General Arts Degrees & Online Subject Guide

Recommended Degree Programs

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  Ashford University - BA/Social Science - Art History

  Ashford University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The school trumpets a combination of affordability convenience and accelerated learning. Online degrees at Ashford University are mostly business oriented but... More»

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  Boston University - Master of Arts in Art Education

  Boston University Online is the distance division of Boston University. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredit all online degree and certificate programs.... More»

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  Savannah College of Art and Design - Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation

  Savannah College of Art and Design online boasts a diverse student body from all 50 states and more than 90 countries. Online classes retain the same level of challenging curriculum found at the school's campus programs. All e learning programs... More»

General Arts Degree Information

Studio art uses materials and new media to create paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs by practicing critique and honing skills and technique. Design arts cover graphic design, interior design and fashion design, which apply artistic and creative elements into a more technical field. Other art degrees focus on a liberal arts training that includes in-depth knowledge of art history. Students wishing to apply to art school need to prepare a portfolio of work.

Choosing An Art Degree In A College Or University

Art education is best coupled with experience in places other than the classroom or studio. Students should seriously consider opportunities at local art galleries and museums. Combining a degree in art with another major, such as business, education or communications can make the job search easier after graduation.

If a student decides to enroll in art school instead of a liberal arts college or university, he should look for programs with a specific focus that peaks his interest instead of general art. Studio space and teachers per student is also important. Schools near museums and galleries are ideal, as they provide a built-in network for internships and jobs. Find programs that showcase art in student shows or give students the chance to manage a budget, publicize the show and choose a space. Also, look for study abroad programs that can enhance and expand upon art knowledge as well as a variety of professors that can teach different perspectives on similar subjects.

Choosing An Art School

Art school is a term coined for educational institutions that center primarily on visual arts, particularly graphic design, painting, photography, illustration and sculpture. While other schools offer liberal arts degrees that include an art component, art schools require more studio time, allowing students to work solely on artistic projects as coursework.

Finding an accredited art school is important. Some of the top art schools in the country often share connections to other schools. For example, the Rhode Island School of Design is partnered with Brown University and the Maryland Institute College of Art is with John Hopkins University.

The Yale School of Art, the California College of the Arts, Moore College of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Otis College of Art and Design and the New York Academy of Art are all examples of prestigious art schools offering BFAs and/or MFAs. Other colleges and universities offer large art and design departments, like the College of Design at Iowa State University or the College of Fine & Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Coursework For Art Degrees

Coursework for art students working towards a BFA includes foundations and advanced techniques in studio art throughout all four years and several classes in art history. Studio art classes consist of drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking as well as graphic design, digital art and photography. After studying the fundamentals, students will be able to choose a specialization in a particular field or medium.

Bachelor's Of Fine Arts Degree

Students at art school or studying fine arts will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts, or BFA. Programs that award a BFA include more time in a studio and intensive visual arts work, unlike other majors that focus on art and design in lectures and discussions with some studio time. A BFA degree usually needs an area of specialty like ceramics, drawing, illustration, graphic design, painting, photography or sculpture.

Master's Of Fine Arts Degree

Those who wish to further their education in the field of arts should look towards earning a Master of Fine Arts, or MFA. This graduate degree requires two to three years of study in visual arts and focuses on scholarly and academic studies. The typical graduate thesis is replaced with a major work or show. Students will need to have a bachelor's degree and a sample portfolio. While some universities still have Ph.D. programs for the arts, many of these have been disbanded in favor of strong MFA programs that are equivalent to a Ph.D.

Earning An Art Degree Online

Some aspects of arts and applied art and design can be taught online. Graphic design courses, along with other media arts and animation classes, teach sketching and computer programming skills. For the most part, earning a fine arts degree will be difficult online.

Career Opportunities In Art And Design

Those with a bachelorís degree in art have more career options than they may think. Of course, becoming an artist and selling work is ideal, but the job field is narrow and less likely to pay the bills. Some careers that directly involve art include cartoonists, illustrators, sketch artists and designers. Animators use illustration skills and computer application to create movements for visual stills.

Other career options are relevant to art, although they often use knowledge and academic training more than artistic skills learned in school. Art directors deal with translating visual concepts into advertising. Art buyers make connections between a network of artists and gallery owners. An assistant curator works in museums and conducts research for the curator. Docent coordinators recruit and train volunteers for museum lectures. Gallery directors handle the day-to-day operations of an art gallery. Public relations assistants and officers maintain events and press for museums and galleries.

Graphic systems designers develop symbols that unify building and public places for easier navigation, as well as work with architectural and design firms. An industrial designer creates commercially produced products and designs the style and packaging for products. Advertising assistants work as liaisons between campaigns for clients and the agency. Non-profit organizations hire assistants and directors to help find funding for the arts, review grant applications and monitor budgets.

