Online master's degree programs in fine arts

• Fine Art & Craft
• Photography
• Graphic Design
• Music
• more

Online master's degree programs in fine arts offer a flexible and convenient way to improve your resume, advance your fine arts skills and boost your overall career potential.

What to expect from online master's degree programs in fine arts

Unlike a Master of Arts degree, which is usually focused on the academic and theoretical aspects of the arts, a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree is usually awarded on the basis of a final practical piece of work or performance, ongoing coursework and a smaller element of academic or theoretical work.

The exact content of online master's degree programs in fine arts depends on the school providing the program and the subject of the fine arts degree. For example, a program focused on multimedia art looks quite different next to one focused on painting skills.

In addition to the purely artistic content of your degree program, your master's degree may include coursework in business, management or marketing skills.

Careers for Master of Fine Arts degree graduates

A Master of Fine Arts degree can be both a stepping stone and a boost to a wide range of careers. The main career options for fine artists are outlined below, including the mean annual salary for May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Artistic directors have overall control of the visual direction of projects with a strong artistic or visual communication element in fields such as publishing, advertising or the motion picture and video industries: $78,580.


• Craft artists create unique objects, usually by hand or with hand tools, out of a wide range of materials such as wood, stone, ceramics and textiles. Craft artists may also work in education, manufacturing or for museums or historical sites: $28,960.


• Fine artists, such as painters, sculptors and illustrators, use a variety of media and artistic methods and techniques to create original pieces of art. Illustrators and cartoonists usually work in publishing and broadcast media. Fine artists may also work in education, publishing and the motion picture and video industries: $44,160.


• Multimedia artists and animators use their drawing and computer animation skills to create the images and special effects used in movies, TV programs, commercials and computer games: $58,250.

Other occupations for Master of Fine Arts graduates include designers, teachers, art critics and curators. About 60 percent of artists and related workers are self-employed, and their income is not reflected in the median wage data given here.

Future Master of Fine Arts degree career opportunities

The BLS predicts keen competition for artistic jobs between 2008 and 2018, in part because of the large number of creative and talented individuals attracted to careers in the arts. An online master's degree in fine arts can help you stand out from the crowd to gain a competitive advantage in the job market.

Ready to learn more? Explore the Guide to Art Majors for more information on training for an artistic career. For more extensive coverage of MFA opportunities, visit WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to MFA. Here, you will find graduate-level specializations in areas such as photography, theater arts and interior design.

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