Art Majors & Careers
While many artists pursue their talents without obtaining a degree in the field, others prefer to maximize their potential for a career in art by majoring in arts and pursuing a degree. There are various types of degrees available for artists, depending on the career path. Choosing the most appropriate art degree for your career path can help give you the educational background you need to pursue your artistic ambitions.
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Types of Degrees
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There are two major types of degrees in art, both of which can include an associate degree, bachelor's degree or postsecondary degree like a master's degree. In addition, artists may choose to pursue education in a technical school setting that culminates in certificates rather than degrees. The major types of art degrees are a degree in fine arts or a degree in graphic design. Each of these degrees encompass a variety of courses specific to the purpose of the degree. Many artists work on a combination of the two, especially if the student has no career goal in mind.
Fine Arts Careers
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An associate, bachelor's degree or master's degree in fine arts is ideal if you want to pursue an artistic career path that involves painting, drawing, animation and sculpting. Many artists pursue this degree to teach fine arts or to work in art museums. Fine arts courses focus primarly on the aesthetics of art and art history and often focus less on functionality. Artists who pursue careers in game design and architecture often add a fine arts degree to their education as well.
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Graphic Design Careers
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Those who pursue associate, bachelor's degrees or postsecondary degrees in graphic design are typically looking for a more commercial career path. A major in graphic design can lead to careers in advertising, game design and other avenues that focus on creating art that is functional.
Generalist and Specialists
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Deciding whether you are going to be a generalist or a specialist may help you determine which degree is right for you. Ask yourself questions about your career goals. Do you want to work for an advertising or law firm? Are you more interested in teaching the history of art? You might want to pursue a career as a storyboard designer for film, which would indicate you should consider a career in fine arts, specializing in animation.
If your goals are not clearly defined, consider choosing the degree most suited to the type of art you enjoy doing and augment its courses with selected courses under another degree. For instance, a degree in graphic design, with selected fine arts courses, may offer you the widest selection of career opportunities.
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