The 11 departments that make up the School of Arts and Humanities represent far more than a means of obtaining a degree, they represent an opportunity for a complete learning experience on an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual level. The vast majority of students who graduate from one of Buffalo State's Arts and Humanities undergraduate and graduate programs are successful at finding employment in their field within one year of completing their degree.
Departments and Programs at a Glance
Art Conservation | Art Education | Arts and Letters | Communication | Creative Writing Program |Design | English | Fine Arts | Interior Design | Modern and Classical Languages | Music | Philosophy and Humanities | Television and Film Arts |Theater |
Art Conservation Department
Graduates of our internationally renowned art conservation program (one of only three in the United States) have been placed in notable museums around the world.
Art Education Department
Art education students learn both the theory and practice of teaching art. Graduates of the program are prepared to teach art to students from kindergarten through grade 12.
Arts and Letters Program
The Arts and Letters major provides the opportunity to craft a customized major for students who are interested in the study of human expression, creativity, and culture.
Communication Department
The Communication Department is one of the largest communication-oriented programs in the SUNY system. The department offers three programs in applied communication and one in theoretical communication, enabling students to become proficient in the technology and skills for rewarding careers. The new interdisciplinary degree program in television arts, focuses on producing and writing for television.
Creative Writing Program
With a limited enrollment and competitive admission process, including portfolio submission, the Writing B.A. degree program offers students an opportunity to combine the study of literature with the study and practice of writing. The writing portion of the degree program allows for the development of skills in creative writing, journalistic writing, literacy writing, and/or professional writing.
Design Department
The Design Department offers students the opportunity to work with instructors who are nationally and internationally recognized artists and designers in the mediums of ceramics, communication, fiber, metal/jewelry, and wood/furniture design.
English Department
English majors study literature and writing. English education majors combine that study with training and teaching. English majors become writers, editors, and teachers or succeed in positions that require creativity combined with analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Fine Arts Department
Fine arts is the study and creation of works of art produced or intended primarily for beauty and expression. The Fine Arts Department has six major programs: art, art history, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.
Interior Design Department
The interior design program is a four-year professional-level program that fosters a comprehensive approach to space arrangement for both commercial and residential projects. The program focuses on innovative design and professionalism while emphasizing the health and safety of the public.
Modern and Classical Languages Department
Through the Modern and Classical Languages Department, students can graduate with a degree in Spanish or French language and literature, which enable them to pursue a career that requires a second language or to attend graduate school. Or they can major in Spanish or French education, which enables them to teach.
Music Department
Graduates of the music education program are prepared to teach music from kindergarten through the high school level. B. A. music majors obtain a broad liberal arts background, which can lead to a variety of careers.
Philosophy and Humanities Department
Philosophy is the study of ideas and issues regarding the nature of reality, the justification of knowledge, and the assessment of values. Philosophy majors examine how significant insights in philosophy shaped Western culture and continue to affect our lives.
Television and Film Arts Program<
With a limited enrollment and competitive admission process, the television and film arts major, an interdisciplinary program encompassing coursework from the Communication, English, and Theater departments, prepares students for a variety of careers in the entertainment industry.
Theater Department
Theater–it's more than just acting. It's producing, directing, designing costumes, marketing, and working with members of a team. Students who are well versed in a variety of disciplines can push theater in new and exciting directions to pursue an array of other professions.