My parents don't want me to take a degree in Fine Art?

Question

My parents don't want me to take a degree in Fine Art and Art History, even if I get into a good Uni, they will still think I will not make any money from this. They tell me "what are you going to get out of painting?" They only care about earning money. The only thing I'm good at and passionate about is Art. I'm going to take this degree no matter what, but can't help but feel down. I don't know what I want to be, but it's not artist or a teacher. My parents think these are the only jobs out there and I know it isn't... I don't know how to react everytime they ask me what I am going to do with this degree.

Answer 1

Whatever you do, do something that you are passionate about. If you study something you enjoy then you are more likely to find a job that you enjoy too. Who wants to work in a career they hate because they took a subject they didn't enjoy at Uni?

There is a website at the bottom of this answer which is really useful and the link has some ideas for career options with your subject. It may also be worth mentioning to your parents that 70% of jobs which require a degree, do not require a specific subject. These employers simply want someone who works hard, is articulate and has all the other interpersonal skills you can acquire by going to uni, not specific knowledge.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Options_with_your_subject/Your_degree_in_history_of_art/Job_options/p!eLafFle

Good luck!

Answer 2

The person who held my job before I did got her degree in Art History. She didn't make the salary someone in a technical field would have, and she might not have gotten a lot of direct use out of her studies - which is why she ended up going back to graduate school - but it was (and is) the kind of career path even the most protective parent could accept.

You don't need to double-major in something "useful" if you're not interested enough in those fields to put in the extra coursework. It helps to take some business-related classes, but most employers outside of the sciences and engineering aren't going to want to see your transcript. They'll want to know if you can do the work, and the fact that you have your degree (along with any internships or other outside experience you can offer) will matter more than what it's in.

Answer 3

Right on, sister!
I, too, am a fellow artist who has chosen to pursuit Art instead of other careers. BUT! There are options. You can go into Art History and teach at colleges and universities. You can go into Art Education and become an Art teacher at elementary or high schools, or even college and university levels. Or, you can do what I'm doing: Going into Art Therapy. You do need psychology, so it's something up there with other courses and career choices, and there are very few art therapists in the world. And, most Art therapists get to do their own art on the side, so they do art, can sell it, and help people. Research it. But do your degree, get it. You can go into advertisement and such, and can make money. Don't listen to those who say you might as well work in fast food the rest of your life. It's something YOU want to do, and no one can learn from it but YOU.

Answer 4

I can see both sides. You think "It's my life, they should let me do what I want". You're not thinking about the bigger picture (no pun intended) though. What career do you want to do? Being an educated art critic doesn't appear in many employment agencies these days. Chances are you'll have to go back to a different college to learn business skills to do whatever you ultimately choose (art related or otherwise). Your parents are older and wiser than you. They know that they've ploughed a lot of time and money into you and know that they'll have to plough a lot more into you to do this and would prefer that you considered a degree that could get you somewhere in life. By all means do evening courses or do it later (once you've had kids?). You'll not listen to any of this of course because you're young and think you know it all and can't see life beyond the age of 30 (we've all been there!).

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant that I could hardly stand him around. When I turned twenty one, I was amazed how much the old man had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain

Answer 5

Higher education costs money. This is like putting your money in an investment. If you feel you will earn more money with the degree than without it then great. If you think that you'll earn so much more that you pay for the cost of college then go get that degree. If you don't know what you want to do but you just like art then you have a "hobby". If you are so wealthy that you can spend 4 years and tens of thousands of dollars on your hobby then go for it. If not, you should get a degree in accounting or business so when you do firgure out what to do with your love of art you might know how to use that to support yourself. The phrase "starving artist" is not something your parents made up.

Answer 6

Theres no point doing a degree in something you dont like. You will end up in a job you dont like cos you did a degree in it. I did animal behaviour at uni. Didnt have a clue what I wanted to do for a job. I now work as an ecologist and love it. Three years is a long time to study something you dont enjoy. And if you drop out you've wasted all that time and money. Stick to your guns and do what you want to. Money isnt everything! Look into it a bit more and see what other jobs you could do with art. Look at job adverts and see what degrees they want. Its sad that your parents cant see how much you like art. Good luck and keep positive!

