Visual Arts

The department is housed in Fisher Hall, which creates a tight-knit creative community across all disciplines. Facilities include a large photography studio, a new film studio, a screen printing lab, a ceramics lab, a sculpture studio, and dedicated computer labs with industry-standard software. Seniors have their own studio space to develop thesis work. The facilities are a major draw for students — you'll have hands-on access to professional-level equipment from your first year.

While the department doesn't currently offer a photography major, we maintain a minor in photography with full access to our large photo studio and darkroom facilities. Faculty provide the same level of support and instruction to photography-focused students, and photography integrates naturally into the film, design, and fine art programs.

Absolutely. Our graduates work in fields well beyond the traditional art world. Visual arts skills translate directly into marketing, branding, business communications, UX design, and content creation. We've had students combine their visual arts training with pre-med and pre-professional programs — and art therapy is a growing field that builds directly on a fine art foundation. The creative problem-solving and communication skills you develop here apply to almost any career path.

PUC is located in Northern California's Napa Valley, within driving distance of San Francisco and Silicon Valley. That proximity puts students near Pixar, Lucasfilm, Apple, and a thriving Bay Area creative industry. The department regularly takes students on trips to museums, studios, and companies like YouTube and Pinterest, and students attend events such as the Sonscreen Film Festival.

Our alumni have gone on to work at Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, Apple, Netflix, Lucasfilm, Airbnb, and Martha Stewart Living, among others. Within Adventist media, graduates work at organizations like 3ABN, Amazing Facts, and Maranatha Volunteers International. Loma Linda University has also noted a preference for PUC graduates in their programs.

Because the entire department operates out of one building, students across film, graphic design, fine art, and photography work alongside each other daily. Projects are often collaborative and team-based — a natural result of small classes where everyone knows each other. Faculty are active creators themselves, exhibiting work and producing projects alongside students, which keeps the environment professional and grounded in real practice.

Yes. Our faculty maintain active creative practices and regularly exhibit and produce their own projects. This means you're learning from working artists and designers, not just academics. Faculty exhibitions at the Rasmussen Art Gallery give students a window into professional practice and often lead to collaborative opportunities.

Yes. Because the department operates in one building with shared faculty, students regularly take courses across disciplines. A film major might take graphic design or photography courses, and fine art students often explore digital media. The small program size makes cross-discipline work natural — your advisor can help you build a schedule that covers multiple interests.

Students work with industry-standard tools throughout the program. Film students use professional cinema cameras, lighting, and audio equipment along with editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Graphic design students work in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). Fine art students have access to traditional studios as well as digital tools. You'll also gain hands-on experience with our letterpress equipment — a rare offering at the college level.

PUC's location in Northern California puts you within reach of major creative companies in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the greater Bay Area. Students have access to internship opportunities at studios, agencies, tech companies, and production houses — including organizations where PUC alumni are already working. The department organizes quarterly visits to companies like YouTube and Pinterest, and students attend industry events such as the Sonscreen Film Festival. Your faculty advisor can help connect you with opportunities that align with your career goals.

Students explore the relationship between faith and creative practice through coursework, faculty mentorship, and the collaborative environment of a Christian campus. The department serves both students pursuing careers in secular industries — our graduates work at Disney, Pixar, Netflix, and other major companies — and those entering ministry-focused media roles at organizations like 3ABN, Amazing Facts, and Maranatha Volunteers International. Faculty are active practitioners who bring professional experience alongside a commitment to the college's mission. The program prepares students for both paths equally.