Career Opportunities for MFA degree graduates
If you have an advanced degree in the arts, wondering what to do when you finish your studies can be a bit confusing, especially in today's troubled economy. What fine art job opportunities are actually out there? What are some of the different careers an MFA graduate might pursue? What jobs require a master's degree in the fine arts? And what can a graduate with an MFA degree do to give themselves an edge when talking to potential employers?
First of all, the field that has the most job opportunities for fine arts graduates is education. In the academic world, the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree which not only demonstrates the degree-bearer's professional accomplishments as a working artist, but also attests to his or her abilities to teach in the field as well. In fact, many universities require that arts their teaching staff have an MFA, and it is getting increasingly difficult to get a job teaching fine arts at the undergraduate or graduate level without one.
Even those who want to teach art at the pre-college level will find that having an MFA is certainly an advantage. At the high school level and even the middle-school level, the MFA degree can open doors and give job applicants a competitive edge. The MFA can also help artists get a head start on a teaching certificate or an MA in education, if they to teach their skills at a public school.
Another employment option is to look for a paid position as an assistant or intern under an established artistic mentor. Most successful artists, actors, writers and other creative professionals understand how difficult it can be for recent graduates to make a living in their chosen field and are willing to help these up-and-coming talents get their careers off to a successful start.
The general area of commercial art is another area where someone with an MFA degree might be able to find rewarding career opportunities. Studio artists might consider jobs in a museum's design department, or working in sales or marketing at an action house, or managing an art gallery. Since the MFA is considered a terminal degree, an MFA graduate might find themselves at an advantage over other applicants for these jobs who have the more typical MA in art history.
Since an MFA degree indicates that the holder is both a creative and innovative thinker and an expert in the field of fine arts, MFA graduates can find themselves in demand in non-arts-related businesses as well. A studio artist with an MFA may find job openings as a graphic designer or creative director for a marketing or advertising firm. And those with an MFA degree in theater may follow a career as a private acting instructor, or as a public-speaking coach in the corporate world.
Meanwhile, those whose skills lie in writing can find or create a wide variety of writing workshops in cooperation with arts agencies, business training programs, universities, community colleges and even prisons to offer personalized instruction in their craft. Likewise actors and studio artists may find workshop and teaching opportunities in community theaters, local galleries, and local or regional public arts agencies.
Finally, even the most creative and unconventional MFA degree-holder may find that basic administrative work in the university setting can also be an attractive option. Though such jobs usually offer little scope for creative expression per se, a clerical job in a school's art or theater departments can provide important benefits such as access to libraries, studios, office space and other amenities that can help an MFA graduate get started on their way to building a successful career.
First of all, the field that has the most job opportunities for fine arts graduates is education. In the academic world, the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree which not only demonstrates the degree-bearer's professional accomplishments as a working artist, but also attests to his or her abilities to teach in the field as well. In fact, many universities require that arts their teaching staff have an MFA, and it is getting increasingly difficult to get a job teaching fine arts at the undergraduate or graduate level without one.
Even those who want to teach art at the pre-college level will find that having an MFA is certainly an advantage. At the high school level and even the middle-school level, the MFA degree can open doors and give job applicants a competitive edge. The MFA can also help artists get a head start on a teaching certificate or an MA in education, if they to teach their skills at a public school.
Another employment option is to look for a paid position as an assistant or intern under an established artistic mentor. Most successful artists, actors, writers and other creative professionals understand how difficult it can be for recent graduates to make a living in their chosen field and are willing to help these up-and-coming talents get their careers off to a successful start.
The general area of commercial art is another area where someone with an MFA degree might be able to find rewarding career opportunities. Studio artists might consider jobs in a museum's design department, or working in sales or marketing at an action house, or managing an art gallery. Since the MFA is considered a terminal degree, an MFA graduate might find themselves at an advantage over other applicants for these jobs who have the more typical MA in art history.
Since an MFA degree indicates that the holder is both a creative and innovative thinker and an expert in the field of fine arts, MFA graduates can find themselves in demand in non-arts-related businesses as well. A studio artist with an MFA may find job openings as a graphic designer or creative director for a marketing or advertising firm. And those with an MFA degree in theater may follow a career as a private acting instructor, or as a public-speaking coach in the corporate world.
Meanwhile, those whose skills lie in writing can find or create a wide variety of writing workshops in cooperation with arts agencies, business training programs, universities, community colleges and even prisons to offer personalized instruction in their craft. Likewise actors and studio artists may find workshop and teaching opportunities in community theaters, local galleries, and local or regional public arts agencies.
Finally, even the most creative and unconventional MFA degree-holder may find that basic administrative work in the university setting can also be an attractive option. Though such jobs usually offer little scope for creative expression per se, a clerical job in a school's art or theater departments can provide important benefits such as access to libraries, studios, office space and other amenities that can help an MFA graduate get started on their way to building a successful career.
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