Career Options

Undergraduate program

The academic growth and development of critical thinking skills that students receive from the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in history of art and visual culture can lead to successful careers in education, law, business, and social services, in addition to more disciplinary-specific careers in museum curating, art restoration, library and information science, heritage studies, design, criticism, arts education and administration, and advanced studies in architecture, visual culture, and art history.

We invite students to visit Career Success for guidance and support from UCSC’s Career Coaches. With hard work and engagement with the many resources and opportunities for learning found in our major, all students can have successful careers in the arts.

Examples of Career Options in History of Art and Visual Culture:

Teaching

PhD in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History
German, French and/or other appropriate languages
Research-oriented
Maximum involvement with people
Strong writing and communication skills essential
Travel and study abroad may be important depending on field

Museum Work: Curatorial

PhD in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art normally expected, depending on the institution
German, French or other appropriate languages
Research-oriented (may start out as research assistant)
Involvement with people, ability to collaborate

Museum Work: Education

MA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History
Languages may be necessary, e.g. Spanish, in order to be able to work with an ethnically diverse audience
Some research depending on level of audience
Maximum involvement with people
Good communication skills essential

Museum Work: Exhibition Installation

BA; MA may be helpful
No language necessary
No research
Some involvement with people
Some artistic training and mechanical skill

Museum Work: Administration

BA; MA in Museology and PhD for top positions
No languages necessary
No research except for fundraising
Varying range of involvement with people
Business skills useful, including clerical skills

Museum Work: Reproductions and Retailing

BA required
No languages necessary
No research except perhaps in legal areas
Some to maximum involvement with people
Business, administrative, and communication skills necessary
This area can include positions ranging from work in a museum store, to overseeing the selection, production and marketing of museum reproductions. If involved with the latter aspect, should have some familiarity with copyright law and artists’ rights, though this could be acquired on the job. Also some design skills may be useful.

Art Gallery (Non-Profit)

BA; MA or PhD may be helpful, but not necessary
No languages necessary
Research may be necessary
Maximum involvement with people
Good business, marketing, communication and writing skills; fundraising skills; flexibility; diplomacy; ability to motivate others; sensitivity to artists’ needs; and, depending on the scale of the gallery, experience in exhibition design, curatorial work, sales, and art education can all be useful.

Art Gallery and Action Houses (For Profit)

BA; MA or PhD may be necessary depending on position and type of gallery
Languages may be useful
Depending on position can be research-oriented or not at all
Maximum involvement with people
Depending on position good business, marketing, communication and writing skills may be necessary; training in connoisseurship

Freelance Writing (Criticism, Art-related Travel, Art History, etc.)

BA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History; advanced degrees may help to broaden opportunities
Languages may be necessary
Research necessary
Some involvement with people; may need to be aggressive in obtaining assignments or marketing work
Excellent communication and writing skills
High tolerance for economic uncertainty

Publishing

BA; MA or PhD useful but not necessary
Languages often useful
Research depends on position; copy editor–none; editor–some; writer–a lot
Significant involvement with people
Business and/or graphic design skills along with strong writing skills are essential depending on position; possibility of freelancing

Art Law (Conservation, Restoration, Artists’ Rights, etc.)

BA and/or MA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History; JD in contract law
No languages necessary
Research-oriented
Some involvement with people
Good business and communication skills

Art Librarian

Master in Library Science, and usually an MA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History
French, German, or other languages often necessary
Some research covering a wide variety of topics
Varying levels of involvement with people
Good communication and writing skills
Excellent administration/management skills
Some computer and image technology skills
Attention to detail

Visual Resource Materials Librarian

BA or MA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History
French, German, or other languages may be necessary
Some involvement with people
Knowledge of computer programs for slide libraries
Knowledge of basic photographic techniques for the production of slides
Openness to technology and technological change
Attention to detail

Conservation and Preservation

MA or beyond in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History with special training in conservation and restoration
Languages may be useful
Research-oriented
Some involvement with people
Good background in chemistry and physics, as well as studio techniques

Architectural Conservation

BA; MA or beyond useful with a special knowledge of architectural traditions, including interior design; BA or MA in architecture and specialized training in conservation techniques for work at the highest level.
Languages only necessary as one is involved with international projects
Research often necessary
Maximum involvement with people
Depending on whether one is working as an employee of a governmental office, a not-for-profit group, or as a private consultant, knowledge of the law, zoning ordinance, estimating procedures, etc., can be necessary. A certain amount of political savvy also is useful particularly if one is attached to a government agency or not-for-profit group.

Artist Representative

BA in History of Art and Visual Culture or Studio Art, or equivalent knowledge and experience
No languages necessary
Some research of markets may be necessary
Some to frequent involvement with people
Business experience (marketing and sales), organizational skills, self-motivation, and a sensitivity to working with artists

Art Investment

BA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History; MBA (may wish to have an MA in History of Art and Visual Culture/Art History, too)
No languages necessary
Some research
Some involvement with people
Good business and investment skills; training in connoisseurship; good communication skills

Corporate Curator

BA; MA or PhD may be helpful
Languages may be necessary depending on the nature of the collection
Some research
Some involvement with people
Ability to communicate particularly with people not necessarily knowledgeable about art; may also need installation and interpretive skills; training in connoisseurship

Government Agencies (NEA, NEH, Archives of American Art, state and local arts councils, etc.)

BA, MA and/or PhD can all be appropriate depending on duties
Languages may be necessary
Some to a great deal of research depending on position
Some involvement with people
Good communication and writing skills; political abilities

Independent Producer (Television and Film Documentaries)

BA; MA or beyond useful but not necessary
Languages may be necessary
Research necessary
Maximum involvement with people
Background in TV or film production; good business and writing skills; strong organizational skills

Questions?

Email: havc@ucsc.edu