Those who continue their education and receive a masterís degree or a Ph.D. can look for jobs such as art librarian, curator, gallery owner, professor or art teacher, art historian, conservator or museum director. Teaching art will require taking a certification test.

Earning Potential For Careers In Art

The visual arts fields are expected to grow in jobs over the next decade, according to the Department of Labor. Design related jobs, including graphic and industrial, are the most likely fields to increase employment, as well as art education. Fine arts, such as painting, are less secure in their earning potential. However, commercial arts can still lead to a well-paying and steady job. For instance, photography can lead to jobs in photojournalism. Staying flexible and open-minded is necessary for careers in the arts, since the job field is incredibly competitive and limited.

The amount of money earned with an art degree depends on the job and education level. Graphic and industrial designers can earn anywhere from $40,000 to $53,000. The median salary for museum curators is $48,875, which varies on the museum, while gallery owners and directors earn around the same. Fine arts jobs are often freelance-based and thus depend on the artist.

General Arts Degree FAQs

What Does a Degree in General Arts Encompass?

General arts is the generalized study of the liberal arts and sciences. These courses are sometime referred to as "classical education studies." The curriculum in general arts is on general knowledge and intellectual capacities. This course of study includes coverage of the following seven liberal arts:

• Arts
• History
• Mathematics
• Philosophy
• Science
• Literature
• Language

How Long Does It Take to Earn a Degree in General Arts?

A general arts program requires a certain number of credit hours in order to attain your certification or degree. In a traditional institutional setting, this can take between one and three years. Since online general arts courses fit within the busy schedule of a full-time professional, earning a degree may take slightly longer. In many cases, students who successfully complete their first year of general arts studies will move on to pursue their chosen field of study.

What Can I Do With a General Arts Degree?

There are a number of job opportunities available for someone with a degree in general arts. From teachers to management positions, your degree can help you find employment in a variety of industries.

Continuing your education with a degree in the fine arts can also be a great path to a specialty job. Many students elect to take online general arts courses as a great way to work toward a degree while considering the right career path. Common industries of employment include human relations, computers, sciences and communications.

What Are the Benefits of General Arts Studies?

An education in the general arts is the ideal way for a student to receive well-rounded development of essential skills, such as those used in communication, the sciences, human relations and computer literacy. The general arts student will receive a wide exposure to various academic disciplines.

What Are the Admission Requirements for Online General Arts Programs?

The admission requirements for general arts programs typically depend on the institution providing the courses. While this may vary, the most common requirements include successful completion of high school or a GED, with a C or U average. For mature individuals looking to return to school, most applicants are considered on an individual basis.

Related General Arts Degree Programs

• Online Associate Arts Degree Programs
• Online Bachelor Art & Design Degree Programs
• Online Master Arts & Design Degree Programs
• Online Doctorate / Ph.D General Arts Degree Programs

General Arts Student Guide

Here are a few of my favorite general art resources.

ArtandCulture
"Presents an interconnected guide to all the arts, offering information about artists and movements in the Design Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. Learn more than about that individual artists or movement; learn about the relation to other artists and movements across the disciplines."

Artifact
The Guide to Quality Internet Resources in the Arts and Creative Industries
Sections include: Architecture ; Art ; Communications and Media ; Design ; Fashion and Beauty ; Performing Arts.
- A Hub of the Resource Discovery Network (RDN)

Axis: For Information on Visual Artists
"Axis is a national contemporary visual arts service providing information about artists and makers living/working in Britain to a national and international audience via the largest interactive database of contemporary British art on the internet."

Web Gallery of Art
"The Web Gallery of Art is a virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture of the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism and Romanticism periods (1100-1850), currently containing over 20.300 reproductions."

World Wide Arts Resources
A directory of websites featuring "contemporary art, art news, art history, contemporary artist and gallery portfolios," and more.

CPANDA: Cultural Policy & the Arts National Data Archive
"An interactive digital archive of data on the arts and cultural policy in the U.S., available for research and statistical analysis, with data on artists, arts and cultural organizations, audiences, and funding for arts and culture."
Sections include: Data Archive ; Quick Facts ; Research Guides ; Other Links.
- Princeton University Firestone Library and the Princeton Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies.

National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University
"NAJP is America’s largest organization dedicated to the advancement of arts and cultural journalism."

