The J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts at Texas Tech University is known for its world-class faculty and traditions of excellence, collaboration, and innovation. The College offers both traditional and interdisciplinary degrees in art, music, theatre, and dance.
The Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (TCVPA) at Texas Tech University (TTU) is comprised of the School of Art, the School of Music, and the School of Theatre and Dance. Please visit the College website or the websites of the individual Schools for information about applying for admission.
About us: The TCVPA boasts a world-class faculty of 133, a diverse student body from around the world, and a 9:1 student/faculty ratio. It is the only Texas university program that is nationally accredited in all four arts. Graduates of the College have performed on the greatest stages; won Pulitzer, Grammy, Tony, and ADDY awards; and taught at prestigious universities around the world. The College places 100% of the music education and arts education majors who choose to enter the teaching profession. Come study where Susan Graham (international opera star), Hudson Hickman (Emmy-Award-winning producer), and DJ Stout (founding partner of Pentagram) all honed their craft!
Finances: Because of its reasonable tuition and low cost of living, TTU ranks in the top 100 of Kiplinger’s Best Values in Colleges. Non-resident undergraduate students qualify for in-state tuition (or discounted tuition) if they live in New Mexico or Oklahoma counties bordering Texas or if they receive a $1000 competitive scholarship. Read more about TTU Merit Scholarships at www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incFreshman.php. Contact the individual Schools for information about scholarships in art, music, theatre, and dance.
Awards: TTU is one of only 115 universities in the U.S. to achieve Carnegie Tier One status. In Fall 2017, it became only the 10th Carnegie Tier One university to achieve Hispanic-Serving Institute (HSI) status. It is also one of the Top 10 Colleges in the U.S. for Veterans. The campus, largely in a Spanish Renaissance architectural style, features a collection of public art that is among the ten best in the U.S.
Student Life:The TCVPA can be your home away from home. We're a close-knit creative community with all the advantages and resources of a world-class public university. The Fine Arts Learning Community provides a unique living environment for arts majors. Over 800 public events are produced each year, most of them free to the public. With over 35 student organizations, including the 400+ Goin’ Band from Raiderland and the Mariachi Los Matadores, there are performing and creative opportunities for everyone. TCVPA students can also study abroad at programs in Seville, Prague, China, and Italy.
Unique Interdisciplinary Degree: The College also offers the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts Studies, a unique interdisciplinary degree for students who wish to study multiple fields in equivalent depth. The student selects three concentration areas, two of which must be in the TCVPA.
TCVPA Honors College students working toward a Bachelor’s degree may gain early admission to the TTU School of Law through the “3+3” Early Admission Joint Program.
Certificates and Minors: The College sponsors a minor in Arts Enterpreneurship in collaboration with the Rawls College of Business. It offers undergraduate certificates in Arts Entrepreneurship and Motion Picture Production and a graduate certificate in Interdisciplinary Arts.
Coming to you: College representatives will attend National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Visual and Performing Arts College Fairs in Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, and New York City (see the NACAC or TCVPA website for times, dates, and locations).
We'll also be at college fairs in Albuquerque and Oklahoma City. For more information, please email the TCVPA's Lead Recruiter, Aaron Chavarria (aaron.chavarria@ttu.edu) and let us know if you can attend!
The School of Art strives to provide a stimulating environment where students are challenged to develop their creative and scholarly potential through exhibition opportunities, contemporary technologies, and interdisciplinary and critical discourse.
Degrees: The School supervises the following degree and certificate programs: BA in Art History and Studio Art; BFA in Graphic Design, Studio Art, Transmedia, and Visual Studies (leading to teacher certification); MAE in Arts Education; MA in Art History; MFA in Fine Arts; and PhD in Fine Arts with a track in Critical Studies and Artistic Practice. A Graduate Certificate is offered in Art History, Criticism, and Theory. Minors are available in Art History, Fine Art Photography, Studio Art, and Transmedia. A wide array of courses is available, including offerings in animation, film, 3D design, art technology, ceramics, printmaking, digital imaging, metal fabrication, multimedia, computer design, illustration, packaging, web design, motion graphics, and sculpture.
