ARTS

Different Degrees = Different Experience
Prospective arts majors have two degree options: a BA (bachelor of art) degree with a major in the arts (dance, studio art, photography, film, music, etc.) or a BFA (bachelor of fine arts) or BM (Bachelor of Music). The BFA or BM is a much more intensively focused and specific type of degree. The BA, on the other hand, is the more typical liberal arts degree, the same degree that students who major in English, history, and other humanities majors also earn.

 

Deciding to pursue a BFA or BM instead of a BA is closely connected to your career goals. If you have a high degree of commitment to your art and desire an intense (and often competitive) college experience, and if you want to pursue your art almost exclusively, a BFA or BM might be right for you. If you would rather study a variety of subjects and “keep your options open” but still pursue your art, a BA might be a better experience for you.

 Visual and performing arts students have several types of colleges to consider. Conservatories and stand-alone arts schools offer an immersion-type experience for students earning BM or BFA degrees. All of the students you meet at this type of school will be artists, and the atmosphere is often highly competitive.

Some larger universities offer BFA/BM degrees as well as BA degrees in the arts. You might be able to find self-contained music or arts schools within the larger university. In this atmosphere, you could pursue the more specialized degree while still keeping the door open to taking a few liberal arts courses. In addition, a university-based arts program might give you the option of pursuing a double degree, such as a BFA in theater and a BA in English (a double degree would require more than four years, however).