about cva

The College of Visual Arts is a private, accredited, four-year college of art and design offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, fine arts, graphic design, illustration, and photography. Founded in 1924, the college is located in the thriving, urban residential areas of historic Summit Avenue and Ramsey Hill in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Mission

The College of Visual Arts provides a collaborative environment that focuses on individual student development by fully integrating the study of the liberal arts and the visual arts. We cultivate a worldview that recognizes the value of art and design in promoting pride in place and responsible citizenship.

Goals

As an educational institution, CVA (1) ensures that all students have a comprehensive educational foundation in the fields of art and design while encouraging experimentation, creative development, and critical thinking; and (2) promotes effective teaching by supporting faculty in their efforts to remain current with developments in their fields, and to create an optimal environment for teaching, learning, and assessment of student progress towards professional practice. As a community leader, CVA aspires to be a critical art and design voice in Saint Paul and the greater Twin Cities.

CVA Makes a Difference

CVA's traditional strength of a small college campus with a commitment to individual student achievement, coupled with a strong, focused, academic college readiness program, transforms underprepared students into a "college ready" class on par academically with their first year peers. Our intimate campus community, personalized instruction with a 14:1 average student to teacher ratio, focus on experiential learning throughout the curriculum, and a commitment to professional practice provides an ideal place to nurture, appreciate, and launch careers for artistically gifted students, despite the diversity of their backgrounds.

Diversity Statement

The College of Visual Arts recognizes the essential role diversity plays in an art and design education. Differences inspire intellectual debate and creativity. We embrace our broadly diverse community, promote interaction through campus outreach programs, and seek to reach, attract, and retain students and faculty that represent diverse backgrounds. A learning environment promoting respect and support for individual achievement and differences empowers and strengthens us all for participating in an increasingly global society.

The College of Visual Arts is an equal opportunity institution.