Art
Art is a term that can refer to a wide range of fields. The visual arts refer to works that are visual in nature, such as drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, painting and architecture. The term “visual arts” includes applied art and fine art. Visual arts have become an elective subject in most education systems, and most aspiring artists train in art schools to refine their skills.
Program Information
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree offers aspiring artists the opportunity to refine their skills. They are advertised as four year degrees, but often last longer because of the intensive nature of the studio classes. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the top art schools in the country. To apply, you must fill out an application and submit the required fee. You also have to receive at least a 500 on the SAT Verbal or Critical Reading and a 20 on ACT English. You also need a letter of recommendation written by a teacher and must submit a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of your best and most recent artwork. You will also need to schedule an interview. As part of the curriculum, you will take a combination of Fine Arts courses, Liberal Arts courses, and Art History electives for a total of 132 total credit hours. Another top art school is the Rhode Island School of Design. The school offers ten departments of the Fine Arts, including Ceramics, Illustration, Painting, Photography and Sculpture. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the international study opportunities as well as the numerous internships the school offers. One of the most popular fine arts majors is painting. The painting program is practical and hands-on. It creates engaging discussions which allow students to customize what they learn, shape it to fit their own needs, and begin to see their work in contemporary and historical context.
Pros & Cons
A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is great for a student who is serious about becoming a professional artist or designer, or wants some kind of career in the art industry. These types of degrees attract talented faculty members to help provide the best education possible, offering students an intense and committed learning atmosphere. These programs also allow students to gain an extensive knowledge of both art history and the liberal arts, and refine their art skills. While these programs are terrific, there are also some downsides. Art schools tend to have very high tuition and can leave you in a lot of debt once you graduate. While art schools help get you a foot in the industry, they do not necessarily provide you with immediate employment following graduation, which can make debt difficult to pay off. Art schools can be difficult to get into, especially the top ones. You will have to score high on your SATs, have a portfolio of art and provide a couple of reference letters. Even then, you may not be accepted due to the competitive nature of the program.
Graduate School & Career
Art provides a vast number of career paths you can choose from. Obvious ones include artists and illustrators, but art degrees can lead to film making, teaching, writing, becoming an art critic or working at a museum as a curator. The skills that you will learn and develop during your degree will help you in many different career choices. A museum curator is a popular career choice, and the position is expected to grow by 23% over the next decade. The average salary for a curator is around $50 000. An art degree can lead to interior design. Interior designers are expected to grow by 19% over the next decade, with over 85 000 jobs by 2018. Multimedia Artists and Animators are also popular career choices, with over 90 000 jobs expected by 2018.