Welcome to the COA | College of Arts

Welcome to the COA

Welcome to the College of Arts, a lively and vibrant community of world class teachers and researchers committed to excellence in graduate and undergraduate education. The College of Arts is a diverse place, home to the Performing and Fine Arts and the Humanities, including Modern and Ancient Languages, English, Theatre, History, European Studies, Music, Visual Arts, Philosophy. We’re also home to the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BAS) Program, as well as other interdisciplinary programs which connect these various fields.

The College of Arts is at the heart of the University of Guelph. A third of all undergraduate students at the University of Guelph are in the BA program. From the first year BA to the final year of the PhD, the College of Arts offers a wide range of opportunities for excellent training in the fundamental knowledge skills needed for the world beyond the university. We also offer an array of courses of interest to students in the sciences, the social sciences, and beyond.

Students in our College learn the core skills that are essential to an education in the liberal arts: analytical thinking and critical engagement, compassion and collaborative thinking, historical and conceptual contextualization, inspired and compelling communication, and creativity and imagination. We also learn about the concepts and the arguments that make our world the place it is today. This isn’t just about appreciating old ideas. University level study in the arts and humanities is also about justice and  social change, and about making the world a better place in the future. Facts alone rarely move or persuade people to action. They’re necessary, but without stories, ideas, drama, and music, they’re not enough. This is just one of the many ways in which the Fine and the Performing Arts and the Humanities are central to the University of Guelph’s vision to improve life.

The College of Arts is also committed to the education of global citizens, working locally, nationally, and internationally to improve the world. You will need the skills and the knowledge we offer as you step into your future to become true citizens of your local and global communities. We offer curiosity-driven learning, knowledge applied to practical problems, knowledge transfer, and the use of new digital tools as part of our shared experience in the College of Arts.

Our award-winning scholars, researchers, and artists, recognized by honours and awards for the quality of their teaching and research, are ready to share their experience with you and the excitement that accompanies learning on the leading edge of discovery. We invite you to join us in this endeavour.