ART DEGREES

Overview

Are you passionate about studying art at university? Interested in learning more about the ‘great masters’, or comparing artistic movements from different historic periods and cultures? Or perhaps you’re a budding artist yourself, keen to develop your own skills and artistic vision under the guidance of expert teachers.
Roughly speaking, this sums up the two main types of art degree available. There are those, often titled History of Art or Art History, which seek to nurture students’ ability to understand and analyse artistic artefacts from different perspectives – cultural, historical, philosophical and so on.
And then there are those, usually called Fine Art or Applied Art, in which the focus is on developing the students’ own artistic skills. Again, this usually involves cultivating students’ awareness and understanding of different artistic trends and techniques, but much more practical work is involved.
In addition to these two traditional pathways, a range of much younger art courses have also sprung up, in response to changes in society which mean new media and new types  of artistic creativity in demand. Examples include degrees dedicated entirely to subjects such as photography, illustration, animation and computer or digital arts.
Looking for art courses? Contact art & design schools here >

Specialization

History of art degrees

History of art (or art history) degrees are among the more traditional and academically established arts courses offered by universities. Courses typically cover artworks from a range of different cultures and historical periods, training students to analyse artefacts in terms of their relationship to artistic movements, social context and historic importance. This could mean ‘artworks’ in the most traditional sense – paintings on display in a gallery – but also a much broader approach to what constitutes art, from architecture to cartoons.
History of art students may choose to specialize in a particular region and/or historical period, or may pursue an interest in a particular aspect of art’s relationship to society – perhaps looking at the relationship between art and philosophy, or art and politics, for example.

Fine art degrees

Where history of art courses are about analysing artworks, fine art degrees are about creating them. Fine art programs typically combine a mixture of theoretical and practical requirements to nurture students in developing their own artistic work. Usually fine art students specialize in a particular medium, such as painting, sculpture, photography, film, animation, illustration, print-making or ceramics.
In addition, it’s possible to find entire degree courses specializing in each of the media mentioned above – and many more besides. For instance, you could take a degree specializing in comic art, or in community arts practice. It’s also possible to choose an art degree which focuses on art in a particular region or culture – such as Asian art or European art.
Then, of course, there’s the whole related field of design, encompassing subjects such as fashion, textile design, graphic design, interior design, advertising design and product design.

Career Options

As with most arts and humanities subjects, careers for art graduates are wide and varied. Not all graduates of arts degrees go on to roles that are obviously related to what they’ve studied, instead entering one of the many graduate jobs that are open to students from multiple academic backgrounds.

However, for those determined to pursue an arts career, there are lots of options. Those with an art history background may pursue careers within arts curation, valuation, management and conservation. Employers could include museums, art galleries and collections, and auction houses.

Those who enjoy one-on-one contact with people may consider roles within art education, either within schools or working for organizations such as museums or community arts projects. Other common paths include events organization, administration, research and journalism.

Many of these career paths are also popular among fine arts graduates – who also, of course, will probably be keen to find roles in which they can practice their own artistic skills. While some will manage to carve out a career as a freelance artist, others find different ways to put their creativity to use, within industries such as advertising, publishing and media, fashion, web design or interior design.

Key Skills

In addition to specialist knowledge and skills, art degrees should provide graduates with the following transferable skills, useful across a range of careers:

• Time management
• Project coordination
• Team work & collaboration
• Initiative
• Creativity
• Problem-solving
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Critical analysis

