What is a regular college with a good art program?

Question

I am currently in high school, and I want to major in an art-related subject. I was originally looking for art schools, but as much as I love art, I don't want my life to be set in stone, and I think going to an exclusively "art" school would do exactly that. . I would like more flexibility with job opportunities. Someone told me that in that case, I should look for a regular college with a good art program.

Could you give me a list of good regular colleges (not art schools) with good undergraduate art programs?

Thanks :)

Answer 1

You've made a good choice. Like you, I decided to study art at a broad university, rather than at an art school, because I knew that going to art school would "set my life in stone", as you said. So I know quite a few strong universities that have excellent art programs. Look at the following schools:
- Smith College (if you're female :grins:)
- Carnegie Mellon
- Syracuse University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Alfred University (but only if you plan to do ceramics)
- Brown University (because of its relationship with RISD)
- Tufts University (because of its relationship with the Museum School)
- Boston University
- Brandeis University
- Bard College
- Pratt Institute (great art school with a limited number of other majors, so maybe not a great fit)
- Parsons (fabulous art school, and part of the New School. The New School isn't the strongest university, though. It's good, but it's not BU, if you get my meaning.)
- UCLA
- Temple
- Drexel (a bit of a step down from the above, but it's good)
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor

With the schools I mentioned that have "relationships with" art schools, you can actually do a dual degree, if you'd like: a BFA at, for example, RISD, with a BA from Brown.

Answer 2

I think that if you are POSITIVE about what you want to do it would be alright to go to an art college, but if you have any doubt in your drive or aptitude whatsoever you should go to a 4year school. That way you can establish a backup plan and don't get screwed...