Art as Life: Art Degree Programs

Art degree programs have a broad range of subject matter on which to base a program. There are the creative outlets like fine and performing arts, or more cerebral outlets like art criticism and history.

Regardless of your intended art program focus, you want to find the best US college and university for an art degree overall. There are many websites that rank US university programs according to their majors.

Among these websites, it is common to note the same colleges and universities listed within the top ten regularly. The colleges and universities that recur in these lists for art degrees are: University of Chicago, Dartmouth College and Rice University.

University of Chicago Art Degree

The University of Chicago has one of the best Art History degree programs available. The faculty is versed in a wide range of subjects throughout the history of art. This includes ancient civilizations, physical art through the ages and even modern cinema. The focus of the degree program is the historical context of physical arts. The program itself consists of various lectures and studio courses that lead the student through the history of art in the world.

Dartmouth College Art Degree

Dartmouth College has an incredible Studio Art program. The artist in residence program is one that is found in few universities in the country. There are professionals available to the student population at all times who are well versed in their field and skilled at teaching their craft. There are also visiting critics who view and critique the work of the students. This gives the students a feel for the way professional life works for artists in their various fields.

Rice University Art Degree

Rice University has an excellent Art History degree program that combines the history of art in specific areas in the world. The courses are in depth analyses of the art forms and their meanings and interpretations throughout history.

The studies include architectural design, sculpture, painting and calligraphy. The faculty’s knowledge of art spans the length and the breadth of the world. You can find a faculty member who is knowledgeable about most any subject of art history in the art department.