College of Visual Arts

The College of Visual Arts (CVA) is a private art and design college in Saint Paul, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The campus includes the historic Summit Avenue building, housing the administration, classrooms, computer labs, and printmaking and sculpture studios, and four additional buildings in the Selby-Western area to accommodate the college library, additional classrooms and studios, a photography lab, and a gallery. The College of Visual Arts provides a collaborative environment that focuses on individual student development by fully integrating the study of the liberal arts and the visual arts. We cultivate a worldview that recognizes the value of art and design in promoting pride in place and responsible citizenship. CVA offers a dynamic curriculum that prepares students for the demands of the contemporary world of art and design. The major fields ar graphic design, illustration, interdisciplinary design studies, and photography. The fine arts degree offers concentrations in drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. The interdisciplinary design studies degree offers a concentration in fashion. All first year students participate in a clearly sequenced year-long foundation program consisting of a strong standardized curriculum in studio arts, liberal arts, and an orientation to art and design. This program provides an essential introduction to the primary visual vocabulary, concepts, and technical skills necessary for success in all the upper level programs. In addition, this program provides all first year students with the information necessary to make an informed choice of major at its conclusion. The integration of liberal arts coursework in all of the art and design majors is a distinguishing feature of the College of Visual Arts; CVA offers a robust selection of liberal arts courses to enhance the student's learning experience. Extensive study in art history helps the students understand their own work in the context of the larger world of art and design. Active learning through the arts is employed in many areas such as math and science courses. Skills in oral presentation and in critical reading, thinking, and writing are important activities across the curriculum. In preparation for professional practice, new coursework was developed to address art and the law and business math and writing, and to offer a professional internship. Each student's education culminates with the senior thesis work that includes the development of a mature body of studio work for exhibition, a written analysis of that work, and the development of a professional portfolio and website. This experience prepares graduates for the job market and graduate school, and builds skills necessary to write and promote a freelance business. The CVA gallery program has become an integral component of both the college and the community. Located in the historic Cathedral Hill neighborhood, the CVA Gallery is at the corner of Western and Selby avenues, creating a nexus between community organizations, small businesses, and the arts. CVA's gallery programming engages students and the community through exhibitions, public lectures, and discussions. The gallery schedule has expanded to include fifteenannual exhibitions including student, alumni, and faculty shows, as well as three high school exhibitions, regional invitational exhibitions, two national exhibitions, and the regional public art exhibition program, Portals on Western.