Employment opportunities for School of Art Graduates

Graduates of the School of Art find employment in many art and art related fields, while some undergraduates continue their education in graduate school. Below are descriptions of career opportunities for the degree sequences offered by the School.

Art History

Art program graduates with training in Art History may take advantage of a large range of employment opportunities. Art publishing houses, commercial galleries, private and public museums and historical societies are among the varied institutions and businesses which employ specialists in the history of art. Graduates from Illinois State University's School of Art have worked in each of these areas. As in most humanistic disciplines, graduate-level study is necessary for those who wish to pursue careers teaching Art History. Many of our students have chosen this path and have received fellowships for advanced study at some of the most respected universities offering graduate programs in this field. Please visit http://www.nd.edu:80/~crosenbe/jobs.html

Graphic Design

Study in Graphic Design provides many employment opportunities. Graduates work in a wide range of careers, in a variety of work settings and in virtually every corner of the world. Traditional careers include design for print applications such as corporate and institutional direct-mail marketing, newspaper and publication design, brochures, posters, packaging, and advertising. Graphic Designers create graphic identity systems, which includes trademarks, signage, business communications, and exhibitions for all types of organizations, events, and locations. Graphic Designers also create the look for multimedia applications, including web sites, CD-ROMs, software interfaces and other digital media.

Jobs are available in large corporations; institutions such as hospitals, universities and government agencies; small design studios; advertising agencies; public relation firms; business and web development consulting firms; and with book, newspaper, and magazine publishers. Many graphic designers are self-employed. Graduates of the Graphic Design program at Illinois State University are highly employable and find work in every part of the country and in all aspects of the field.

Studio Art

Students graduating with degrees in Studio Art are well prepared to begin careers as successful studio artists. Some will go on to graduate degree programs in studio art--especially those who have an interest in a career as an artist/scholar/teacher. Some of our graduates end up in careers other than studio art but closely related: museum or gallery management, curatorial work, working in the art press--publishing or critical writing. Some of our studio art graduates go on to careers outside of art--making use of the many valuable skills acquired in our studio art degree programs: problem solving, collaborative action, critical thinking.

Teacher Education

In the program, art education majors experience a breadth and depth of theory and practice. They acquire a sound knowledge and idea base and also develop skills and resources for teaching. Quality student teaching assignments are made at two different grade levels in schools across the state. Successful candidates are able to be certified to teach art in Illinois public schools grades K-12. ISU graduates teach art in public and private schools throughout the state and in many locations outside Illinois.