Mountaineers go first. At West Virginia University we take risks, question everything and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. It’s true for the theatre student using next-generation entertainment technology or the music student learning to play bluegrass in a practice room. It’s true for the sculptor turning fire into art or the dancer turning motion into poetry. And it’s true for a scholar exploring the secrets of Gothic art, Renaissance music or the latest techniques in costume design. We go first by pursuing our passions. Students like Sydney Scott, who is both a top cross-country athlete and violin performance major, and Angela Collier-Reynolds, a flautist who just won a national scholarship, use their passion to make magic. Our Schools of Art and Design; Music; and Theatre and Dance help transform passion into success. You can even craft your own curriculum in multidisciplinary studies. A constant slate of recitals, concerts, plays, musicals, exhibitions, lectures and master classes help you explore your world through the visual and performing arts. And the just-opened Art Museum of WVU showcases over 3,000 works and is spreading our passion for the arts throughout the WVU community and region. Our teachers are accredited by premiere arts organizations. Our ceramics program is nationally ranked, while the puppetry and creative dramatics program is one of only three in the country. A new student-run record label is part of our music industry major, and students gain real-world experience working in a client-focused design studio. A unique art therapy major is being planned. We also offer you space to create: four theatres and a recital hall, eight visual art studios, ceramic and sculpture shops, computer labs and photography darkrooms. Theatre shops offer space for scenery, costume and craft creation. Exhibition spaces feature work by visiting artists, faculty and senior students. Our students earn internships with organizations...