College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Rhode Island School of Design
• Yale University
• California Institute of the Arts
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Columbia University

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of California—Los Angeles
• Hunter College
• Ohio State University
• Arizona State University
• University of Georgia

Classes in the Major

Drawing and Painting. What is an oil painter's one and only vice? Gamblin'. Heh. We regret nothing. Puns aside, it's important to know your art materials so you know why your painting hasn't dried yet or when it's okay to use fan brush. Also, being an artist isn't all inspiration and concept, but technique and skill, as well. These drawing and painting courses will teach you all about the color wheel, tone, rhythm, texture, etc. By the end you'll not only be about to tell your Monet from your Manet; you'll also be able to identify the techniques that made them famous.

Art Fundamentals. What's the difference between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism? Aside from a Latin prefix, quite a lot, actually. These courses cover different art movements and their impact on the art world. You'll learn that thin brush strokes and open composition belongs to Impressionism, whereas vibrant colors and thick paint is all Post-Impressionism. The tricks of the trade behind these different -isms are a big deal in the art world.

Visual Communication. Depending on whether your school has embraced this new digital age we find ourselves in, you might be required to take a visual communication class. These classes generally include learning how to use computer graphics and/or video-editing software. The skills acquired in a visual communications class are probably the most marketable ones you'll get. Nothing's better than having an actual artist create your advertisements.

Independent Projects/Internship. Every fine arts major knows that it's not about what you know, but how you use it. Sure, you might be able to talk about charcoal, pastels, oils, and graphite, but do you know how to use them? During your time as a college student, you'll create your own work using the principles covered in class. Often, this counts as a large portion of your grade since it's about putting your skills into practice. Creating art as a major requirement sounds pretty sweet to us.

Art History. Say you just unwittingly painted something with imagery that was used for propaganda in the 1960s. Turns out, your work is supporting a cause you didn't even know about. That would be pretty awkward, right? Art history courses cover the history and social context of artwork before looking at how you should use visual language to communicate with people. You'll focus on how images were used back in the day and then take a look at how we use them now in our visual culture. A knowledgeable artist is a happy artist…or at least an artist with a job.