Graduate School and Careers

Developing a career plan

Through rigorous academics and immersive learning experiences, art history majors pursue internships and graduate with skills to prepare for careers in a wide range of fields. Some possible positions for graduates with an art history background include:

• Education: art teacher, museum educator, 
• Museums and galleries: production consultant, museum curator or curatorial assistant, collections manager, art or photography studio owner, imaging associate, web specialist, visual or architectural design associate or art preservationist.
• Publicity, marketing and the law: web specialist, marketing associate, research associate, intellectual property lawyer, writer, editor, or publisher.

Conversations with your advisor and professors, consultation with the Career Development Center (CDC) and the tools below can help you develop a post-graduate career plan.

See also: 

Internships in art history

• What can I do with this major? is a comprehensive list of resources and strategies for working in the Art History field.
• Buzzfile and Vault Career Insiderare useful tools available through the CDC for in-depth career research into specific areas of interest. 
• ArtSearch is an excellent source for arts-related jobs and internships. A code for free account access is available in Handshake, our job, internship and resource portal.
• Art Career Links
• National Association of Schools of Art and Design
• GoinGlobal provides country-specific career information, expert advice, and insider tips for finding employment opportunities at home and abroad. Login with Handshake, our job, internship and resource portal.

Meeting with advisors

• Explore possibilities with your art history faculty advisor. Your professors can also help you with advice on career questions in their field of expertise.
• Define your goals and develop search strategies. Contact the CDC to meet with a career advisor.
• Learn how to conduct informational interviews with people working in the field and find alum through The Gates. They can provide valuable guidance when considering career options, including internships, jobs and graduate school.

Pursuing graduate study

The College Art Association (CAA) is the professional organization for art history and maintains a database of the many art history graduate programs that lead to an M.A. or a Ph.D. degree. The database can be searched by types of degrees awarded, faculty specialization and program type (arts administration, art history, curatorial studies, etc.). The CDC is another great resource for information on researching, applying to and preparing for graduate school.