Art

This guide contains only a partial list of occupational titles and career fields that may be of interest to students considering an art major. In addition to the skills and knowledge gained through your college course work in this major, you may also need to acquire career related work experience, additional work related skills and/or additional education. Some of the occupations require an advanced degree to enter the field.

After you have identified possible occupations of interest to you, it is important to investigate the nature of work; education and training requirements; skills and special talents needed; types of employers; future trends and employment outlook related to each of these careers. We have set up links to internet sites which provide detailed descriptions of these occupations. You may also want to research these occupations by reading the books and literature available in the Philadelphia House Career Resource Library, by talking with individuals working in the career field and by contacting related professional associations.

This guide also provides information about obtaining related work experience including links to possible internships. However for the best information on current, local internships contact Sally Cardenas, Director of Internships and Community-Based Learning at 562-464-4533 or email her at scardenas@whittier.edu.

Career Options
Art Related Occupations

Advertising artist Animator Animator (Multimedia)
Antiques dealer Architect Archtectural historian
Archivist Art appraiser Art buyer
Art consultant Art dealer Art director
Art historian Art history instructor Art librarian
Art school director Art supply store manager Art teacher
Art therapist Art transporter Artist
Artist agent Art administration Auctioneer
Book illustrator Book publishing professional Buyer
Cartoonist CD designer Commercial artist
Computer animator Computer graphics Conservator
Corporate curator Cosmetic artist Costume designer
Creative careers Creative director, advertising Critic
Curator Designer Designer, asbestos project
Designer, animator and illustration Designer, display Designer, tool
Docent coordinator Elementary teacher Exhibition Designer
Fashio designer Film director Film editor
Film maker Forensic artist Furniture designer
Gallery assistant Gallery director Graphic designer
greeting card illustrator Illustrator Industrial designer
Interface designer Interior designer Internet/Web page designer
Jewelry designer Landscape artist Librarian, fine arts
Media careers Medical illustrator Motion picture scenic designer
Mural artist Museum curator Museum, various positions
Museum grants officer Newspaper artist Non-profit art organization director
Packaging designer Painter Photographer
Photojournalist Print publisher Product designer
Program coordinator Publicist Recreation leader
Restorer Scientific photographer Set Designer
Studio artist Technical illustrator Television graphic designer
Textile designer Tool designer Toy designer
Visual artist Website designer Web Manager
     

Typical Employers

Advertising agencies, architectural firms, art councils, art galleries, art supply stores, auction houses, colleges and universities, furniture distributors, greeting card companies, interior design firms, magazines and newspapers, media production companies, motion picture studios, museums, performing arts organizations, public relations firms, publishing organizations, radio/TV companies, restoration organizations, and textile companies.

Liberal Arts Related Occupations (click here for more options)

Marketable Skills associated with an Art Major

Originating new ideas and communicating them graphically
Ability to conceptualize; visualizing and evaluating products before their completion
Design products to meet the needs and tastes of others (the public)
Ability to communicate ideas and emotions creatively
Aptitude for spatial relationships
Using pictures, typography and arrangement to enhance written messages and promote the sale of goods, services and ideas
Creating a picture to capture an idea or event

Getting Career Related Work Experience

To be competitive in today's job market and to improve your qualifications for graduate school, gaining career related work experience while you are a college student is very important.

Career related work experience can include various forms of paid and volunteer experience (i.e. internships, some work study positions, summer or part-time jobs in your career field of interest, possibly fellowships, and some volunteer positions). A few of these listings are described on the following link:

Art Related Internships