My high school DS is struggling with trying to find a college major that merges his love for art (AP Art, may awards, etc.)
with a realistic college major that is practical and not liberal arts focus–son loves physics and math but has to work harder at the physics and math but does well–truly looking for something to merge art with math/physics to continue the passion in both in college. Any feedback.
Physics and math are liberal arts.
Also, if you mean “practical” in terms of job prospects, note that pure physics and math are not great outside of getting a teaching credential and teaching high school physics and math. Applied math can lead to jobs in finance, actuarial, or computing areas. Both physics and math graduates sometimes self-educate for computing jobs.
Some computing jobs can have artistic aspects, such as design of user interfaces, animation, graphics, etc… Some study of computer science would help, whether or not he majors in it.
I have a kid who is a talented artist who is a physics major. Art has become more of a hobby for her now. I do listen to this podcast called Science & Creativity that talks about putting the two disciplines together. You might start listening to it for ideas.
Let son get to college. Let son take the intro physics and math and art courses. Let son’s frontal cortex mature as nature intended. There are so many things for a HS student to ‘struggle’ with: choosing a college major is not one of them. Really.
I do want to point out that at many colleges it is hard to get into art classes if you aren’t an art major. Maybe if the college offers an art minor it could be easier? It is a question you should ask.
Has he thought about architecture?
My artistic daughter chose architectural engineering as a major. It’s an engineering major focused on buildings and building systems. She doesn’t take art classes currently (after three years art classes in high school, awards, surprised many people when she didn’t want to major in art) but does a lot of drawing on the side. It’s easy to take some art supplies to college.
My very artistically talented mom was pressured to major in something practical (something we never told our daughter-totally her choice). Mom learned accounting/bookkeeping. She eventually worked her way back around to graphic design, and taught herself the computer skills necessary for that-- many years later. She also paints for fun, even teaching classes. She said recently she wishes she’d known she could have made a living at art or at least that she hadn’t been discouraged from pursuing it.
@Acuity, your son could either choose a professional degree in a field that merges art/design with math/physics or he could choose a college that would allow him to pursue both disciplines.
For the former, I agree architecture might be suitable, which, depending on the program, offers equal parts design/creativity and technology/structures. Architecture school is not heavily physics or math driven, but they do play a part in the curriculum.
The undergraduate architecture degree – the bachelor of architecture – is a 5.0 year program and is quite focused and demanding. He might want to look into a summer architecture exploration session that is offered for high school students by many architecture departments, to see if a career in architecture would interest him.
I tend to feel that high school is a bit early to be making firm career decisions (unless there’s a specific calling) or even settling on a major. Many colleges and universities offer the flexibility to double major in disparate disciplines (some make it easier than others).
Your son might also look at Interdisciplinary programs like this one at Carnegie Mellon.
Science and the Arts
:http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/programs/bsaprogram.html
Industrial design could be a nice blend.
I am a talented artist (won competitions) and ended up in engineering. You should see the killer Powerpoint slides I make.
I suggest worrying less about the major, and more about making sure the opportunities are there in his college selection to give him options. Brown offers a joint degree with RISD, Tufts has a dual degree with the newly integrated SMFA. Places like this would give him the option to pursue both academics and art and figure out where they could intersect in a career. He has years to discover and decide.
What @1012mom said. Schools with relatively open curricula and strong programs or connections in art, math & physics will allow him to develop in whatever direction makes the most sense as he gains further experience.
We have the opposite problem . . . very talented artist who also loves physics and likes math, but mostly wants to major in a practical field (CS).
I wish so much he would do more with his art. It’s a gift. He says it is just a fun thing for him.
Good for you trying to help your student think about the possibilities.
I agree with 1012 and porcupine. Have you considered posting on the visual arts forum here on CC?
This issue comes up all the time on the music forum. People want to know if they need a practical “backup” or want to do a double degree and the response is always that it is okay to major in what you love on the undergrad level. Here is an essay concerning music that could be used for art: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/conservatory/admissions/tips/doubledegree.html
I would try to assure your son that he does not have to decide on his career or major just yet. In fact, premature overplanning can get in the way of openness to opportunities. Maybe he really wants to study art, but feels that it isn’t a responsible path, and needs encouragement. The three grads I know from our state art school are all employed in jobs they like, two of them in art.
If he truly loves technology or math, he can take some graphic design classes, digital arts, some computer science classes, and some art classes, and see how it all works out as he goes. He can further specialize in grad school if needed. Or maybe he’ll take a class in some new area entirely and change direction.
If your son wants to continue art on the side, that’s okay too. He can no doubt take classes or lessons and do art alongside other work.
Options are art school for a BFA, a bachelor’s degree in art, a bachelor’s degree in something else with a minor in art, a bachelor’s degree in something else with art “on the side,” double major, and double degree.
The model offered by Tufts and the MFA or Brown and RISD is a good one (again, read that Peabody essay on double degrees). It can be intense, so that depends on personality. There are many paths…And some people like to keep what they truly love out of the grading system of school entirely!
Check out Bard. I admit up front that I didn’t look hard at these programs there, but they definitely have both. I know 2 math whiz/sculptors who did degrees at Carnegie Mellon. At this point, I might look more at the strength and accessibility of the programs than ways to marry them. That might happen, but it may not.
I second @intparent’s comment. My DD is similar, wants to major in CS but wanted to continue to take visual arts. We found our largest and higher ranked state schools would not allow that. One does not allow anybody but art majors to take hands on art and the second would not allow it for anybody in the engineering college even though an art minor was there. She is going to UTD where all art classes are open to everybody and they do have a good Art and Technology program as a potential other major if CS does not work out.
Another school that we looked at with that was both math and art based was Case Western Reserve and they give great merit aid.
Do ask the question about taking art classes even if an art minor is listed. We found there were if, ands and buts about doing it.
CS, Math, Physics, Architecture - all of these would benefit from someone with a creative bent who can do the work. Plan on a grad school approach with this; you’d want foundational work in undergrad with a program that includes internships or strong research opportunities to bridge to grad school.
As mush as I know about art from my S’s college experience who graduated as a Graphic Designer (great job market!), college Art is extremely time consuming.
One major that actually combines the great Art skills with math and physics would be an ARCHITECTURE. My S. actually was attracted to this major, but it happened later on while in college and he felt that it would take him too long to catch up, so he stayed with the Graphic Design.
Art is tough to combine with something else as college art classes are extremely time consuming. It is much more time consuming than say, Music. My pre-med D. graduated with the Music Minor. College Music was not a drag for her at college, it rather was her R&R away from the very rigorous major andgreat source of personal satisfaction and memories for the rest of her life. Surprisingly, Music was also a major topic in her medical schools interviews.
D’s college friend pre-med had actually graduated with the Art minor. Frankly, i do not know how she did it, but she also graduated Summa Cum Laude (as well as my D.), both were interns at the medical research lab for 3 years, worked and were in sorority. There is another example of great combo. Another of D’s pre-med friend graduated with triple majors Zoology / Spanish / Latin studies in 4 years .
What I am trying to point out is that combining Art with very rigorous “sciency” type of major is possible. Even when the goal is extremely high college GPA as in case of pre-meds.
So there are many options for the hard working Artsy student who is also interested in science and math. No matter how you approach it though, it would require great time management skills to achieve a success…and some sleep deprivation may happen…
One of my sons was very talented, went to Portfolio days and “toyed” with the idea of majoring in art, but went into Environmental Science as his major. He picked up an art class now and then when he could fit it in his schedule. He is out of college now but love of art, like playing an instrument is something you can incorporate every day regardless of what you “do” for a living.