UNCSA was life-changing for me. I realize just how much of an effect it's had on my
growth overall and is so much a part of who I am and how I relate to people.
Alumnus
Paul Tazewell
B.F.A. Costume Design and Technology ’86 Hamilton, MJ the Musical, West Side Story (film)
Is the School of Design & Production right for you?
Nurture Your Talent
Our community supports both art and artists in building technical expertise and honing
practical life skills, including career preparedness, project management, financial
literacy and more.
Sharpen Your Craft
With over 150 innovative courses and interdisciplinary opportunities, you will learn
the history of your craft and the cutting-edge technologies reshaping the industry.
As one of the nation’s few public conservatories, our tuition is much more affordable
than other preeminent arts conservatories.
Make a Statement
As the only standalone design and production program in the world, our conservatory
experience is tailored to your individual needs. Our resident faculty and extensive
networks will provide a profoundly creative and hands on experience to prepare you
for the road ahead.
98% Job Placement Rate
Set your carer in motion. With a 98% job placement rate, students are in high demand
for careers across the global entertainment industry, including theater, live entertainment,
museums, cruise ships, immersive exhibitions and theme parks.
Top 10 Costume Design programs in the world
—The Hollywood Reporter
Storytelling without words: Props bring "Spring Awakening" to life
Follow the work of students in the stage properties program as they prepare custom, period-appropriate pieces for UNCSA's production
of "Spring Awakening." Students work to build a skeletal piano, create leatherbound
books and construct a field of (flame retardant) wheat.
Alumni Success
Our alumni work as make-up artists, stage managers, prop designers, sound engineers,
lighting technicians and more in some of the most prestigious and well-known institutions across the globe
— on Broadway, on television, on film and beyond.
Michael Kelley, Dean of Design & Production
Award-winning alumnus Michael Kelley became the Dean of Design & Production in 2015
after achieving success as a senior producer and principal designer on Broadway, in
regional theatre, television, film and themed entertainment. He has been an art director
and set decorator for HBO, Nickelodeon, Universal Studios, Lifetime Network, Children’s
Television Workshop and Walt Disney Imagineering, and he received Emmy Awards for
his work on “Deadwood” and “Sesame Street.”
