Founded in 1965, Florida International University (FIU) is made up of twelve colleges including the College of Architecture and the Arts.
The college was established in 2006 and is comprised of seven departments including Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Art and Art History, Communication Arts, Music and Theatre.

The School of Architecture has been fully re-accredited by the NAAB - National Architectural Accreditation Board, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB).
The architecture department is housed in the landmark Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture Building designed by internationall renowned Bernard Tschumi Architects. This is a $16 million building including a multi-level technologically advanced studio with space for 375 students, an auditorium with a state-of-the-art audiovisual system, an exhibition gallery and a courtyard with an outdoor cafe and rooftop terrace.

The Art and Art History Department of Florida International University is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Frost Art Museum, located on the campus of Florida International University, provides an exceptional resource for scholarly research and interdisciplinary collaboration. In 1999, the Museum received accreditation from the American Associations of Museums (AAM) and in 2001 became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The Frost Art Museum also became a unit under the new College.

The Betty Laird Perry Student Purchase Award was established in support of FIU's Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts studio programs. Since 1980 the Award has enabled the Frost Art Museum to collect and purchase significant students work that enhance the museum's collection and the public spaces of the FIU campus.

The FIU School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The School of music is located in the $14.5 million Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center, which features the 600-seat Wertheim Concert Hall with its 74-rank Schantz pipe organ and a more intimate 150-seat Recital Hall. The Wertheim Performing Arts Center also houses practice rooms, instrumental rehearsal halls, computer music studios, faculty teaching studios, and a brand new organ studio containing a two-manual Schlicher practice pipe organ courtesy of a generous donation from Herbert and Nicole Wertheim.

There has been a theatre program at FIU since 1972, when the University first opened its doors. FIU THEATRE received full accreditation by NAST (National Association of Schools of Theatre) in 1998.
The Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center is also home to the FIU THEATRE Department. It includes a beautiful 220-seat proscenium theatre with a full orchestra pit and a large 150 seat black-box studio theatre. The facility is supported by a large scene shop, costume shop and dressing rooms. Both theatres have the latest in lighting, sound and other technical equipment.

Syesha Mercado, a former student in the FIU Theatre, was a top-three finalist on American Idol in the 2008 season.

FIU ranked first in the nation among four-year colleges for awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students in the 2008 survey conducted by the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine. U.S. News And World Report ranks FIU among the nation's top 100 public national universities. (www.fiu.edu)
In 2000, Florida International University received the highest research university ranking conferred by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. FIU is the youngest university to have been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society. (www.fiu.edu)

Courses at Florida International University

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Studio Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography, Digital Art, Interdisciplinary Art)
Performance (Theatre)
Design (Theatre)

Bachelor of Arts
Architecture
Studio Art (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography, Digital Art, Interdisciplinary Art)
Art History
Music
Performance (Theatre)

Bachelor of Interior Design

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Bachelor of Music
Instrumental Performance
Vocal Performance
Composition
Jazz Performance
Piano Performance
Organ Performance
Music Technology

Bachelor of Science
Music Education

Masters of
Architecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture

Master of Arts
Landscape Architecture

Master of Fine Arts
Studio Art (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Photography, Digital Art, Interdisciplinary Art)

Masters of Music
Composition
Conducting
Jazz Performace
Music Technology
Performing Arts Production
Performance

Masters of Science
Music Education

Non-degree programs
Continuing Education program

Past students - established and famous artists
Andy Garcia
Syesha Mercado

Contact Details for Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street VH 216
Miami, Florida FL
http://www.fiu.edu