Shanghai Jiao Tong University has a proud tradition of its art education. Starting from the year of 1919, SJTU has established its own chorus, wind band and drama club. The teaching and research section for music was established in October 1981. Since 1985, SJTU has successively rebuilt or established the Student Wind Band, the Symphony Orchestra, the Chorus, the Chinese Orchestra, the Drama Troupe and the Dance Troupe at the university level.

At present, The faculty of the Center includes 6 full-time teachers, who are responsible for teaching of general education courses and optional courses, as well as second-major courses of Musicology for students of the entire university. In the meanwhile, teachers of the Center shoulder the responsibility of conducting and organizing rehearsals and performances for the 6 art troups. The Center has hired the renowned conductor, Professor Cao Peng, as the Tenure Honorary Director.

The Student Symphony Orchestra has won the first prize at the 14th International Musical Festival held in Netherlands in 2001 and gold award at the band contest of “Jungfrau” International Musical Festival held at Interlaken, Switzerland in 2003; the Chorus has won the second prize for mixed chorus contest in Russia International Choral Festival in 2013; the drama titled “Qian Xuesen” originally created by the Center won the top prize at the Third National Campus Drama Festival; and other art troups have also won first prizes at National Art Show on many occasions.

The Center for Art Education has offered more than 30 optional courses and the "Appreciation of Symphonic Music" was selected in national-level quality courses" in 2004. The Center takes an active part in the International Student Culture and Art Festival and series of activities themed “Introducing Classic Arts into Campus”, through which the organic combination of classroom teaching and extra-curricular activities for art education is developed.

The Center for Art Education has successively organized several art groups for more than 30 visits to other countries and regions such as Europe and the United States.