Academic Units

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center fully integrates the University of Maryland's academic performing arts departments into its programming. This commitment to creative collaboration, uncommon among university presenters, offers...

The University of Maryland School of Music is a comprehensive, nationally recognized school combining conservatory-caliber training with high academic standards. The School's seven divisions offer 40 majors, spanning the BA, BM, MA, MM, DMA and PhD degrees. Admission is competitive. The School's world-class faculty includes award-winning scholars, NSO players, Met vets, and chamber music specialists such as the legendary Guarneri String Quartet. The School presents over 300 performances each year.

The University of Maryland Department of Theatre is home to the Shakespeare Globe Center Research Archives and benefits from its location in the fastest-growing theatre market in the nation, with more than 80 professional theatres in the region. It offers a full range of degree programs: BA, MA, MFA, and Ph.D. Its distinguished faculty include 3 Helen Hayes Award recipients for theatrical design, a winner of a regional Emmy, and a Bernard Hewitt Award recipient for the outstanding book in theatre history.

The University of Maryland Department of Dance emphasizes modern dance technique and offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap, ethnic styles, and ballroom. Students benefit from a small program faculty to student ratio. A new master of fine arts degree program was developed in 1999. The Department features significant artist-in-residence programs where rotating artists create new work with students.

The Michelle Smith Library is a 23,000 square foot research library. Its International Piano Archives at Maryland is one of the world's most extensive concentrations of piano recordings, books, scores, and related materials, including 96% of all commercial piano recordings and a two-ton computerized Bosendorfer 290SE grand piano, one of 13 in the world.