The Academy of Art University’s School of Art History BA program is a unique major that addresses the traditional art historical study through the analysis of visual culture from antiquity to the present. Complemented with fine art studio coursework (12 units), the BA allows for students to engage in critical and research-based analysis of art and architecture, learning to study the visual culture through its role and influence on different cultures and periods. With internationally recognized faculty and access to a rich offering of coursework, the AAU’s Art History BA prepares students for a career in art-related fields: e.g. in art galleries, museums, foundations, archiving, publishing, and public arts administration.

The School of Communications & Media Technologies BA program provides a dynamic education of essential modern media skills including foundations in storytelling, broadcasting, journalism, and mobile platforms. Under the guidance of industry experts, students learn to shoot, edit, write, and host their own productions, and use the latest technologies to stream and broadcast them.

Grounded in environmental design, the Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design (BA-ARH-D) degree provides a strong undergraduate education while allowing the student to experience and gain skills in architectural design, art, architectural, and urban history and theory, fundamentals of sustainability, materials, building construction and structures, as well as advanced design representation tools. To study the world through the architectural lens is an opportunity to examine our culture through the spaces and buildings that we create.

The School of Jewelry & Metal Arts BFA program exposes students to an array of metal design principles and techniques. The curriculum covers sketching, color theory, soldering, stone-setting, welding, casting, mixed-media, enameling, digital techniques, and more.

Made up of principal brass chairs of the San Francisco Symphony, as well as principal players of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet orchestras and a close-knit student body, SFCM’s Brass Department challenges and inspires the next generation of great players. Small studios with all-star faculty guarantee individualized instruction. Hone your craft with unparalleled mentorship and prepare for a rewarding career.

The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (RPT) Department at SF State has established a reputation for excellence since 1946. We prepare students for meaningful careers by engaging them with San Francisco Bay Area partners, educating them using high-impact practices, and empowering them to make authentic changes in themselves and their community.

Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Cinema program complete introductory courses in cinema history, theory, and production. They proceed to advanced classes across the field of cinema, including the option to focus part of their studies through one of our undergraduate emphases: animation, experimental film, documentary filmmaking, fiction filmmaking, media and culture, and screenwriting.

The composition department both honors tradition and encourages innovation. Our four versatile faculty members closely mentor students while maintaining high-profile composing careers. We strongly emphasize interdepartmental collaboration, matching composers with performers, as well as offer frequent concerts and readings of student works. Every year, SFCM hosts the Highsmith Competition, an internal composition contest that grants the winner a performance of the submitted work by the Conservatory Orchestra.

Music theory and musicianship classes at SFCM prepare you for a life as both a performer and a thinker. Whether it’s Baroque counterpoint or 20th-century harmony, it’s must-know material for aspiring classical musicians. Theory courses are complemented by more practical instruction in sight-reading and ear-training.

SFCM’s classes in music history and literature provide a vital learning experience for all aspiring musicians. SFCM faculty deliver engaging sessions, helping students think critically about the meaning of the music they play by examining the musical values of other times, places, and cultures.

SFCM offers a well-rounded menu of general education classes in history, literature, philosophy, creative writing, oral communication, acoustics, and mathematics for undergraduates. These courses complement musical training and enrich the understanding of different fields of study.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology integrates a rigorous investigation of the foremost topics, major concepts, and core theoretical perspectives within the discipline of psychology along with the essential tenets of liberal arts education, including: effective oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving strategies, techniques to ensure information literacy, methods for quantitative fluency, and an appreciation of lifelong learning.

The urban studies and planning major offers an interdisciplinary curriculum for students interested in creating more just, inclusive, and equitable cities. Through a curriculum grounded in the social sciences, the Urban Studies program offers an applied, problem-solving focus, training in research methods, and practical hands-on experience in a carefully supervised internship and a practicum (senior seminar).

The English Department at SF State provides opportunities for students to study in a variety of subfields that make up the English major. Join us and become part of a racially, linguistically, and culturally diverse community of learners engaging in dialog between our histories and experiences, and new ideas and literacies. The Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) concentration prepares students to be successful workplace writers in almost every field of industry and public life, including high-technology industries, business, government, and research and nonprofit organizations.

Any music school can make you a better player. Our interconnected courses are built to transform you intellectually, artistically, professionally, and individually. You'll understand the roots of your music, freeing you to take it somewhere new. You'll see how your training broadens your options, rather than narrowing them. You'll find your voice. And you'll enter the world with the same confidence you bring to the stage. ENS 210 (Conservatory Baroque Ensemble) (2 semesters, 4 credits) ENS 212 (Continuo Playing) (1 semester, 2 credits) (not required if students can demonstrate prior experience)