Looking for art degrees? Find your course here > 

Arts & Design: Improving your Career Prospects

Career options for art and design graduates are plentiful. However, competition can be stiff. A specialist graduate qualification can, therefore, be invaluable in helping you to stand out from the crowd in the worlds of design, photography, fashion, journalism, music, theatre, fine art and illustration.
"Individuals make the major, and often life-changing, commitment to study at postgraduate level for a variety of reasons," says Samantha Kirby of the University College Falmouth in Cornwall, England. "Postgraduate study is your chance to specialize."
A postgraduate qualification is the bridge between having a talent for art and design and making a living out of that talent. "Falmouth combines the vocational with the non-vocational; you develop personal research interests, while learning practical skills and gaining insight into career paths. Students find inspiration here but also make professional contacts that will endure throughout your career."
At the Academy of Art University in San Francisco great emphasis is also placed upon preparation for future careers: "The Academy of Art University graduate programs are designed for students who desire to improve their portfolio," says Jeff Chromy.
"Because Academy of Art University's Graduate School is so portfolio-driven, alumni have an edge in the job market as having a tangible portfolio to hand to potential employers is a graduate's ticket to a successful career."
Academy of Art University offers MFA and M.Arch degrees in 12 areas of art and design emphasis. Programs include: Advertising, Animation, Architecture (M.Arch), Computer Arts: New Media, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Motion Pictures and Television and Photography.
Students can take classes in copywriting, fashion merchandising, sculpture, cinematography, digital photography, car design and much more. Students can also enroll in a flexible online degree program.
"Through the Academy of Art University intensive and advanced graduate degree programs, students can develop and enhance portfolios fit for industry needs," continues Jeff.
"The Academy offers studio courses that expose students to a range of hands-on art and design projects. Graduate students also have the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with an Academy instructor or industry professional of their choice to develop specific conceptual and technical skills to help them successfully bring their final thesis project to completion."
The Academy of Art also runs many industry events where students can network with professionals in their chose field. "The Annual Spring Show brings in art and design industry professionals from all over the country," says Jeff.
"Students have the unique opportunity to present their portfolios and some get hired on the spot! Academy MFA Fashion students have the privilege as the only school invited to Bryant Park to show their collections to the world at New York Fashion Week."
"A postgraduate degree from Academy of Art University demonstrates the ability to balance the creative with the practical," continues Jeff. "Graduates can think outside of the box - and make a living doing what they love. Academy graduates carry a professional reputation that gives them an edge in the marketplace. The list of companies that hire graduates every year reads like a who's who list of art and design. New media alumni are driving the booming technological renaissance, while fine art and photography students are filling galleries all over the world."
Samantha Kirby says that Falmouth's location is part of the school's success: "Our stimulating, vibrant and beautiful environment attracts a special kind of person to study, work and live here. The influences of our location on the work of our staff and students has been recognised and applauded nationally and internationally.
"Our graduating students are highly sought after and enjoy a reputation for excellence in their chosen disciplines. Their innumerable achievements reflect the quality of the learning experience at Falmouth with its first-class facilities, high-calibre staff, international contacts, and an entrepreneurial ethos"
New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia, located in Singapore, offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in Animation and Digital Arts, Dramatic Writing and Film. In each program, the curriculum is identical to the school's campus in New York. All instruction is delivered in English. The school opened in 2007. "
Earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from our school is challenging and unlike any other post graduate training," says Josh Murray, Associate Director for Recruitment. "Tisch Asia is a place for students to be creative, to experiment and to take risks. They become critical thinkers, and they have an intense understanding of the industry in which they will work."
In the second year at Tisch Asia they have students from 20 countries. Many of their applicants are from the US, but Josh has been encouraged by the number of applicants they have received from India, China, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
"As our enrolment grows, so will our diversity," he says. "The ability to travel to this part of the world is appealing to adventurous students. And the access to the untold stories of the region is unprecedented for animators, filmmakers and writers. "
Tisch Asia also gives students access to an American arts education based in southeast Asia. Graduates from the US school have won every major industry award according to Josh: "From the Academy Award to the Tony Award and beyond, graduates from Tisch School of the Arts are leaders in
their field."
The admissions process to Tisch Asia, like for many postgraduate art and design courses is competitive, "but we do not require prior experience in the field to apply to our programs. We, in fact, look for applicants with diverse backgrounds," says Josh.
"It is so very important that applicants take time to articulate their intense interest and passion for the arts, and we need to see that applicants are dedicated to a two- or three-year arts education program. The creative portfolio is essential and represents each student, their vision, and indicates to our faculty the potential for success."
Falmouth also search for a passion for the subject when sifting applicants says Samantha Kirby: "We welcome applications from students with appropriate qualifications, equivalent qualifications, prior learning/experience and a demonstrable interest in the subject."
Application numbers to their MA courses are growing annually, as awareness of the courses grows. In 2007 Falmouth published their first Postgraduate Prospectus which has helped increase awareness and held a number of Postgraduate Open Days and Open Evenings. They are seeing more applicants each year from India, China, Taiwan and the US.
Graduate applicants to the Academy of Art University must include the following standard documents, according to Jeff Chromy: statement of intent; resume; official college transcripts and their portfolio, for placement purposes.
"Academy of Art University welcomes anyone who is interest in pursuing an MFA, regardless of skill level. A candidate applying to the MFA or M. Arch. program, however, may be required to take preparatory classes in advance of entering graduate-level classes."

