The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), a top-ranked art and design college, is proud to announce the launch of two innovative BFA majors: Design and Innovation and Creative Media Production. These new degrees—dubbed the New Creatives Majors—are purpose-built for a generation redefining what it means to be an artist, designer, and cultural producer.

At a time when the creative economy is rapidly evolving, these majors empower students to become hybrid thinkers—fluent in design, media, and emerging technologies—prepared to lead in fields that don’t yet have names.

New Degrees for a New Creative Era

Rather than locking students into narrow paths, MICA’s New Creatives Majors prioritize exploration, cross-disciplinary fluency, and identity-forward creative leadership. The flexible, modular curriculum encourages students to engage with a wide range of tools and ideas before selecting a co-major or following a transdisciplinary path.

“These degrees are designed for students who want to shape what’s next—not just participate in it,” said President Cecilia M. McCormick. “Our graduates will be the creative leaders of tomorrow: agile, visionary, and ready to transform industries.”

The new majors reflect a bold reimagining of art and design education rooted in MICA’s newly articulated Academic Vision Cornerstones:

• Integrative: connecting disciplines to solve complex real-world problems

• Disruptive: challenging traditional structures to promote paradigm shifts

• Immersive: deep, experiential learning tied to lived realities

• Innovative: advancing learning through cutting-edge pedagogy and design thinking

• Creative: cultivating original thinking, risk-taking, and expression
  
  

This academic vision positions MICA not just as a college, but as a hub for the future of creativity.

The Majors

Design and Innovation, BFA
Start with design thinking and creative problem-solving, then specialize through a co-major in Graphic Design, Product Design, or Architectural Design—or take a transdisciplinary approach. Along the way, students will explore big ideas like sustainability, entrepreneurship, and design for social good. In the process, students will gain the tools to create meaningful solutions and stand out in today’s evolving design industries.

Creative Media Production, BFA
Ideal for creators working across formats and platforms, this major builds broad digital fluency with co-majors in Game Design, Sound Art, or Film & Video, with strong ties to Photography, Interactive Arts, and Animation. It’s built for storytellers who want to make an impact in a media-rich world.

Fueling the Regional Creative Economy

With these new offerings, MICA reinforces its role as an economic and cultural engine for Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic region. Graduates will be uniquely prepared to drive innovation in creative industries, from tech and film to architecture, education, and social enterprise.

"Nurturing a strong and resilient workforce for our cultural and creative economy is a key strategy of All In 2035, our 10-Year Economic Opportunity Plan for the Baltimore Region," said Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) President and CEO Mark Anthony Thomas. "The launch of MICA's New Creative Majors will play an essential role in expanding and attracting new talent into this vital sector, and growing the footprint of our economy overall."

A National Model for Creative Education

MICA’s New Creatives Majors represent a national model for forward-thinking, inclusive, and impactful creative education—one where students shape their own paths, guided by real-world challenges and fueled by bold ideas.

Applications will open August 2025.

Watch the teaser video: