What Can I Do With a Major In Art?
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You can do a lot with this major. Art majors go on to successful careers in design, technology, advertising, education, publishing, business, and much more.
Art majors can pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). The BA studies studio technique and theory, as well as the history and criticism of art. The BFA concentrates more intensely on technique. (Focuses can include drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, book arts, sculpture, media arts, or photography.) Learn more by contacting the Department of Art.
All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and Art majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Creative problem-solving skills
- Specialized skills/technique in a fine arts field
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Research skills and attention to detail
- Expertise in creative process
- Listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills
- Ability to teach others using creative methods
Interest Code: ASI
Internship & Job Search Websites
- GoldPASS
- Artsearch
- Careers in Art
- ArtSource
- Comic Artists Direct
- Fashion Net
- Fashion Schools
- Incredible Art Department
- National Endowment for the Arts
- New York Foundation for the Arts
- Student Art Guide
- The Art Project
- World Wide Art Resources
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Idealist (Nonprofit positions in the US and internationally)
Student Groups
- Amateur Art Club
- Friends of Free Arts Minnesota
- WAM Collective
- Ceramics Collective
- The Wake
- Hip Hope
- Open Stage
- Music Sharing Club
- University Collaborative Ambassadors for Northrop
- Ivory Tower: University of Minnesota’s Literary Magazine
- HECUA
- Chicken Feet Artists Collective
- Digital Art Studio
- Flatlanders Art Collective
- Aardvark Arts
Professional Organizations
- American Alliance of Museums
- American Art Therapy Association
- American Craft Council
- American Institute of Graphic Arts
- American Society of Media Photographers
- Animation World Network
- Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design
- Association of Medical Illustrators
- College Art Association
- Industrial Designers Society of America
- National Cartoonists Society
- National Press Photographers Association
- Society of American Archivists
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
- Society of Illustrators
Career Options
Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although, keep in mind that there are Art alumni in all eight of the career fields). For more career information for art majors, utilize these additional resources:
- What Can I Do With This Major - Find information about common career paths, employers, and strategies for how to build experience in different career fields
- LinkedIn's Alumni Tool - Explore thousands of alumni career pathways
- GoldPASS - Explore different job, internship, and volunteer opportunities as well as career events on campus
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required