Upon completing a Bachelors degree in either the arts or the fine arts, many students opt to continue their education by applying to graduate school. Fine Art Graduate Schools offer students the opportunity to continue to refine their creative skills, become proficient in their area of expertise, and learn the professional skills needed in the art and business world. With many concentrations available, students should be able to find a graduate program that will meet their abilities and desires. Many schools encourage students to experiment with their own personal artistic expression in order to tap into the creative potential possessed by the individual student. Cultivating talent and providing students the opportunity for unlimited creative growth are just a couple of the goals of graduate schools. Graduate schools offer Masters Programs in the arts and fine arts, and many schools also offer PhD Programs as well.
Many Fine Art Graduate Schools offer both traditional classes and online classes. Since most graduate student bodies includes working adults, online classes are available to those who may not be able to attend traditional classes. However, many traditional classes are held in the evening in an effort to accommodate those in the workforce. Earning a graduate degree can take anywhere from 1 year to 5 years, and the time it takes to earn the degree is dependent on the type of degree sought. Both online and traditional fine art graduate degrees include:
o Graphic Design
o Art Education
o Museum Studies
o Advertising and Public Relations
o Film Studies
o Non-profit and Arts Administration
o Multimedia/Visual Communications
o Industrial Design
o Theater and Drama
o Construction Science
o Ceramic Art
These are just a few of the degrees offered by Fine Art Graduate Schools, and there are many other concentrations from which to choose. The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia offers both traditional and online art classes as well as the Academy of Art University in San Francisco California and the University of Massachusetts in Shrewsbury. The New York Film Academy and East Tennessee State University College of Arts and Science offer art and fine art graduate degrees.
Generally, graduate schools require a student desirous of an art or fine arts graduate degree to have earned a Bachelor degree in the arts or fine arts. Many schools require students to submit a portfolio containing the student’s artwork. CDs and videos are also accepted but usually not in lieu of a portfolio. The student should be prepared to submit to the graduate school a statement or letter of intent along with the subject of their work. Graduate schools also ask students to provide them with information concerning the concepts and issues the student wishes to explore during their graduate studies.
