Visual And Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy

As a Queensborough student you will focus your education in one of our five nationally recognized Queensborough Academies.

Studying in the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy you will learn from professors who are passionate about their subjects – and your future. The Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy allows your artistic passion to thrive and grow into a bright future in the fine and performing arts. Innovative programs in Gallery and Museum Studies, Stage Management and Video or Music Production are just a few examples of promising career options

Faculty-led experiences such as service-learning, participation in local and regional theatre arts competitions and trips to New York City to attend professional performances will result in a more focused, impactful education.

From the moment you step onto our campus, you are paired with a personal Queensborough Academy Adviser dedicated to helping you reach your academic and career goals. Your Academy Adviser will guide you through course selection, help you understand degree requirements, assist with career planning and support you through your entire time at Queensborough.

Within your Queensborough Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy, you will have the opportunity to connect in-class learning with real-world experiences while receiving the highest quality education in the arts.

The Queensborough Community College Art and Design Department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Founded in 1944, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 360 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors.

The Queensborough Community College Department of Communication, Theatre, & Media Production is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). Founded in 1965, the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 192 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for theatre and theatre-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other theatre-related endeavors.

The Dance program in the Queensborough Community College Health, Physical Education and Dance Department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). Founded in 1981, the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) is an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges, and universities with approximately 83 accredited institutional members. It establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for dance and dance-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other dance-related endeavors.

Associate in Science (A.S.)

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Potential Careers / Transfer Paths

VAPA Academy Mission

The arts are crucial to the life of a civilized community and a vital component in holistic learning. The values and pursuit of collaboration, creative and abstract vision, self-discipline, striving for growth towards excellence, the steady development of skills, the perfection of expression, an understanding of self, an appreciation of diversity, a fierce curiosity about the world, a foundation of learning in the humanities and fostering a life-long dedication to learning are inherent in the training of the young artist and as such, the Visual and Performing Arts curriculum at QCC serves as an important partner in the college's mission. Students in the VAPA Academy take a broad spectrum of courses, founded upon a core of courses in the humanities and sciences, which are integrated, with courses specific to their concentration in a discipline.

The combined influence of studies within the discipline and general studies is profound and far-reaching in establishing a foundation for artistic and intellectual development. A number of courses from the Visual and Performing Arts Program partner in learning communities with courses from outside the program. Required coursework in the arts outside of a student's area of concentration provides inter-disciplinary perspective and contextual learning. In addition to serving majors, courses from the differing Visual and Performing Arts concentrations serve as humanities electives within the General Education core and support a number of other degree programs with service level courses.

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