MINNEAPOLIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

MCAD TRANSFORMS THE WORLD THROUGH CREATIVITY AND PURPOSE BY EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS TO BE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS, PIONEERING THINKERS, CREATIVE LEADERS, AND ENGAGED GLOBAL CITIZENS. WITH A CURRICULUM THAT IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST, DESIGNER, OR VISUALIZER, ONE MUST STUDY THEORY, SKILL, FORM, AND CONTENT, ALL MCAD PROGRAMS CENTER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDIO AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS THAT ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO THINK CONCEPTUALLY, FORMULATE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND MAKE ART. ALL MCAD PROGRAMS CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO PROGRESS TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND INTELLECTUAL INVESTIGATION.MCAD'S FOUR-YEAR CURRICULUM INTEGRATES THE LIBERAL ARTS INTO EIGHT BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS DEGREE MAJORS IN ANIMATION, COMIC ART, CREATIVE WRITING, FINE ARTS, GRAPHIC DESIGN, MEDIA ARTS, ILLUSTRATION, AND PRODUCT AND FURNITURE DESIGN, PLUS A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM IN CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. STUDENTS CAN MINOR IN ADVERTISING, ANIMATION, ART HISTORY, COMIC ART, CREATIVE WRITING, CURATORIAL STUDIES, ENGAGED AND PUBLIC ARTS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, EXPERIMENTAL GAMES, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION, PRINT PAPER BOOK, SOUND, AND TEACHING ARTS.ADVANCED DEGREES OFFERED AT MCAD INCLUDE A TWO-YEAR MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN VISUAL STUDIES; A 30-CREDIT ONLINE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN; A 30-CREDIT ONLINE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGN; AND A FIFTEEN-MONTH ONLINE/LOW-RESIDENCY MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM IN CREATIVE LEADERSHIP. MCAD ALSO OFFERS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ITS CONTINUING EDUCATION, ONLINE LEARNING, AND EXHIBITION PROGRAMS.IN 2023, MCAD EXPANDED ITS CAMPUS BY ACQUIRING A BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS TO EXPAND STUDENT HOUSING CAPACITY. MCAD NOW REQUIRES ON CAMPUS RESIDENCY FOR FIRST- AND SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS THAT IMPROVES THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE PEER MENTOR PROGRAM WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE MORE ROBUST TRAINING FOR THE MENTORS AS WELL AS MORE STRUCTURE AROUND EVENTS, BRINGING FIRST YEAR STUDENTS TOGETHER. AS THE FOUNDATIONS CORE CURRICULUM CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, ALONG WITH THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND THE IMPROVED PEER MENTOR PROGRAM, THERE HAS BEEN A CLEAR POSITIVE IMPACT ON FIRST YEAR RETENTION AND OVERALL STUDENT SUCCESS.