What can one do with an Art History degree? Is it a useless degree? I’m considering UI/UX design or Art Law but I’m unsure if I should study design or Art History. I’d appreciate any guidance!
Work in a museum or gallery. Work as an appraiser (may require additional training). Work returning art the Nazis looted in WWII to the rightful heirs. Teach. That’s off the top of my head.
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This site samples a few careers chosen:
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My daughter is getting a masters in History and this is what she hopes to do. Her real love is art history, but the major at her school required too many art classes to make it work.
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We know a guy who does this. He has an Art History PhD and a law degree specializing in Art.
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Art history is a valuable in itself. You can go on to grad school in art history or other subjects,or enter any professional school, including medical, law, business, nursing etc. (with prerequisites).
You can get a PhD and teach (though positions are fewer than years past). You can study museum studies (see Harvard Extension). You can work for historical organizations. Teach high school.
You can work at many different types of jobs and are not limited to jobs in the area of art/art history.
During school you can do internships, volunteer and work to clarify career goals. But your career does not have to match your major.
I understand the financial worries and desire for a certain path, but I sincerely believe you can study what you most want to study- whether design or art history- and find a satisfying career path afterward, without deciding on career prematurely. It may be scary but you really can take the time to explore and figure things out.
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Chubb or any other insurer that has a fine arts/antiques division. Jobs in appraisal, claims, business development, marketing, client relationships.
Any of the auction houses (they are very prestige conscious though- where you get the degree matters).
Museums have tons of business functions- human resources, finance, marketing, development and fundraising, educational programming and outreach.
The companies that sell to museums and auction houses- there have been some fascinating stories recently about the use of digital imaging in restoration, specialty chemicals that have been developed for cleaning without destroying the original work, transportation companies that can move a valuable violin or sculpture or an entire installation.
The FBI has some of the world’s leading experts on provenance, money laundering, forgery. Ditto Interpol.
There is no such thing as a useless degree, but there are plenty of people who find their degrees “useless” because they don’t take the time to research and network.
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Be excellent at what you choose, don’t skimp on the history, add a few related courses related to the branch you’re interested in (ie., organizing a big donor event requires different skills than working alongside forensic accounting), look for internships asap and be a docent anywhere you can freshman year then work your way up.
Major in Art history at a reputable college (Ivy, NESCAC, state flagships) especially if it has a museum on campus or connections to museums in town (Look up museums where the college is located,then email the dept and politely ask them whether they have connections to … museul, …, …, or … and if their current students have externships or summer internships there.)
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