Graphic design or art history?

<p>Hi everyone. I first visited this forum for help as a prospective college student, and I think it's time to ask my own question :)</p>

<p>I'm in my junior year as a graphic design major, and I think I've set myself up well to have a career in design. I've had 3 internships at top firms, I have great recommendations, and I'm set to graduate at or near the top of my class in the department.</p>

<p>My goal is to be a professor -- I've had minor T.A. positions before and loved them, and I've always worked really well in a research context. I figured I'd enter the workforce for a few years, then seek an MFA in design, and seek work as a professor. That was my simplistic (na</p>

<p>I am familiar with the graphic design field. Most professors in graphic design have master's degrees plus years of work experience in the industry.</p>

<p>I'm not really sure why you want to do a PhD in art history. If your passion is more digital art and publishing (computer software programs like Adobe CS), I recommend working in the field. As others have stated previously, Art History is an oversaturated field.</p>

<p>Graphic</a> Design Graduate Schools & Programs, Masters (MFA) & PhD Programs in Graphic Design? GradSchools.com</p>

<p>I'm in grad school for art history, and I've met a couple of people with bachelor's in fine arts. The key is to do what you've done by selecting art history as a major - you definitely need at least a few classes in the subject (some grad schools indicate exactly how many on their admissions pages) and the language background is essential.</p>

<p>Getting work experience in art history before grad school will probably help your application, and I recommend taking a few years off in between undergrad and grad school anyway. You'll be more motivated, less burnt-out, and more well-rounded. I don't think there's any 'preferred' route, though (from an admissions standpoint).</p>

<p>All that said - follow your passion! :)</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses. I think I'm leaning toward taking a few years to work anyway. Just seems like a good idea, plus I need money :) What constitutes practical experience in the art history field, anyway? Even if I decided to do that instead of a design job, I was under the impression that you need at least an M.A. to do anything useful in art history. All I will have is 21-24 undergrad credits in it. </p>

<p>I have read posts by people who say the art history field is saturated. It appears as though the graphic design route is safer all around. I don't suppose it's possible to get an MFA in design, and then a Ph.D in art history? Having my cake and eating it too could get pretty expensive.</p>

<p>Bah! Everything was easier before I liked art history!</p>

<p>I'm not sure about the MFA/PhD in art history route. Perhaps contact the admissions contact in some art history departments to find out. Your current school would be a great place to start.</p>

<p>I'm sure the art history field is saturated...I'm doing this because I love it and it's the only field for me :). I do have plans B and C though, which are more practical. I did 'practical' in my previous life (I'm 37) and it didn't work out. I don't have my head in the clouds, but I believe that following my passion will lead me to something viable - you never know where life is going to take you!</p>

<p>Practical experience in art history - working/volunteering/interning in a museum or gallery, teaching (for example, younger kids in an after-school program, since you don't have a full background yet), working/volunteering/interning for a public arts organization at the local, state or federal level, working for/interning with an independent consultant - I know, none of these jobs grow on trees!</p>

<p>Interesting thoughts -- sounds like kind of an uphill climb! One more question -- I don't know German, I have a basic knowledge of Spanish, and I'm starting to learn Italian. Are you expected to know German BEFORE you enter the program, or is it common to learn it in the first year or two?</p>

<p>Von - At many of the top schools you need German & French so you would really need to get going on these two languages. Some schools say that if you have German & your field will be Italian/Spanish art, etc. then they will allow you to have the German & Italian or Spanish option. It would really be a good idea for you to go to some websites of the top schools & look up their requirements now. My son can read Latin, speak French fluently & is in his third year of German (he is graduating this year).</p>

<p>When he was on interviews some of the professors said that there were kids applying from all schools (even the Ivies) that had no languages except Spanish which is really giving him a better shot at being admitted. He is graduating from a Tier 1 university so I am sure that will help a little too. Make sure you are forging good relationships with your profs so that you have excellent LOR.</p>

<p>My niece is a graphic designer & really likes her job. She did not go for her masters after graduating because she was told that it would be much harder to get a job in that field. From what I understand it is much better to get a job after you graduate & then go for your masters if you want more opportunities. She lives in FL and makes about $35ish/yr. Obviously if you were in a better area then I'm sure you could make more money.</p>

<p>As far as learning a language while you are in grad school I would really make sure you have a good solid base before you go UNLESS languages are really easy to you. If you know them before hand you are also much luckier getting accepted in the first place. Make sure you are aiming for a top tier university too. You will have a much better chance of getting a job in your field when you graduate.</p>

<p>One other thing to keep in mind - my niece says the most frustrating thing about graphic design is pleasing the clients. It does somewhat dampen your creativity. What about teaching graphic design?</p>

<p>Congrats – sounds like your son has the languages down pat. My original plan was to work in graphic design and then explore the idea of an MFA and teaching – a trajectory that I am very well set up for (and have gathered lots of research about), so now it’s awkward trying to switch gears. It’s not so easy, turns out! </p>

<p>It is true what they say about clients – from what I’ve experienced, the ideal client is very rare. Some designers end up missing school projects, where your client is another designer (your professor) and you don’t have to worry about budgets.</p>

<p>I haven’t decided what to do, and that’s OK. But obviously I’ll use my last year to advance my Italian or start German just in case I do go for art history. I think either should be useful, since I would focus on Renaissance and Baroque art… it looks like most schools require German and one other. A few require both German and French though, like Johns Hopkins. </p>

<p>I suppose there are always Pimsleur tapes… :)</p>