We are here to provide the artistic foundation for the University. The department contributes to the advancement of the human family in two ways: by expanding aesthetic awareness in the community, and by celebrating the creative human spirit through performance and the visual arts.

In its educational role, the department offers historical, theoretical, and applied classes which explore the varied artistic traditions of the past and present. The three disciplines within the department are combined in a collaborative course that introduces Western civilization's cultural heritage to all undergraduate students.

Committed to artistic excellence, the department serves the University and the city of San Antonio in performances and exhibits that, while striving toward inclusiveness, promote the Catholic artistic tradition and engage in interpreting the ever-present dialogue between faith and culture.