Art
Art and design are all around us. As an artist or designer, you can impact every level of society—from culture, communication and commerce to sustainability, equity and basic problem solving. So if you want to make your mark on the world—and make anything you can imagine—then art might be the perfect program for you. You'll get to use your creativity and explore how art helps you better understand yourself, your community, and the larger social, cultural and political contexts in which you exist.
What will I learn?
How do artists conceptualize and then create their art? What tools can you use to move your art from idea to object? How does knowledge of culturally relevant historical practices make your work stronger?
Find the answers to these questions (and many more!) through the art program, which offers a broad understanding of how to create and critique art, with a focus on your concentration—including drawing, painting, print media, photography, sculpture, graphic design and interdisciplinary art and technology (emerging practices). You'll practice your craft, build visual fluency, learn technical and conceptual skills, hone your critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities, develop a body of work and learn how to get professional career experience.
What can I do with an art degree?
A degree in art can open up a wide range of paths, including:
- A career as a professional artist, creating and selling your own artwork or working as a freelance artist. (Many artists are self-employed and have strong entrepreneurial skills.)
- Working in galleries, museums or other arts organizations, curating exhibitions, managing collections or working in arts administration.
- Going to graduate school to become an art teacher, sharing your skills and knowledge with students at all levels of education.
- Careers in design, advertising and other creative industries, where you can apply your artistic skills in a commercial context.
A degree in art can also teach you creative problem-solving skills, which are highly valued in many fields (not just in the arts), and provide you with a competitive edge.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $102,240.00 | N/A | |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $76,450.00 | $36.76 | |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $79,490.00 | $38.22 | |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $111,450.00 | $53.58 | Rapid Growth |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $88,000.00 | $42.31 | |
| Graphic Designers | $68,610.00 | $32.98 | |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $78,450.00 | $37.71 | |
| Designers, All Other | $78,000.00 | $37.50 | |
| Managers, All Other | $149,890.00 | $72.06 | Rapid Growth, Many Openings |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $90,340.00 | N/A | |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $84,870.00 | $40.81 | |
| Web Developers | $98,790.00 | $47.50 | Rapid Growth |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $68,710.00 | $33.03 | |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $110,110.00 | $52.94 | |
| Art Directors | $128,100.00 | $61.59 | |
| Computer Programmers | $103,640.00 | $49.83 | |
| Photographers | $55,650.00 | $26.76 |
Data provided by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) and O*NET. DOL data from 2024.