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The choice to pursue higher education, like most major life decisions, comes with a series of less momentous yet crucial questions. Where do you want to study? Can you get financial aid? What kind of degree do you want to get? With a clear idea of your career goals and a little information about your options, you can answer this last question with relative ease. Continue reading for an in-depth description of different types of art degrees and why you should consider them. Certificate Generally more concentrated than degree programs, certificates are credentials representing proficiency and skill in a particular area of study. A certificate program is normally intended for students with limited experience in the arts and begins with fundamental arts courses. Your studies in a certificate program will focus on your area of interest with few or no general studies requirements. These programs may take as little as one semester or as long as 2 years to complete. Find Certificate Programs Associate's Associate's degree programs are generally 2-year programs offered by technical institutes or community colleges. They are designed to give students a general education in the arts or to prepare university-bound students for the eventual completion of a bachelor's degree in the arts. Find Associate's Programs Bachelor's Bachelor's degrees, or undergraduate degrees, generally take 4 years to complete if entered directly from high school. Students who have already earned an associate's degree and wish to enroll in a bachelor's program may complete their degree in as little as 2 years. In the arts, there are two types of undergraduate degrees, according to the National Association of School of Art and Design (NASAD), the nationally recognized accrediting agency for programs in art and design. It delineates two types of bachelor's, or undergraduate, degrees: professional programs, usually granting the BFA; and liberal arts programs, usually granting the BA. These types of programs differ in their goals and objectives. NASAD states "the professional degree focuses on intensive work in the visual arts supported by a program of general studies," while "the liberal arts degree focuses on art and design in the context of a broad program of general studies." Read more about how to choose between a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts. Find Bachelor's Programs Master's A master's degree, or post-graduate degree, requires a student to successfully complete a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment. A master's degree may take 1 to 3 years to complete. As with undergraduate degrees in art, there are two types of graduate degree programs. The Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) are the graduate counterparts to the BA and BFA degrees. Read more about how to choose between the Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts. Find Master's Programs |