SIBMAS International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions
International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions
"lists over 7000 international institutions with material relating to the performing arts (theatre, opera, music, ballet, film, circus, radio, television, cabaret, pantomime). Not only basic information about the institution is provided, but also information about the collections which are to be found within the institutions."
Editor: Paul S. Ulrich
SIBMAS - Société Internationale des Bibliothèques et des Musées des Arts du Spectacle (International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts)

The arts is a very broad category, encompassing studio art, graphic design, fashion design, interior design, industrial design, metalworking and welding, new media, animation and applied arts and design. Art students will need to use previous knowledge and expertise to develop, create and execute artwork.

Art History Resources

Essential Vermeer
"The internet's essential tool for exploring every facet of the life and work of the great 17th c. Dutch painting master. Essential Vermeer is continually deepened by additions of new and significant studies..

Abstract Expressionism
Includes a general history from the early pioneers Kandinsky, Malevich, and Mondrian to the later influence on photography, theatre, dance as well as other art forms.

Christo & Jeanne-Claude
The Art of Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Claude Monet (1840-1926)
"In this museum, you will find a selection of about 200 works of the painter (Monet made about 500 paintings)."

Images of Women in Ancient Art: Issues of Interpretation and Identity
Sections include: Women in Prehistory ; Women in Egypt ; Women in the Aegean ; Women in Palestine ; Women in Greece ; Barbarian Women.
Class Web page for the Honors Seminar Images of Women in Ancient Art.
Compiled and written by Chris Witcombe, Prof. of Art History, Sweet Briar College, Virginia.

The Impressionists
Dagas - Monet - Morisot - Pissarro - Renoir
Sections include: The Artists ; Classroom ; Quiz ; Museum Web Ring ; Make a Masterpiece.
From Biography.com

The Pre-Raphaelite Critic
Contemporary Criticism of the Pre-Raphaelites from 1846 to 1900
"is an attempt to make available to the research community a readily-accessible source of the critical reaction to the Pre-Raphaelites, both as painters and as poets."
Includes: Reviews ; Paintings ; Parodies ; Audio ; Pre-Raphael (Lite) ; Photographs ; Links
Compiled and Maintained by Thomas J. Tobin

Resources for Aegean Art & Archaeology
Sections includes: Link Collections ; Texts, Projects, Journals, Bibliographies ; Specific Topical or Regional Concerns ; Field Projects ; Atlases & Geographic Information ; Museum Collections ; Associations, Centers & Organizations ; Course Material & Teaching Resources.
By Eric Kondratieff, Forum Antiquum

Resources for Greek Art & Archaeology
Sections includes: Link Collections ; Texts, Projects, Journals, Bibliographies ; Specific Topical or Regional Concerns ; Archaeology Field Projects ; Atlases & Geographic Information ; Museum Collections ; Associations, Centers & Organizations ; Course Material & Teaching Resources.
By Eric Kondratieff, Forum Antiquum

Resources for Roman Art & Archaeology
Sections include: Subject Indices ; Texts, Projects, Journals, Bibliographies ; Topics and Regions ; Archaeological Field Projects ; Associated Languages ; Atlases ; Museum Collections ; Associations, Centers & Organizations ; Course Material & Teaching Resources.
By Eric Kondratieff, University of Pennsylvania

Site for Research on William Hogarth (1697-1764)
Sections include: Bibliography ; Online Articles, Biographies, Exhibition Reviews ; Excerpts from the forthcoming Hogarth Bibliogrpahy by Bernd Krysmanski ; Further Online Resources.
By Bernd Krysmanski

Lucas Sithole (1931-1994)
"This is a website dedicated in memoriam to Lucas Sithole (1931-1994), one of the great African sculptors to come out of South Africa."

Timeline of Art History
"provides an overview of world art history through chronologie, maps, and themes, and currently highlights works of art through 1400 A.D. in the Museum's collection. Continually updated and revised, the Timeline will eventually extend to the present day."
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET)

Van Gogh and Gauguin: The Studio of the South
"The following images are accompanied by excerpts of letters written by Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh between 1887 and 1889. The two artists wrote often to one another, friends, and relatives."
Sections include: Paris 1887-1888 ; Brittany/Arles 1888 ; Studio of the South 1888 ; After Arles.

Van Gogh's Letters - Unabridged & Annotated
From WebExhibits

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
"In this museum, you will find a selection of about 300 works of the painter (van Gogh made 873 paintings and 1049 drawings)."
From Expo-Shop.com

The Vincent van Gogh Gallery (English, Italian or Spanish)
"I'm proud to say that I have the privilege of displaying 100% of Vincent van Gogh's works and letters--a complete, online catalogue raisonnÈ of Van Gogh's oeuvre...In the months to come I'll be adding more criticism and analysis, historical commentary as well as a vastly expanded web of cross-referential hyperlinks."
By David Brooks

Women Artists in History
"We're using this space to showcase the work of women artists down through the centuries. Over time we will do our best to make this list comprehensive."
By Wendy Russ and Carrie Carolin

K12 Art Education

Art Education Internet Resources for K12
"Welcome to the Internet School Library Media Center (ISLMC) Art Education page. The ISLMC is a meta-site for teachers, librarians, parents and students to preview selected links."

