Visual Arts
Discover more about the visual arts BS and interdisciplinary visual arts BFA programs and find out about the BS and BFA program requirements, courses, and the BS and BFA program faculty.
Career Possibilities
The following is a list of some career possibilities that students in these majors might find rewarding. Remember, that your major does not necessarily determine your career. Graduates use their academic majors in a variety of professional fields. The options below can be used as a starting point to explore potential career paths, however, you may also want to investigate more using recommended resources to gain a more comprehensive list of careers. Keep in mind that additional education, training, and experiential education beyond your major may be needed to pursue these possibilities.
Acquired Skills
- Ability to communicate emotions and ideas creatively
- Ability to work in groups/independently
- Proficiency for accuracy and detail
- Ability to accept/give criticism
- Ability to operate various tools and equipment
- Aesthetic judgment and sensitivity
- Ability to make keen observations and appropriate decisions
Career Titles
- Animator
- Antiques Dealer
- Art Buyer/Consultant
- Art Historian
- Art Teacher
- Art Therapist
- Arts and Crafts Trainer
- Book Designer
- Cartoonist
- Conservator
- Corporate Designer
- Creative Director
- Critic
- Curator
- Director of Advertising
- Display Artist/Designer
- Exhibition Designer
- Fine Artist
- Fine Arts Administrator
- Floral Designer
- Forensic Artist
- Gallery Director
- Graphic Systems Manager
- Illustrator
- Interior Decorator
- Jewelry Designer
- Magazine Designer
- Media Planner
- Medical Illustrator
- Museum Director
- Portrait Painter
- Print Publisher
- Professor
- Sketch Artist
- Television Graphic Designer
- Toy Designer
- Typeface Designe
Types of Organizations that Hire
- Museums/Cultural Institutions
- Television/radio/film
- Colleges/universities/schools
- Hospitality/Travel
- Hospitals
- Libraries
- Magazines and newspapers
- Publishing
- Not-for-Profit
- Technology
Career Information and Professional Association Links
- Employers of Art & Fine Arts majors
- Employers of Drama, Theater & Visual Arts Majors
- Employers of Graphic Design & Commercial Art Majors
- NY Foundation For the Arts
- New York Council on the Arts
- National Endowment for the Arts
- Americans for the Arts
- Visual Arts Career Guide
- Copyrighting your work
- Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts
- National Gallery of Art
- World Wide Art Resources
- College Art Association
- Artist Help Network. Resources on career, exhibitions/ commissions, money, presentation tools, legal, etc.
- Self Employment in the Arts
- ArtTable - Resources for women in the arts
- ArtsWestchester A guide to arts in Westchester - events, grants, links to local artists, internships, etc.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook Online - Job type descriptions, job growth forecasts, and salary information
Job Search Links
- Career Development Center - Click on Purchase JobScore to access jobs posted for Purchase students and alumni
- Americans for the Arts (includes a job bank)
- Communication Arts (CA) -Site for the professional creative marketplace
- Idealist - Non-profit and arts internships and jobs
- LiveCareer - jobs and career opportunities
- ArtDeadline.Com - source for income & exhibition opportunities
- Animation World Network -Job postings
- Americans for the Arts - Job Bank
- North West Connecticut Arts Council
- Artist Opportunities from ArtsWestchester
Please visit the following visual arts majors pages for additional resources: Graphic Design, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.