Fine Arts Degrees: Types?

Print anything with Printful



Fine arts courses offer degrees at various levels, including associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Some may continue to earn a doctorate, but an MFA can qualify a candidate for teaching or high-profile jobs. Fine arts titles can vary, with some focusing on specific aspects of the arts. Bachelor’s level students may take courses beyond fine arts requirements, including math and science.

Fine arts courses focus on aesthetic subjects such as photography, dance, painting, sculpture, and theater. Many colleges or universities will offer various types of fine arts degrees at different levels; the lowest-level degrees are associate degrees, which generally take two years to complete. The full designation of this degree is Associate’s Fine Arts, or AFA. The next step would be a BFA, or Bachelor of Fine Arts. This degree usually takes four years to complete. An MFA, or Master of Fine Arts, will take another two to four years to complete.

Some people who complete an MFA may have the opportunity to continue their education by earning a doctorate, although these fine arts courses are not always offered by academic institutions. In some cases, an MFA is a terminal degree, meaning that there is no higher degree in that field. If that’s the case, an MFA can qualify a candidate to teach at the college level or obtain other high-profile jobs within the arts. It usually takes a combination of education and experience to obtain such positions. Obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree in fine arts will require a significant amount of dedication as it will take a lot of research to complete these higher level classes.

Fine art titles can vary in subject matter. A general fine arts program may encompass the theory and practice of multiple art forms, while a more specific degree program may focus primarily on one aspect of the fine arts. A theater degree, for example, will focus almost exclusively on the history, theory and practice of theater and acting techniques. A person with a fine arts theater will be prepared for a career in that industry; actors, directors, producers, pointers, lighting directors and sound engineers often start with theater degrees.

At the bachelor’s level, students who participate in fine art courses are likely to take courses beyond the fine art requirements, especially if the degree program is offered by a university. Math and science courses may be required, and the student may need to take elective courses not related to the fine arts. This provides a more comprehensive education and gives the student the opportunity to explore other fields should they choose to pursue a degree or pursue a minor or concentration. Liberal arts or fine arts colleges may not require students to take courses outside their specific fields.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content