K12: Art Lessons and Courses by K12
"Following the timelines in the History lessons, K¹² Art lessons introduce students to great works of art from different cultures and eras, while engaging them in creative activity—painting, drawing, molding with clay, etc. Students are introduced to the elements of art—line, shape, color—and identify different types of artworks as they learn about important paintings, sculpture, and architecture. They study the works of famous artists, from Rembrandt to Warhol, and learn about different artistic movements such as Impressionism and Cubism. Students also create their own works of art similar to those they have learned about, such as mobiles, collages, and stained glass."

Art Culture

• African Art Museum On-line reference to the artistic styles of Africa.
• African Art on the Internet By Karen Fung, Curator, African Collection, Stanford University Libraries
• Arts of China Consortium (formerly Chinese and Japanese Art History WWW Virtual Library)
• Artist in Canada "compiled and maintained by the National Gallery of Canada Library, is a bilingual union list that identifies the location of documentation files on Canadian artists."
• Japanese Arts and Artists A Web guide for Japanese Art, Japanese Artist and Japanese Culture.
• Finnish Art & Culture on the web
• The Ricksha Arts of Bangladesh
• Smithsonian Archives of American Art

Art Books And Research

Although it may seem contradictory to the idea of an art degree, students studying for a BFA will have to take art history courses. Some notable art history texts include "History of Art: A Student's Handbook" by Marcia Pointon or "Principles of Art History" by Heinrich Wölfflin.
Here are a few recommended websites for books and research:

A Drawing Glossary
"Written by Edward Saywell, Lynn and Philip A. Straus Drawing Intern, 1996-97"

Ars Libri, Ltd
"Ars Libri maintains the largest stock in America of rare and out-of-print books on art. Founded in 1976, it has an international reputation as a source for scholars, collectors, artists, and everyone else with an interest in the visual arts."

ARTEXT
Books on Modern Art and Film.

Google Book Search - Art
A great resource for online books.

Publishers Bindings Online, 1815-1930
The Art of Books "In September 2003, The University of Alabama, University Libraries, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries, received an IMLS National Leadership grant to create the digital resource, Publishers' Bindings Online, 1815-1930: The Art of Books (PBO)."

The Online Books Page
"Listing over 30,000 free books on the web"

Vedams Books
"Discover India through her books. Swagatham! Welcome to the most comprehensive annotated catalogue of books published in India."

Online Art Newspapers & Arts News

• The Art Tribune The latest news in the History of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the 1930s.
• The Art Newspaper.com
• Art Daily, The First Art Newspaper on the Net
• Arts Journal
• Arts & Letters Daily
• Art Knowledge News, online news magazine
• Art-of-the-Day Info: Art Shows: our pick of the day
• Arts & Design News (collected articles published in the New York Times)
• BBC Online - Arts & Culture
• Asian Art, The Newspaper for Collectors, Dealers, Museums and Galleries

Journals

ARTTalk
Online newsletter; news, products, art history, related topics.

New River Journal
Journal of Digital Writing and Art

Postmodern Culture
" Founded in 1990 as an experiment in scholarly publishing on the Internet, Postmodern Culture has become the leading electronic journal of interdisciplinary thought on contemporary cultures, publishing the work of such noted authors and critics as Kathy Acker, Charles Bernstein, Bruce Robbins, bell hooks, and Susan Howe. PMC combines high scholarly standards with broad appeal for non-academic readers. As an entirely web-based journal, PMC can publish still images, sound, animation, and full-motion video as well as text.

Published by Johns Hopkins University Press with support from the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Virginia."

Museums and Exhibitions

• Louvre Museum
• National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• National Gallery of Ireland
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
• The Detroit Institute of Arts
• Denver Art Museum
• Dallas Museum of Art
• Welcome to National Museum of African Art / Smithsonian Institute
• National Gallery of Art
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• The Saatchi Gallery - Contemporary Art in London
• National Galleries of Scotland
• Yale Center for British Art
• Whitney Museum of American Art
• Seattle Art Museum

Multimedia

Amazing 3D Street Art
Some inspirational street art, this is truly amazing!

A Tribute to Vincent Van Gogh

Claude Monet Documentary
This is a biography of the famous Impressionist painter, Claude Monet.

Arts/Design Resources

Architecture
Art & Art History
Communications Studies
Dance Studies
Drama
Film Studies
Museum Studies
Music History & Studies
India Studies - The Arts
Russia Studies - The Arts

Editor's Recommended Schools: