Careers for Art Majors: What Are My Job Options?
Are you interested in pursuing a degree in art but you're not sure what you'll do after you graduate? Art majors go on to careers in teaching, advertising and studio art production. Read on to discover the career options available to you once you've earned your undergraduate art degree. Schools offering Art degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
Overview of the Art Major
If you choose to pursue an undergraduate degree in art, you'll take academic and studio art courses that will expose you to artistic influences and allow you to explore your creative potential. Although your course requirements and emphasis options may vary depending on your school, you'll generally take courses in drawing, painting, art history, graphic design and studio art. In your studio art classes, you'll be expected to create finished pieces based on what you've learned in your academic courses. Depending on your program's options, you may choose an emphasis in painting, sculpting, photography, graphic design, teacher education or art history.
Your program will typically take at least four years to complete, and you'll usually graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree; however, if you enter a program focused on art education, you might receive a Bachelor of Science degree. Common jobs for art majors are detailed below.
Art Teachers
As an art teacher, you'll be responsible for educating elementary, middle or high school students about art history and assisting them in the creation of their own works of art. Your duties will include planning lessons, grading students' assignments and meeting with parents to discuss students' progress.
In addition to completing your undergraduate degree in art, you'll need to comply with your state's teacher qualification standards, which may include completing teacher education programs and passing teacher credentialing exams. In May 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that elementary school teachers earned an average annual salary of $54,330, middle school teachers earned $54,880 and secondary school teachers earned $55,990 (www.bls.gov).
Graphic Designers
If you work as a graphic designer, you'll use text and images to design messages that convey ideas and concepts. You may design logos and create advertisements for billboards, magazines and the Internet. It is likely that you'll use traditional drawing methods with image-manipulation computer software to produce your designs. In May 2010, the BLS reported that graphic designers earned an average annual salary of $48,140.
Fine Artists
As a fine artist, you'll produce pieces of work in your chosen craft, which could be illustration, jewelry or ceramics. Some of your work may land in museums or art shows. You may also create pieces according to clients' specific requests. According to the BLS, it's difficult to make a living wage on the money you earn from selling your art. In May 2010, fine artists earned a mean annual wage of $53,080.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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