Creative Arts at Graduate Level: An Introduction

Master's degrees in creative arts subjects, such as fine art, design and fashion, allow graduates to turn their passions into careers.
The creative arts industry is dynamic, exciting and offers plenty of opportunities to hard-working creatives. However, it can also be extremely competitive. A graduate qualification can help you stand out, as well as allowing you to hone your technical and creative skills. Here's our guide to master's level creative arts programs, and the paths on which they can take you.

Graduate courses in creative arts

The University for the Creative Arts in England has an extensive range of graduate programs in film, photography, ceramics, textiles, architecture and contemporary crafts. It also offers unique gallery and exhibition space at each of its campuses, enabling students to showcase their work to the community.
Sveinung Skaalnes, a graduate student at the University for the Creative Arts, chose to study photography at the University’s Farnham campus. Originally from Norway, Sveinung has just graduated with a BA(Hons) in Photography and found the course very professional: “Although we were in an educational setting rather than in the workplace, things were done properly and to an industry standard,” he said. “I gained a lot of experience on the course and also through my work as an assistant for photographers. I’ve also come away with a greater insight into my own work”.
Sveinung said his course had a large practical element to it, which was very well handled. “Everything from day one that was hands on was very focused,” he said. Another college offering graduate programs in the creative arts is The Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London (www.csm.arts.ac.uk). Courses in design studies, fashion, fine art and textiles, which combine business and creative practices, ensure graduates are qualified and business savvy at the end of their studies.
La Trobe University in Australia has a School of Communication, Arts and Critical Enquiry which offers an Honors degree in Creative Arts. The qualification combines the “study of imaginative, performance, critical and theoretical practices…and covers subjects such as creative writing, autobiography, writing for the screen and media, performance, production, critical and theoretical subjects.” The University of Wollongong has a Masters of Creative Arts, which takes one year to complete full time, or one and a half to two years to complete part time. It covers subject areas such as graphic design and new media, music performance and composition, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing.

Admission requirements:

If you’re interested in the creative arts, chances are that you’ve already studied, or are studying, an undergraduate degree in this field. If that is the case, you’re almost guaranteed entry into a postgraduate creative arts qualification. However, the admission requirements for postgraduate qualifications will depend on the university that you are applying to so make sure you research their specific websites. In some instances, if you do not hold an undergraduate qualification in the creative arts or an approved subject area, you may be required to complete some extra papers incorporating relevant subject areas to gain extra credits. You may also need to have professional experience within your chosen area of study.
Skill sets you will acquire:
Studying for a graduate qualification in the creative arts will help you to develop an independent way of thinking. You’ll be encouraged to think outside the square and obviously get creative. As the University of Exeter’s program in the UK identifies, students will become “knowledgeable, critical, creative and confident professionals able to meet the wide-ranging and changing demands of the workplace with integrity, vision and intelligence.” Students will also be able to “recognise and develop their existing professional knowledge and experience.”
These skills are invaluable in the work place. If you can show your future employers that you are capable of thinking and working independently and coming up with new ideas, you’re already one step towards your dream job.

Post-qualification careers:

Creative arts graduates are well equipped to pursue a wide range of careers in the creative industries, from portrait painters to advertising exec roles, and beyond, says a spokesperson from the University of the Arts London. “As well as learning and exploring the technical and creative elements of their chosen fields, the rigours and challenges of successfully completing an arts degree equip graduates with key transferable skills including:

• The ability to work within a team
• Time management skills
• Project management skills
• Organisational skills
• The ability to effectively promote both oneself and one's organisation
• Presentation and networking skills

... and an ability to hit the ground running due to extensive real life work experience secured during study.”
There is certainly no shortage of work but the art world is highly competitive from student to professional level and it takes ambition, hard work and a strong character to succeed. It is also an industry where many jobs don’t even exist yet. They’re still being created! However, for starters you may look at jobs such as a graphic or web designer, visual artist, painter, sculptor or performer. You may choose to go into policy work, devising strategies, creating business plans or developing arts programs.
You could work for someone, or work for yourself. Work in an office, or work from home. All you need is ambition and attitude. Just get creative!