School of Arts and Letters

Vision

The School of Arts and Letters prepares students to think deeply, express boldly, and lead faithfully in the pursuit of truth. 

Mission

Our mission is to be a leading Christian community where we foster creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

Overview

Biola’s School of Arts and Letters is centered on a commitment to pursuing truth through a Christian liberal arts education. Our students learn to think deeply, express boldly, and lead faithfully. Here, students become thought leaders and culture creators who interpret, communicate, and serve with grace. The School of Arts and Letters comprises three divisions: the Division of the Visual and Performing Arts, the Division of Communication, and the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as Biola’s Torrey Honors College. 

Division of the Visual and Performing Arts

Conservatory of Music

Biola's Conservatory of Music is a vibrant community of diverse artists. Students, faculty, graduates and friends of the conservatory collaborate on compelling projects and attend and perform in the Concert Series, Music at Noon and other live musical events. Members enjoy a lifetime of professional networking, meaningful friendships and unique opportunities as a result of their experience at the conservatory.

Additional Education Opportunities and Distinctives

• Chamber Music Ensemble, Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds 
• Semester Concert Series
• Annual Christmas Concert
• Theatre majors at Biola have the opportunity to participate in dramatic productions for stage and screen in a variety of venues, including Theatre 21, Mayers Auditorium, Sutherland and Lansing Halls, Hope Amphitheater, and the Production Center.
• Biola’s London Study Tour allows students to travel as a group to London, England, to visit theatrical venues and participate in acting workshops.

Department of Art

The Department of Art is a vibrant visual arts community that offers a professional visual arts program with a rigorous curriculum that reflects a strong liberal arts emphasis and a solid Christian worldview. Our art professors are dedicated to mentoring our diverse student body and strive to create an academic and spiritual environment where students will become thriving servant-leaders who, as artists and designers, understand the complexity of the world in which they live. The Department of Art is committed to training well-equipped students with the aesthetic, technical, conceptual skills and the Christian worldview needed for professional success and impact.

The Department of Art is housed in Bardwell Hall. Some of the key spaces in this recently renovated building include: 

• Student Art Gallery
• 40 Senior Art Studios
• Photography Dark Room/Light Room
• Painting Studio
• Drawing Studio
• Photo Lighting Studio
• Interdisciplinary Studio
• New Media Studio
• 2 Computer Labs
• 8 Faculty Offices
• Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts Office
• Gallery Director Office
• Art Department Chair's Office Suite
• Associate Dean of Architecture and Interior Design Office Suite
• Screened Outdoor Art Yard
• Rooftop Terrace

Additional Education Opportunities and Distinctives

• Art internships - these professional internships provide valuable hands-on experience working in a variety of professional settings with regionally recognized studio artists, established designers, businesses and arts organizations
• Annual portfolio reviews
• Senior thesis exhibits
• Faculty exhibits

Division of Communication

The study of communication is inherently interdisciplinary and applicable across nearly every vocational area. Communication has always been a feature of the curriculum at Biola University and in various forms, a major area of study for degree seeking students. In addition, communication is a central feature in the Core Curriculum as it is a key outcome via verbal communication, written communication, and information literacy. 

Our program areas are endorsed by academic and professional associations including National Communication Association, Religious Communication Association, Public Relations Society of America, and the Association of Collegiate Journalists and the College Media Association. We hold the Certification in Education of Public Relations (CEPR). Our students have the opportunity to participate in five student media: The Chimes, The Point, The Torch, EagleVision, and The Biolan. Student organizations include PRSSA and an honor society, Lamda Pi Eta. All students must complete a series of two internships and complete a capstone with a deliverable product that exemplifies academic and/or pre-professional expertise.

Division of Humanities and Social Sciences

Home to some of Biola’s longest-standing and innovative liberal arts, fine arts and communication programs as well as Biola’s Torrey Honors College, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences cultivates serious consideration of both urgent and perennial human concerns. With programs in Modern Languages, English Writing, English Literature, Philosophy, Sociology, Political Science, and History, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences equips students who aspire to a spectrum of careers: law, social work, education, journalism, government, translation and interpretation, the church, urban planning, the arts and more.

Program Accreditations

• National Association of Schools of Art and Design (1998)
• National Association of Schools of Music (1970)

Program Affiliations

• American Guild of Organists
• Associated Collegiate Press
• Choral Conductors' Guild (California)
• Intercollegiate Press
• Music Educators National Conference
• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)

Dean

Associate Dean, Division of Communication

Associate Dean, Division of the Visual and Performing Arts

Art Faculty

Conservatory of Music Faculty and Theatre Faculty

Division of Communication Faculty

Programs Offered

Undergraduate

Conservatory of Music

• Music, B.A.
• Music Composition, B.M.
• Music Performance, B.M.
• Music Teacher Preparation, B.M.
• Music Therapy, B.M.
• Theatre, B.A.
• Worship Arts, B.M.
• Applied Music Minor
• Contemporary Worship Music Minor
• Music Minor
• Theatre Minor

Department of Art

• Art, B.F.A.
• Art, B.S.
• Design, B.S.
• Art Minor
• Art History Minor

Division of Communication

• Communication, B.A.
• Communication Studies Minor
• Journalism and Integrated Media Minor
• Organizational Communication Minor
• Public Relations Minor

Division of Humanities and Social Sciences

• English, B.A.
• History, B.A.
• Philosophy, B.A.
• Political Science, B.A.
• Sociology, B.A.
• Spanish, B.A.
• English Minor
• History Minor
• International Relations Minor
• Philosophy Minor
• Political Science Minor
• Pre-Law Minor
• Public Administration Minor
• Social Work Minor
• Sociology Minor
• Spanish Minor
• Torrey Honors College
  • Biblical Literature and Classical Theology Minor

Course Descriptions

Undergraduate

• American Sign Language (ASLG)
• Arabic (ARAB)
• Art (ARTS)
• Communication Studies (COMM)
• Journalism and Integrated Media (JOUR)
• English (ENGL)
• French (FREN)
• German (GRMN)
• History (HIST)
• Interdisciplinary Studies (ITDS)
• Music - Undergraduate (MUSC)
• Philosophy (PHIL)
• Political Science (POSC)
• Public Relations (PREL)
• Russian (RUSS)
• Sociology (SOCI)
• Spanish (SPAN)
• Theatre (THTR)
• Torrey Honors College (HNRS)

Graduate

• Music - Graduate (MUSI)