The program is global in many senses of the word. We look to the whole world, without privileging one geographical space over another. We are rigorous in the study of all realms of creative expression, from film screen to dance club, from ritual and touristic practice to museum and concert hall. Our faculty of music scholars and art historians helps students refine the skills they need to critically engage culturally diverse media. Lecture courses, seminars, studio classes, and ensembles are designed to explore creative processes and material connections. Working closely with faculty, our students conduct original research and acquire nuanced insights into both sonic and visual realms. Students further deepen their understanding of global arts through hands-on training in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, music, and dance in a variety of cultures and media. They develop professional skills by participating in community-based events, curating exhibitions, managing the UC Merced Art Gallery, and organizing and performing in recitals, concerts, and multimedia presentations.

The new GASP major is live and open to the class of 2019 and later. If you are interested in the major, please feel free to ask us about the program via email or during our office hours, the details of which you can find on our faculty page. We highly recommend that students interested in the major take the courses GASP 2: Introduction to Music Studies and GASP 3: Introduction to Visual Studies.