The Department of Visual Arts (1996- ) is a department in the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.

The Department of Visual Arts was established as a part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications in 1996 with the merging of the Department of Art and the Department of Design. The Department Chairs are: Michael D. Day (1996-1998), Mark J. Johnson (1998-2004), John W. Telford (2004-2006), and Linda Sullivan (2006- ).

The Department of Visual Arts was established to prepare competent professionals in various fields of plastic and graphic arts, to prepare qualified designers in problem solving of two- and three-dimensional application, to train historians who can critically appraise works of art, to prepare art educators to teach visual arts at various levels, and to help individuals develop their aesthetic sense.

The Department of Art (1920-1973) was a department under the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University. The department was responsible for academic instruction in the areas of drawing, painting, design, vocational crafts, and home planning.

The Department of Art was established in 1920 as part of the newly founded School of Arts and Sciences. It later belonged to the College of Arts and Sciences (1921-1925), the College of Fine Arts (1925-1963), and the College of Fine Arts and Communications (1963- ). Department chairs included Elbert H. Eastmond (1920-1936), Bent F. Larsen (1937-1954), J. Roman Andrus (1960-1961), Richard L. Gunn (1962-1965), Glen A. Turner (1966-1969), Floyd E. Breinholt (1970-1971), and W. Douglas Stout (1972-1973).

The Department of Art and Design (1973-1981) was a department in the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.

The Department of Art and Design was established in 1973 and was part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Those who served as Department Chairmen were: Douglas Stout (1973-1977) and Robert L. Marshall (1977-1981). In 1981 the department was split into two separate departments; namely, the Department of Art and the Department of Design.

A degree with emphasis on a professional specialty was offered to students to prepare them for a career in one of the disciplines of the arts. The Dept. of Art and Design offered four degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts.

The Department of Design (1981-1996) was a department in the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.

The Department of Design was established in 1981 and was part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Previously the curriculum for design was in the Department of Art and Design and the Department of Interior Environment. In 1996 the department merged with the Department of Art to form the new Department of Visual Arts. Department Chairmen for Design included Michael C. Graves (1981-1982), W. Douglas Stout (1982-1987, 1989-1992), John W. Sipherd (1987-1989), and Robert T. Barrett (1992-1996).

The Department of Design included students who were pursing the following degrees: Design (B.A.); Environmental Design (BFA); Interior Design (BFA); Industrial Design (BFA); Graphic Design (BFA); Illustration (BFA); Exhibit Design (BFA); and Crafts Design (BFA).

The Department of Art (1981-1996) was a department within the College of FIne Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University.

The Department of Art became a part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications in 1981. The department was previously named the Department of Art and Design. In 1996 the department merged with the Department of Design to form the new Department of Visual Arts. Department chairmen for Art included Robert L. Marshall (1981-1982; 1988-1995), Franz Johansen (1982-1985), Sherron D. Hill (1985-1988), and Michael D. Day (1995-1997).

The Department of Art served two main purposes: (a) the preparation of creative leaders in the various fields of the plastic and graphic arts and (b) the building of an appreciative audience for these arts.