Wayne State University College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts

Established in 1986, the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts (CFPCA) at Wayne State University is home to 17 undergraduate, 12 graduate, and four certificate programs in art, communication, dance, music and theatre. CFPCA's alumni include a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and winners of and nominees for the Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Obie, Screen Actors Guild and Caldecott awards.
The majority of CFPCA's classes are offered at Wayne State's main campus in Midtown Detroit, but select classes are also offered at several of Wayne State's satellite campuses in the metro Detroit area. Students also have the possibility of studying or performing abroad.
Over 100,000 people attend CFPCA exhibits, lectures, and performances every year, making the college the cultural gateway of Wayne State University and connecting the university's nearly 27,000 students and 2,500 faculty members to the community and its museums, galleries, libraries, theatres and other venues where the approximately 2,000 CFPCA students have opportunities to exhibit, research and perform. There are also opportunities to intern with some of metro Detroit's top companies in advertising, public relations, journalism, or other industries.
James Pearson Duffy Department of Art & Art History.
The James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History, named for a patron of the arts in metro Detroit, offers bachelor's and master's programs, as well as an honors program for undergraduates. The department has been training artists for more than 90 years and art historians for more than 70. It embraces Wayne State University's urban mission through ongoing exhibitions, lectures and presentations which appeal to the greater Detroit community. Many of these programs are showcased in the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery and the Art Department Gallery, both of which are located on Wayne State's main campus in Midtown Detroit, just blocks of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA).
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Department of Communication.
The Department of Communication offers 6 bachelor's programs, four graduate certificate programs, a master's program with 7 possible concentrations along with a separate master's program in Dispute Resolution, and a doctoral program with 2 possible concentrations. Additionally, the department offers a rigorous Honors Program for undergraduates. The Department is also home to highly regarded speech and debate teams as well as the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. In addition, the award-winning student newspaper, The South End and the student-run Internet radio station, WAYN are included in the college.
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Certificates
Master's Programs
Doctoral Programs
Ph.D. in Communication with emphases in Communication Studies or Media Arts & Studies
Maggie Allesee Department of Dance.
The Maggie Allesee Department of Dance is one of the oldest and most respected dance departments in the United States, offering concentrations in contemporary modern dance and neo-classical ballet as well as an integrated dance technology curriculum that focuses on quality pre-professional training and dance education. The Department offers two bachelor's programs, each accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), as well as a rigorous Honors Program. The Department maintains long-term relationships with the Detroit Opera House and the American Ballet Theatre and conducts two annual summer intensives: the American Ballet Theatre Detroit Summer Intensive and Complexions Detroit Summer Intensive. The Department has an impressive Dance Media Center for students who wish to enhance their artistic and educational outcomes as well as a number of dance spaces available for student reservation. Students from the Maggie Allesee Department of Dance have performed at top venues such as the Kennedy Center and been honored by the National College Dance Festival.
Undergraduate Programs
Department of Music.
The Department of Music blends traditional and contemporary traditions in the city that's known for Motown and Detroit Techno. The department offers bachelor's and master's degrees for students who desire careers in performance, education, composition, or other areas as well as a graduate certificate for advanced performers Honors Program. The Department also offers a number of performance groups including the Concert Band and Wind Symphony, coral ensembles, jazz ensembles, University Orchestra, and the Warrior Marching Band, which plays at Adams Field during home [Wayne State Warriors Football] games.
Undergraduate Programs
Graduate Programs
Department of Theatre.
The Department of Theatre is an award-winning department that offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree divided into two possible curricula, a Bachelor of Arts program, as well as a Master of Fine Arts program with six possible concentrations, a Master of Arts program, and a doctoral program. The Department also offers an Honors Program. Performance venues include Wayne State University's historic Bonstelle Theatre; the Hilberry Theatre, which is home to the nation's first and only graduate student repertory theatre company; and The Studio Theatre. The department also has a touring company, and students also may have opportunities to perform with Detroit's professional theatre companies. Detroit theatre district is second only to Broadway in number of theatres.
Enrollment.
Fall 2019 enrollment for CFPCA was 1,951 students, including 1,401 full-time students and 550 part-time students. Enrollment comprises 1,739 undergraduate students and 212 graduate students. There were 98 full-time faculty members. The college awarded 420 degrees and certificates in 2018–19.