Our art and art history students learn many valuable skills: attention to detail, self-discipline, interpretive skills, creativity, patience, aesthetic appreciation, interdisciplinary study, intense research, organization, open-mindedness, communication skills, presentation skills, adaptability, critical thinking and writing skills, comparative analysis, time management, and specific professional practices such as resume writing and artists’ statements.
Art History
The art history program is intended for students who want directed study in art history and for students who are contemplating a career in one of the fields for which art history is a basis.
Art history majors can find employment in:
- art museums and galleries (education, administration, curatorial, registrar, sales, publications, development, public relations, exhibit design and preparation, archivist, travel guides)
- art sales (art and antique galleries, auction houses)
- education (K-12, university and college teaching)
- arts administration
- publishing houses
- historical societies
- historic preservation
- art conservation
- library science
- visual resource curatorship
- art therapy
- antiquarian book trade
- artist representative
- insurance claim adjusting
- law (concerning copyright and art ownership)
- landscape architecture
Explore
non-teaching career alternatives in art history.
Studio Art
The studio art program is intended for students who are considering careers as professional artists, or in one of the many fields with ties to the arts. Studio art majors can find employment in:
- commercial and graphic arts
- advertising
- computer design
- photographic studios
- galleries
Many career fields require additional degrees or certificates in art history, museum practice, art education, library science, historic preservation, art conservation, arts administration, fine arts, etc.
Graphic Design
The interdisciplinary student of graphic design encourages individualized investigation of medium, content, context and technology. It places emphasis on critical thinking, analytical reasoning, written and oral communication skills, integrity and ethics while instruction technology as a tool. Required course work focuses on the connection between graphic design, fine art and art history.
What alumni are doing:
The following are some of the positions that are or have recently been held by studio art and art history alumni:
- Artist, New York City
- Professor of Architectural History, Virginia Commonwealth University, Va.
- Instructor, Los Angeles Valley College, Calif.
- Art Teacher, Webber Elementary, Lake Orion, Mich.
- Photo Archivist, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Mich.
- Planner, Historic Preservation, Milwaukee, Wis.
- State Data Center Coordinator, Nevada State Library, Nev.
- Director, Media Lab, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Mich.
- Slide Curator, College for Creative Studies, Mich.
- Curator of Paper, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Md.
- Technician, Corbis Images, New York, N.Y.
- Special Events Coordinator, Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Mich.
- Technical Adviser, Colorado Preservation Inc., Denver, Colo.
- Systems Librarian for DALNET
- Librarian, Fine Arts Library, Ohio State University
- Assistant to the Director, Oakland University Art Gallery, Oakland University
- Educational Services Coordinator, Meadow Brook Hall, Oakland University