Are you interested in:

• Creative problem-solving?
• Working with your hands?
• Customizing things, like your shoes (or surfboard or skateboard)?
• Playing in sand or snow?
• Creative expression?
• Hands-on learning?
• Do you focus on how things are made and not so much on what they are?
• Do you like investigating materials?
• Do you collect interesting things?
• Do you invent things?
• Do you re-purposing materials, alter things?
• Do you like cultures and/or traditional things (quilts)?
• Do you always carry your camera?
• Do you organize compositions of photos on Instagram?

This major is designed for the student who intends to pursue the creation of visual art as a profession. The program prepares one for graduate school as well as many entry-level art positions. Practical and creative experience is gained through numerous opportunities to interact with professional artists in a variety of settings.

Types of jobs:

• Professional/studio artist
• Museum/gallery photographer
• Art therapist or recreational therapist
• Art director
• Gallery director
• Museum educator or curator of exhibition designer
• Art critic/writer
• Teacher
• Stylist
• Furniture designer
• Fabric and textile designer
• Art consultant
• CEO or entrepreneur

Attend graduate school for:

• Art therapist
• Master of Fine Arts

Options for the major:

• Double major or minor in any additional related area of interest
• Wide variety of media taught and grants for exploration at summer workshops
• Enhancements in major
  • Senior Exhibition in professional gallery setting
  • Artists’ Alliance
  • Research possibilities
• Co-Curricular Enhancements/Internships
  • Artspace
  • Contemporary Museum of Art
  • North Carolina Museum of Art
  • Visual Art Exchange
  • Artistic Highways
  • Claymakers
  • Pullen Art Center
  • Penland Residency
  • Gallery C
  • Frankie G. Weems Gallery

Professional associations:

• SECAC (formerly Southeastern College Art Conference) https://secacart.org/
• Kappa PI, International Honorary Art Fraternity www.kappapiart.com
• National Association of Women Artists, Inc. www.thenawa.org
• Tri-State Sculptors tristatesculptors.org
• American Art Therapy Association arttherapy.org

Career outlook:

Craft and fine artist
Art director
Teacher
Recreational therapist

Additional information:

Meredith’s studio art major »

More on art careers »