Hi everyone! I’m planning on double majoring in art history & fine arts (with a focus on graphic design). Currently these are the schools on my radar; are they good options? Brown + RISD dual enrollment, Williams, Yale, Stanford, and USC.
Of these schools, which are the best choices? Alternatively, what are some other good schools for this combination?
Thanks very much!
Williams. If you have the stats, apply ED to give yourself a boost.
(Ever heard of the Williams Mafia in art history? If not, get used to the term … While exagerated, it does indicate how powerful majoring in art history at Williams is.)
I hadn’t heard that, haha. Thanks for the advice!
Before you make your list you have to consider now important “design” is to your wishlist. Many, many colleges and universities have good to excellent art history and art studio departments, but don’t offer design in the sense of graphic design, illustration, industrial/product design, digital art, animation, etc. The focus of art departments at many universities and at most small liberal arts colleges (including Williams) is traditional media: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, print making.
If you’re okay with that then you could also look at these small LACs all of which have very good to excellent art history and art studio: Wesleyan, Kenyon, Vassar, Oberlin, Hamilton, Skidmore, Conn College. Smith if you are female.
Williams, which as noted if one of the best in the country for art history, offers a dual degree in art studio/art history.
LAC art majors do often go on to careers in commercial arts, but although you’ll find a class or two in design, it isn’t as broad or deep as it would be at a design school or a university with a design department.
Alternately if graphic/product design is your top priority, then you could consider Carnegie Melon, Cinncinati, UC Boulder, WUSTL, UMich. I’m sure there are others in this category. You might post on the Visual Arts and Film Majors board of this site.
PS, I hope you have some less selectives on your list.
you should consider VCUarts #2 fine arts in the country behind Yale and ahead of both RISD and CMU. They have a very well respected graphic arts program as well.