Students who want to study art can attend a liberal arts college or university, where they can pursue other academic interests as well as art, or head for an art school, where they would concentrate on developing their talent.
If you choose to attend an art school, like Rhode Island School of Design, you’ll find a community of people who share your passion for art. You’ll be exposed to intensive, high-level training, and an exchange of ideas among creative people. These schools have valuable alumni networks that can help you find employment.
In addition to the basic question of talent, students considering art school need to ask themselves if they are passionate enough about art to spend at least 15-20 hours a week on it in addition to studio or class time. Art students are more likely to be successful if they have a clear creative vision, an ability to discuss their technique, and a healthy ego. Students will be expected to give and also receive feedback.
After four years at an Art Institute, you would graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While about 30-35% of the curriculum would be non-art courses, even courses in history or politics are likely to approach the subjects from an artist’s perspective.
The BFA trains students to be professional artists; this option is best for students who are sure about their commitment to art.
If you enjoy studying academic subjects as much as creating art, your best bet might be a college or university with an excellent art department. You could major in art and would graduate with a Bachelor of Art (BA) degree, with at least half of your coursework in other subjects. One advantage is that if you change your mind about studying art, there are dozens of other majors to pick from.
Another option would be to attend a university, like Washington University, which has a School of Art offering such majors as painting, sculpture, and ceramics. You could combine different interests, earning a BFA from the School of Art and a BA from the College of Arts & Sciences or a BS in Business Administration from the School of Business.
