Studio art offers two Bachelor degrees, the B.A. and B.F.A., and two graduate degrees that cover seven areas of specialization: ceramics, drawing, graphic design + illustration, painting, photography, printmaking, and 3D studies. Graduates with a major in studio art are attractive to employers due to their abilities in the following areas:
- Visual literacy
- Self-discipline
- Collaboration/teamwork
- Critical thinking/analytical reasoning
- Applied technology
- Time management
- Imagining creative solutions
- Working well with subjective and abstract concepts
- Attending to detail
- Clarity and intelligence in written discourse
- Appreciating diverse communities
- Decision making and ethical judgment
Employment Opportunities
- Advertising designer
- Illustrator
- Graphic designer
- Art director
- Artist
- Animator
- Gallery director
- Art administrator
- Art therapist *
- Art appraiser *
- Art critic *
- Art curator *
*Note that some of these positions require an advanced degree.
Types of Employers
- Advertising agencies
- Industry
- Architectural firms
- Museums
- Television
- Museums
- Galleries
- Auction houses
- Hospitals
The art history program offers a B.A. and M.A. degree that includes courses in American, European, and Asian art and architecture across all chronological periods. Students develop skills in research, analysis, criticism, and theory. Graduates with a major in art history are attractive to employers due to their abilities in the following areas:
- Visual literacy
- Research skills
- Advanced skills in writing
- Attention to language
- Logical and analytical observation
- Diverse of knowledge across many topics
- Capacity to form cogent arguments
- Collaboration/teamwork
- Critical thinking/analytical reasoning
- Decision making and ethical judgment
Employment Opportunities:
- Art/Architectural Conservator
- Curator
- Museum educator
- Art/visual culture teacher
- Art/visual culture historian
- Arts and estate appraiser
- Arts/nonprofit manager
- Arts management
- Art therapist
- Art transporter (shipping & handling)
- Antiques dealer
- Appraiser
- Architectural historian
- Art auction professional
- Art historian
- Art investment advisor
Types of Employers
- Museums
- Galleries
- Arts administration
- Auction houses
- Industry
- Architectural firms
- Higher education*
*Note that some of these positions require an advanced degree.
Students pursuing a degree in art education receive broad exposure to studio art and art history. An art education degree prepares you to teach art to students ranging from preschool to high school. Legal requirements to become a teacher are established by each state, but all states require art teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree. Graduates with a major in art education are attractive to employers due to their abilities in the following areas:
- Imagining creative solutions
- Visual literacy
- Self-discipline
- Time Management
- Collaboration/teamwork
- Critical thinking/analytical reasoning
- Decision making and ethical judgment
- Quantitative/applied technology
- Working well with subjective and abstract concepts
- Collaboration
- Possess a diversity of knowledge across many topics
- Appreciating diverse communities
Employment Opportunities:
- Primary School Art Teacher
- Secondary School Art Teacher
- Art Administrator
- Museum educator
- Artist
- Gallery director
- Art therapist *
- Art appraiser *
- Art critic *
- Art curator *
Types of Employers
- K-12 Schools
- Museums
- Industry
- Galleries
- Hospitals and clinics*
*Note that some of these positions require an advanced degree.
Students seeking a B.A. or M.A. degree in media arts receive exposure to a broad range of media technologies that include filmmaking, animation, sound, virtual art, video games, and more. Graduates with a major in media arts are attractive to employers due to their abilities in the following areas:
- Visual literacy
- Computer literacy
- Self-discipline
- Time Management
- Collaboration/teamwork
- Critical thinking/analytical reasoning
- Decision making and ethical judgment
- Quantitative/applied technology
- Imagining creative solutions
- Working well with subjective and abstract concepts
- Attention to detail
- Clarity and intelligence in written discourse
- Appreciating diverse communities
Employment Opportunities
- Filmmaker
- Film Editor
- Art director
- Advertising and promotion
- Sound designer
- Sound editor
- Script writer
- Video game designer
- Animator
- Film historian*
- Film critic *
- Art curator *
*Note that some of these positions require an advanced degree.
Types of Employers
- Film
- Television
- Radio
- Advertising agencies
- Public relations (industry, healthcare, non-profit)
- Museums
Visit the Career Center
Are you a current student or USC alum? The Career Center can help you plan a career, gain experience, write a resume, prepare for interviews, search for jobs, and discuss a graduate degree.
Explore Internships
Internships are a great way to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom and make connections in your field. Media arts majors are required to do an internship, and other SVAD students are highly encouraged to. Handshake is the Career Center's online career management platform. You can search for a variety of tools and internships, conduct employer research, register for on-campus interviews, and more.