Answer 7

You aren't getting a technical degree - it isn't supposed to be job training! It's an education, for crying out loud!! It's supposed to enrich your life to be educated, that's why you go to University. Not to get hands-on training!

Do what you want to do, and tell your parents to chill. You have the rest of YOUR life that you'll have to live with whatever degree you choose. If they wanted you to get a degree in something you could instantly make money at, they should have sent you to electrician school or something.

Most of the time, jobs just want you to have a degree - they don't really care what it's in.

Besides, with Art History, you can work in museums, galleries, libraries, Universities, etc. And with a degree in Art, you can do lots of jobs in many creative fields.

Google what jobs are available to those with Art or Art History degrees, and hand it to them with a list of schools you're hoping to get in. Ultimately, they most likely just want you to be happy :)

Answer 8

A fine Arts Degree is harder than people think. How about museum work or an art gallery. There are loads of jobs open to people with degrees. It proves you have put the time and commitment and have the intelligence to get one. Good luck.

Answer 9

I don't believe you understand their situation. Most parents want their kids to succeed in life and live comfortably when the parents are no longer around. If you are not earning money, then how will you live? You cannot depend on your parents forever. If you do not like teaching, there is not much you can do with a fine arts degree. If you are not the best at what you do (a very difficult task), then you will have a hard time earning a living.

Your parents want you to be practical and look out for yourself so that down the road you can be self sufficient and independent. Your passion is art and unfortunately in the practical world, one does not generally live comfortably with that degree. Many go back to minimum wage jobs that they held prior to college if one does not go into teaching.

I advise that you look at electives that interest you in college to see what other passions you might have. Get at least something applicable that is related to art. More people find jobs with graphic design, animation, architecture, etc and they are related to art. I am sure that once you find something else you are passionate about you will be good at it with practice and study.

Most of the people I work with now also feel the same thing about their kids. They want them to succeed and think long term. Many allow their kids to get their art/music/history major as long as they double and get a practical degree out like engineering or something in the sciences. That route may not be sound for you if you have trouble with the sciences already. However you really should look ahead to find something so that you can find work once you leave school.

Many people complain they can't find work, their degrees don't get them anything etc etc. Is that worth a couple of years of joy while your parents pay and take care of you? It is only because your parents love you and care about you that they want you to think about the future and find something that can help you when they are not around.

You say that there are other jobs out there and that's true! You just need to look and find out what else you can do and make sure you won't be someone 5 years down the road coming to Y!Answers complaining, "Why can't I get a job? Why won't anyone hire me? I have a degree, why is it not worth anything?" in the Business and Finance category under subheading of Careers and Employment. I have seen too many of those...


Edit: People seem to not understand what it takes to get to a certain job. I have seen many answers that state you can go to college and teach etc. This is true if you are a very good professional artist recognized by the art world.. or if you have a PhD for the university level or a Masters for the community college level. If all you are going to get is a Bachelors of Arts, then you will be unable to work at the university as a professor or teacher. You can still teach with proper credentials (passing tests) at K-12 levels and some small art schools.

Look at the answers provided. Take a business related class, do psychology etc. None of them is a pure Fine arts major. That is because it is difficult to earn a living with that degree. When it comes down to the bottom line, it is a fun major, but it will not be fun once you are out of college unless you are top notch in it. I don't want to be discouraging but you should have a back up plan in case this does not work out, because for most Fine Arts majors, they end up with jobs they do not like that have nothing to do with their majors.

A college education is to help you think, and earn a living after you come out. Unfortunately not all college majors are made equally and the economics of the real work does not treat all majors the same. Just take that into consideration when deciding what to do.

Do you research and think about it. You can always pursue art while doing something else. Look at all your options.

Good Luck.

Answer 10

Let's face it--you aren't going to get any kind of job with a degree in Fine Art or Art History. At the most you can be a police officer or some other law enforcement/military job because they will take almost anyone with a degree. You should choose to double major (major in art AND something more useful) or take fine art or art history as a minor.

Times are getting harder and the cost of everything is rising. I understand that you want to study something you like, but you can do that AND prepare for a more stable career. Double major or take those art classes as a minor! I'm serious! I'll be graduating with a degree in political science and can't find a decent job--imagine the trouble you'll have with a fine art degree!