艺术与设计系为学生提供了许多激动人心的创造机会，以培养和扩大他们的艺术和设计感。进入21世纪，该系提供了广泛的经验，使毕业生为与艺术和设计相关的职业机会和艺术事业做好了准备。学生学习并制作包括最先进的计算机应用程序，概念艺术，图形设计和室内设计的作品。该系以美术为核心和基础，同时提供可在各个领域进行职业准备的学习领域。屡获殊荣的教师致力于这样一个想法，即艺术和设计工艺的基础是生产在概念上和视觉上都表现出精致的作品的必要先决条件。
Students produce works of art which encompass a wide range of visual expression, from figurative, abstract, and mixed-media art to conceptual and installation works, while also enriching their understanding of art historyprehistory to presentand contemporary art theory. By providing a range of approaches to art-making, art history, and theory, the studio art major encourages the development of creative and critical thinking while preparing students for a career in the arts.<br>The Department of Art, Design & Art History provides the skills and understanding, humanistic values and cultural awareness that form the foundation of knowledge in the visual arts. The department offers programs in fine and applied areas of visual art that engage students in inquiry and discovery. These programs help prepare students to be artists, historians of art, designers, educators, and informed and thoughtful citizens in the community and in a global society.<br>In alignment with the university and College of Arts and Humanities mission and vision statements, the Department of Art, Design & Art History strives to prepare students for lifelong learning by implementing bold, focused strategies designed to maximize access and success for our diverse student body. In collaboration with our community partners, we provide a transformative educational experience that prepares students to serve and to lead in the Central Valley, the state, and beyond. Our programs are structured to provide students the knowledge and experience to succeed in careers in the field of Art and Design. We strive to enhance teaching and learning through best practices, innovative programming, and high impact experiences.