If you are imaginative, creative, and expressive, then you should consider pursuing a career in Arts. Read this detailed article to learn about different General Arts degrees being taught at various colleges and universities across the U.S. These programs will help to improve your artistic ability, art knowledge, and will help to enhance your employability prospects.
What Is Art?
The application or expression of imagination or creative skill, usually in a visual form, such as a sculpture or a painting, is called Art.
What Can You Do with a General Arts Degree?
After completing a General Arts degree, individuals can launch their careers as Craft Artists, Fine Artists, Art Critics, Curators, Illustrators, and Art Teachers. The salary figures for some of these roles have been mentioned below. This data has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Craft Artists
Craft Artists work with different materials, some of which include paper, metal, wood, textiles, glass, and ceramic, to produce unique art pieces, such as clothing, jewelry, furniture, stained glass, quilts, and pottery.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $34,710 | 0% | $38,740 | Texas | 480 |
| Hawaii | $64,850 |
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
These professionals use different techniques and methods to create art, such as weaving or sculpting. They display their work at craft fairs, nonprofit art galleries, commercial art galleries, and museums.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $50,550 | 1% | $63,030 | California | 2,220 |
| New York | $97,360 |
Postsecondary Art, Drama, and Music Teachers
After completing a General Arts degree, individuals can also start teaching Art courses at the college or university level.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $69,530 | 8% | $83,220 | New York | 11,590 |
| California | $111,970 |
What to Expect from a General Arts Degree?
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program helps students explore a range of mediums, such as graphic design, sculpture design, painting, and photography. This degree focuses on developing students’ skills as problem solvers, designers, creative thinkers, and artists. In order to obtain this degree, individuals have to study a range of modules – some of these include Introduction to Art Software, Drawing Fundamentals, Painting Studio, Design Studio, Survey History of Western Art and Visual Theory, Aesthetics, and Criticism.
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program encourages innovative work in printmaking, photography, painting, installation, and drawing. This program also helps students develop fluency in writing, analysis, and critical discourse. The length of the MFA program is not standard; therefore you should visit each institute’s website to find out about the duration of the program.
How to Choose a General Arts Degree?
Before enrolling in a General Arts degree, applicants should consider several factors. Some of these are listed below:
- Cost of attending the program
- The reputation of the teaching staff
- College rankings
- The program’s accreditation status
- The course content
- Location of the school
General Arts Degree Admission Requirements
Applicants are usually expected to send an admissions application to their chosen college before the deadline. They are also required to pay an application fee and required to attach the following documents with the application form like reference letters, transcripts, certificates, and letters of motivation. They might also be asked to share their portfolio with the admissions committee.
Please bear in mind that the admission guidelines mentioned above are quite generic. For detailed information, you should visit the respective program websites.