Four Year Art Colleges
A number of options are open to students, who wish to join art colleges. Apart from location and curriculum, students are required to choose the type of degree or certificate that they wish to receive at the end of their studies. There are four-year art colleges, two-year art colleges, community colleges and vocational or technical colleges.
A four-year art college or university generally offers a Bachelor Of Arts (BA) degree or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree to undergraduates. The four-year art colleges in addition to the above degrees also offer Masters and Doctorate degrees. The Bachelor of Arts degree is for generalists and students who opt for this will have to take courses in all areas of liberal arts. Liberal arts includes English, foreign languages, history and philosophy. Although students who complete a BA degree can declare an art major, the degree they receive is structured in such a way that it gives them extensive knowledge of many academic areas. Students are also expected to take courses outside their major subjects, such as math or science.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a specialized degree that focuses on arts and where about two third of the course work is focused on art or design studies. There are colleges that offer courses entirely dedicated to art subjects. At art-focused colleges, students can immerse themselves pretty much exclusively in their pet art subjects as there is very little coursework offered outside arts.
Community colleges usually offer a two-year degree, which is an associate’s degree. In general, community colleges are more affordable than four-year art colleges. The credits that students earn in a two-year program can be transferred to a four-year college. It is important for students to plan carefully about their goals and ambitions before choosing an art college or program of study. It is advisable for students to choose a college that meets or exceeds their expectations. It is equally essential to choose a college and program that is accredited.