What Can I Do With A Major In Art & Art History?

Art and Art History majors pursue a variety of career opportunities. Some occupations may require additional educational and training. Information presented in this handout includes a list of sample occupations, work settings, professional organizations, books in our resource area, web resources, and recent activities of our graduates. Further information including skills to develop, strategies for contacting employers, graduate school information, and where to get assistance may be obtained by making an appointment with a Career Services adviser.

Sample Occupations

Antiques Dealer Arts Administrator Freelance Writer
Appraiser Arts Organization Consultant Gallery Director
Architectural Drafter Book Designer/Illustrator Graphic Designer
Art Administrator Cartographer Independent Producer
Art Advisor Cartoonist Medical Illustrator
Art Conservator Commercial Artist Museum Curator
Art Foundation Technician Consultant Pattern Designer
Art Investor Corporate Curator Producer (Radio & TV)
Art journalist Critic Restorer
Art Librarian Curator Sculptor
Art Preservationist Editor Set Designer
Art Therapist Educator Teacher
Artist Agent Estate Appraiser Textile Designer
Artist Representative Fashion Coordinator Visual Resources Curator

Sample Work Settings

  • Advertising Agencies

  • Apparel Manufactures Mills
  • Architectural Firms
  • Art Organizations
  • Auction Houses
  • Community Programs
  • Computer Graphic Firms
  • Design Firms
  • Educational Institutions
  • Engineering Corporations
  • Fashion Houses
  • Galleries/Museums
  • Governmental Agencies
  • Historic Sites
  • Historical Societies
  • Interior Design Dept.
  • Libraries
  • Motion Pictures
  • Museums
  • Newspapers
  • Pattern Companies
  • Public/private schools
  • Publishing Houses
  • Retail Stores
  • Television
  • Textile Companies
  • Universities & Colleges

Professional Organizations

American Advertising Federation

http://www.aaf.org

American Art Therapy Association

http://www.arttherapy.org

American Association of Museums

http://www.aam-us.org

American Society of Interior Designers

http://www.asid.org

American Society of Media Photographers

http://www.asmp.org

National Antique & Art Dealers Assoc. of America

http://www.naadaa.org

National Art Education Association

http://www.naea-reston.org

National Artists Equity Association

http://www.artists-equity.org/

Books in our Resource Area

Thinking about a career in Art or Art History? Browse our Career Resource Area and check out the numerous resources we offer on majors, internships, international experiences, graduate & professional schools and employment searches. Most books are available for check out for a period of one week. The following is a sample of available resources:

Advertising Career Directory

Breaking into Advertising

Breaking into Film

Careers for Culture Lovers

Careers for Culture Lovers & Other Artsy Types

Careers in Focus: Arts & Entertainment

Graphic Design Career Guide

Jobs & Careers with Nonprofit Organizations

Liberal Arts Advantage

Liberal Arts Jobs

Magazines Career Director

Museums Jobs from A to Z

Nonprofit Sector

Opportunities in Advertising Careers

Opportunities in Commercial Art & Graphic Design

Opportunities in State and Local Govt. Careers

Opportunities in Visual Arts Careers

Web Resources

Career Services offers a wide selection of web-based resources for career-related areas. These resources address areas such as corporate research for employment and internship searches, career self-assessment, investigation, occupational information gathering, graduate school research, and internship information and leads. You can access these resources on the Career Services webpage at www.trinity.edu/careerservices.

Discover - Complete career self-assessments, research occupational information, and perform searches for graduate schools across the United States. Discover requires a unique user name and password. You can pick-up access information in the Career Services office.

TigerJobs - A web based system allowing students and alumni to access job and internship listings as well as sign up for on campus interviewing. TigerJobs allows students to self-register for this service. Simply click on the TigerJobs link on our homepage and register today.

Hoover’s Online - A database of thousands of public, private and global companies, searchable by organizational name, location, type of industry, and ticker symbol. If you access Hoover’s Online on-campus, no user name or password is needed.

Internships Online -Web-based service allowing students to search national internships in areas such as international affairs, history, human rights, sports, resort and seasonal employment, women’s rights, environmental organizations, congressional internships, business, media, and law and policy. Click on the "Getting Started" link under the Internships Online logo on the Career Services’ webpage for access information.

Where do Trinity graduates go?

Employment: Museum of Fine Arts, Mixture Gallery, Starbucks

Graduate Schools: Trinity University, Princeton University, Tulane University, University of Texas – Austin