Facilities and Partnerships: Facilities include the Landmark Art Gallery, 3-D Art Annex (Ceramics, Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing, Sculpture), Satellite Gallery, Transmedia Lab, Computer Lab, Visual Resources Center, and Woodshop. Art students can participate in community outreach and special partnerships, including the East Lubbock Promise Neighborhood, Arts Initiative in Medicine, Summer Discovery Visual Arts Program, Texas Metals Symposium, Texas Sculpture Symposium, Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP) Art Studio Demonstrations and Workshops, and Lubbock’s popular First Friday Art Trail. Summer programs are regularly offered in Fredericksburg (TX), Seville, China, and Italy.
The School of Music provides a professional environment that stimulates the highest standards of excellence in music education, research, and performance.
Degrees: The School supervises the following degree programs: BA in Music; BM in Music with concentrations in music (leading to teacher certification), composition, performance, and theory; BM+MMEd (accelerated program); MM with tracks in composition, conducting, jazz performance, music theory, musicology, pedagogy, and performance; MMEd in Music Education; DMA with tracks in performance, conducting, composition, and piano pedagogy; PhD in Fine Arts with tracks in musicology, music theory, music education, and arts administration; and PhD in Music Education. Certificates are available in Community Arts Entrepreneurship, Jazz Studies, World Music, Early Music Performance Practice, and Piano Pedagogy.
Areas of Instruction: Instruction is offered in piano, organ, voice, guitar, harp and all brass, woodwind, percussion, and stringed instruments.
Facilities and Community Outreach: Facilities include the 541-seat Hemmle Recital Hall with its 4469-pipe Holtkamp Organ, Fazioli and Steinway Concert Grands, and Kingston and Martin harpsichords. The School also maintains a 36-bell carillon. Students can participate in community outreach and special partnerships including the TTU String Project; STELLAR Suzuki string training; TTU Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Mariachi Camps; Lubbock Chorale; Lubbock Moonlight Musicals; and Lubbock Symphony and Youth Orchestras. Summer programs are offered at TTU’s satellite campus in Seville, Spain.
Performing Ensembles: Performing ensembles include 5 concert and symphonic bands, 5 choral ensembles, 2 orchestras, opera and musical theatre, 3 jazz bands, and numerous instrumental chamber ensembles; the Goin’ Band from Raiderland (400+ students, Winner of the Sudler Trophy); Court Jesters Basketball Band; Mariachi Los Matadores de Texas Tech; vernacular music ensembles in Celtic, Tango, Balkan, Mbira, and Pop Music; the Early Music Ensemble; the Steel Drum Band; and various traditional percussion ensembles.
The School of Theatre and Dance is one of only two universities in Texas to offer all traditional degrees in theatre, and one of only three in the Southwest to offer a Ph.D. in Fine Arts. Students pursue a core curriculum that includes training in the areas of design, acting, directing, dance, stage management, history, and playwriting.
Degrees: The School supervises the following degree programs: BA with majors in theatre arts and dance; BFA with majors in acting, design/technology, and musical theatre; MA in Theatre Arts; MFA in Theatre Arts; and PhD in Fine Arts with tracks in acting and directing, design, history/theory/criticism, arts administration, and playwriting. Minors are available in dance, general theatre arts, acting, and design. All-level teacher certification is available within the BA or BFA.
Certificates: The School offers a certificate in Motion Picture Production in collaboration with the College of Media & Communications.
Facilities and Partnerships: Facilities include the Maedgen Theatre, Maedgen Lab Theatre, and Creative Movement Studio. The School began construction on a new $10-million expansion, including a Black Box Theatre, in August 2017. Students can participate in numerous community outreach and special partnerships including the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Ballet Lubbock, Lubbock Community Theatre, Marfa Intensives (devised theatre with national guest artists), Tennessee Williams Festival in Provincetown (MA), Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), BurkTech Players partnership with the Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research, Wildwind Performance Lab, 24-Hour Play Fest, Raider Red’s One-Act Play Spectacular. The School regularly attends Arts Advocacy Days in Washington, DC and Texas. Summer programs are held on the TTU campus as well as in Seville, Prague, Marfa (TX), and Provincetown (MA).
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