuses on both aesthetics and technology, our programs develop critical thinkers who discover and execute creative solutions addressing social, political, economic, and environmental problems.

Students graduate from the School of Art and Design equipped to succeed in academic careers, jobs in creative industries, teaching posts, and studio work. The school was ranked 11 in the country by College Factual in 2022. First-year undergraduates take courses in a Foundations program to build a strong base of interdisciplinary skills.

With one-on-one mentoring by acclaimed faculty members and guest artists, Department of Dance students receive rigorous training and opportunities to explore their own creativity as choreographers and performers. Called “a hotbed of choreographic innovation” by the New York Times, the department is one of the most respected in the United States. Undergraduates focus on contemporary modern dance, learn how the body works, and develop professional contacts around the globe. MFA candidates conduct original research, develop teaching methods, and address critical issues in the field.

The Department of Landscape Architecture is rated nationally among the top 15 programs, has the only undergraduate degree of its kind in Illinois, and offers one of the only PhD programs in the country. Students learn a multidisciplinary approach to the profession involving new media, environmental management, urban planning, and history.

A constant in the U.S. College Rankings top 15, the School of Music offers intensive studies that go far beyond the conservatory. The school offers leading music education, choral, and orchestra programs, diverse ensembles from symphonic bands to choruses to jazz groups, and a new Lyric Theatre program. Nearly 100 faculty members, a staff of more than two dozen professionals, and renowned visiting international artists perform, give master classes, and mentor students.

Small and highly selective, the Department of Theatre seeks theatre makers serious about honing their craft and innovating in the performing and production arts. Students may pursue degrees in acting, design and production, and theatre studies.

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning teaches planning as both an art and a science. The curriculum builds skills in creative problem-solving, professional communication, participatory modes of planning, design, and technical analysis. Students can explore transportation, land use, social justice, sustainability, and community and economic development.

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design program offers a combination of existing and newly developed classes to provide an innovative, interdisciplinary, and unique course of study that will prepare students to enter jobs in the public or private sector guiding institutions and society to greater sustainability or continue their educational pursuits in a variety of graduate programs.