Art Master Degrees

Although programs vary, a master degree program for art design is usually able to be completed in 1-2 years.  It is not typically pursued by the majority of those in this field and, therefore, is quite highly respected.  Allowing you to refine and build your portfolio as well as approach the subject matter from a more intellectual perspective, these programs can take your career to a whole new level. 

-A master's degree program allows you to further refine your artistic skills as well as develop more advanced techniques in your chosen field of focus.

-As your level of education will be far beyond that of most art design professionals, you will have your top pick of jobs and companies for which you want to work.

-You will be able to have a deeper focus on the subject matter and/or mediums that were of most interest to you when obtaining your previous training. 

But What Will I Learn With a Master Degree?

A master degree in art design, while teaching you new techniques, focuses mostly on developing your skills and interests from your prior educational programs.  While other art design training might just provide a survey-like overview of certain concepts, techniques, or technologies, a master's degree program will address these subjects on a more professional, advanced level. 

Therefore, you will have the opportunity to explore and further your skills in a variety of areas that are of interest to you personally as well as professionally.  Some of the subjects focused on by this type of degree program are:

-Advanced graphic design theories and techniques

-Professional-level use of Photoshop, Adobe, InDesign, and Quark Xpress software

-A thesis-type project and/or a completed professional portfolio

-Analyzing trends in graphic design and communication

-Management and business operations and considerations

-Refining studio art skills and techniques, including sketching, technical drawing, still-life and figure imagery

-Story-boarding concepts for professional presentations to clients

What Kind of Career Can I Find?

As you will be reaching one of the highest levels of education available to art design professionals by obtaining a master degree, you will be able to have your pick of virtually any job that is out there.  However, you also greatly expand your abilities for entrepreneurial ventures as well.  The main reason for this is that this type of program gives you plenty of time to focus your energy on completing and improving a particular project or technique.  Therefore, a good amount of your portfolio work will have been completed, making it much easier to present your ideas and services to clients. 

However, the main difference that a master degree provides is the ability to teach at a college level.  Whereas other subjects often require a doctorate degree, it is possible to become a professor of art design at most universities with just a master's degree.  Whether you wish to teach, work for yourself, or become a leading professional in the art design field, continuing on to this level of education is a worthwhile investment.