Art Majors

A number of arts programs may force you to declare a specialty when you apply. In these cases you may be required to audition as part of the application process. If a school only admits 24 musical theater majors a year and they need a balance of men, women, voices, etc., waiting to see if you like musical theater may not be possible. However, if you have applied for visual arts and don’t know if you want painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, etc, you may have more flexibility. Unfortunately, like so many other college planning questions, the answer. Do your research online and feel free to ask the admissions office to help you contact professors in the arts who can give you specific answers.

This is a great question! I ask this when I make campus visits. Usually I find a variety of answers, so you will want to do some research of your own. Overall, some schools are generally viewed as more competitive and cut-throat than others. This can vary by department, so ask students in your particular discipline. Other schools are generally more supportive, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find hyper-competitive people in your program. Sometimes the answers I’m given depend on the students I’ve asked. One dancer might say the program is ultra-competitive and she doesn’t feel supported by her peers while another dancer in the exact same major may say it is fine. Know your own sensitivities and whether competition drives you to excel or stifles your talent.

Involve your parents in the research process. Understand the difference between BA and BFA programs. Look into the requirements and opportunities offered by liberal arts colleges as well as specialized arts programs. Visit a couple liberal arts colleges and compare them to the arts or conservatory programs you have visited. Don’t eliminate liberal arts colleges without giving them (and your parents) an opportunity. Personally, I’ve had students attend both type of schools and there is no “best program.” You and your family need to decide what is right for you. Attending a liberal arts college may represent a happy medium.

What do employers want? They want energetic, enthusiastic, hard working people who can think, analyze, and respond to the situations in their workplace. You don’t need a business degree to do this. I believe you can develop critical thinking, reading, writing, interpersonal, and problem solving skills in any major. These are what will get you a job, not your major. Yes, if you want to work on Broadway or star in a major television production, you will face stiff competition. Not every artist will make money from their talent, but there are plenty of related jobs in arts administration, marketing, communication, public relations, and even business that use the same talents and skills you’ve developed while obtaining your degree.

Begin by finding schools that offer your particular discipline. Are you a visual artist, graphic artist, dancer, theater tech, actor, photographer, etc? You may want to keep an open mind, especially in visual arts, because you may not have had an opportunity to try certain fields, such as print making, in high school. Once you’ve found the schools offering your discipline, make your comparison as you would any other college programs. When you visit, do you feel comfortable? Do you like the people? Will the program give you exposure and opportunities you desire? Bottom line: can you picture yourself happy and successful there?

Like so many other college questions the answer is “it depends on your school.” Most schools require some degree of specialization and you want this. If you are interested in dance, you probably don’t want to take class after class of photography, theater, painting, and film. The degree to which each school will specialize within dance depends. Some programs will require you to take classes in modern, tap, jazz, ballet, and general movement while other programs may allow you to specialize in one specific type of dance. Often you can see required courses and specific disciplines outlined on the college’s website.

You find the right art program the same way everyone else finds the right college—research, visit, compare what they offer to what you want. Begin by reading guidebooks, checking out schools’ websites, and researching online and in social media. At the same time, make a list of what you want and don’t want in your college experience. Once you have narrowed the field, plan some campus visits. Throughout this entire process keep asking yourself – Will I be comfortable and successful here? You have to balance academic programs, name recognition (prestige), social interaction, performance or exposure opportunities, financial concerns, and campus life in order to find the right school. If one factor is “off”, you will struggle to be at your best.

You may be facing a fundamental disagreement on the purpose of a college education. Personally, I believe college teaches critical thinking, analysis, and the ability to problem solve, skills which make me a valued employee in most organizations even if my degree says “Art & Art History”. However, I know many people who believe a college degree is a practical tool for employment. In fields like accounting, engineering and architecture a degree in the field is essential. You may find common ground with a double-major, minor, or internship that show there is a practical side to the arts. However, if your parents are diametrically opposed to your major, no amount of persuasion or logic may prevail.

The courses you are required to take vary from school to school, so you should begin by checking requirements for your chosen major and any core requirements for the college. If you are attending a conservatory or art institute program the courses outside your specialty may be limited because the curriculum is so concentrated. However, if you are majoring in the arts at a college or university, you should expect to take a number of classes outside the arts department. You may even be able to major or minor in an unrelated field. Everything depends on your college’s requirements, so check the course catalog and ask.

This is a very limited and incorrect view of art majors. Yes, some art graduates will go on to perform, but a significant number of graduates will work in behind the scenes jobs related to their majors. Sound, lighting, choreography, costumes, direction, marketing, promotions, museum administration, and many other jobs are ideal for arts majors. A majority of arts graduates will come from traditional colleges and universities, as opposed to conservatory programs, and these students will have exposure to business, writing, and liberal arts courses which promote critical thinking and analytical skills valuable in a wide range of professions.