ART 201 : Careers in the Visual Arts
This course consists of career seminars, visiting artist talks and critiques, field trips, professional artist demonstrations and workshops to help students further explore career choices in art and design. Activities include research, critical thinking, oral and written presentations, and evaluations. Workshops and demonstrations assist students in developing digital portfolios for transfer applications or for job applications, including selection of work, sequencing, and format. In addition, students participate in a field experience or service-learning project. Recommended: Students should take this course in their last year. Students should not take this course in their first year. Four class hours per week or a total of sixty-four hours during the semester. Instructional Support Fee applies.
Recommended Prerequisites:
Students should take this course in their last year. Students should not take this course in their first year.
Course Outcomes
Through written work, group discussion and oral presentations, students will demonstrate their ability to:
1. Evaluate career pathways in fine arts, applied arts, and design by analyzing industry resources, guest speaker perspectives, and personal goals to articulate a viable professional or transfer plan.
2. Assemble a polished digital portfolio that demonstrates intentional selection, sequencing, documentation and presentation of original work appropriate for transfer applications or entry-level employment.
3. Analyze their own artistic influences, cultural background, and creative process by producing a formal presentation that connects personal identity to contemporary professional practice.
4. Compose professional career materials, including a resume, cover letter, elevator pitch and portfolio documentation, tailored to a specific transfer program or art/design industry position.
5. Present structured oral critique of their own work to peers and instructor, demonstrating the ability to articulate artistic intent, describe process, and respond to questions with clarity and confidence.
6. Examine the ethical responsibilities of artists and designers in society — including issues of cultural representation, intellectual property, and equitable practice in a multicultural and global field —and articulate a personal position supported by evidence from course readings, guest talks, and other experiences.