Communication and Visual Arts Department

Discover Your Creative Voice

The Communication and Visual Arts (CVA) department empowers students to explore and express ideas across multiple forms of media. With degree paths in art, communication, and digital media arts, students have the flexibility to tailor their studies to their creative passions and career goals.

About the Department

Inspiring Thinkers, Makers, and Storytellers

CVA students are encouraged to skillfully and ethically explore their ideas through creative thinking and problem-solving in a supportive environment surrounded by dedicated mentors and collaborators.

Finding Your Creative Voice

Whether the preferred medium is writing, speaking, drawing, painting, design, photography, or cinema, students will find a home for their passion and creativity to flourish in our interdisciplinary program. By emphasizing both individual expression and creative collaboration, students learn to deliver exceptional content for a diverse audience.

Bringing Ideas to Life

While examining aspects of culture, persuasion, art, and media, to name a few, students will put theory into practice by serving our community through applied projects and hands-on internships. Cultural resources on campus—such as the outstanding collection of American art in Valparaiso University’s Brauer Museum of Art—and in nearby Chicago are integral to the curricula. Majors may lead to a variety of careers or graduate study in fields such as journalism, public relations, broadcasting, branding, marketing, advertising, entertainment, museum curation, gallery sales, art education, and much more.

Express Yourself

The Communication and Visual Arts (CVA) department educates students in one of the most integral aspects of human behavior—the development and expression of ideas through various modalities. The department offers three degree paths including art, communication, and digital media arts, with opportunities for students to customize their concentrations.

Communication and Visual Arts

Explore Programs

Art

Communication

Digital Media Arts

News & Stories

Department Highlights

Student Spotlight

Valpo alumni work in some of the most prestigious communication and art organizations in the U.S. They are producers at ESPN, meteorologists at Good Morning America and other networks nationwide. The CVA faculty stay in close contact with many alumni and draw on their expertise and their willingness to help the next generation of Valpo communicators and artists.

Read Story

Brendan Johnson

Read Story

Shining Brightly, Together

Voices from Valpo

A smiling young woman with glasses and a red jacket stands in front of steps and a domed building, exuding confidence and open communication.

Communication and Visual Arts Department

“One of the main things that brought me to Valpo was the student life and student organization opportunities. Specifically, having the ability to get experience with a lot of different media appealed to me.”

— Caitlynn Shipe 2024

B.A. Communication

A young woman with long, dark hair smiles at the camera against a plain light background, capturing a moment of simple, natural art.

Communication and Visual Arts Department

“I was drawn to Valpo because of both the opportunities in the classroom, but also outside of it. I also was really excited that there were so many opportunities for growth.””

— Maiah Deogracias 2024

B.A. Art

Communication and Visual Arts Department

Explore Creative Opportunities

Sirko Makerspace

Cut, engrave, and score more than 300 types of materials on our Cricut Maker 3 or Glowforge Pro Laser Printer. Iron on your own custom designs with the Cricut Easy Press 2 or Mug Press. Try your hand at 3D design with our Matter and Form 3D scanner and Dremel 3D printer. The opportunities are endless, so let’s get to work!

Student Media Organizations

The CVA department enjoys a close working relationship with five award-winning student media organizations on campus, which provide students concrete ways to expand and apply their skill sets — including paid opportunities.

Internships and Opportunities

Students pursuing majors in CVA are strongly encouraged (and in some majors, required) to apply and deepen their expertise through experiential learning.