Online Art Degrees vs. Traditional Art Degrees
Once you have decided to attend an accredited art school or another institution in order to earn an art degree, you will need to determine what your overall needs and goals are and how you can best achieve them. If you aren’t able to relocate due to work or family responsibilities, then you may want to consider an online school. If, however, you are able to move to a different state or country in order to attend the art program that’s best for you, you’ll probably want to enroll in a more traditional art program. Both kinds of programs can be either very helpful or very frustrating for art students, so you’ll need to carefully evaluate your learning personality, discipline and professional goals before you select a program.
Because many art students are very independent and prefer to work on their own schedules, an online program makes sense for some students. Depending on your art program, however, submitting your work, getting immediate feedback and working with other artists through an online program can be frustrating. Many art schools, though, now provide a number of resources for online students, including advising, student galleries, live online chats and class discussions, peer and teacher collaboration, and more. Students may be able to submit assignments and portfolios by taking pictures of their work, scanning it, mailing it to the teacher, and/or e-mailing digital files. Online programs are especially popular among art students in fields that incorporate digital technology, like graphic design, historical preservation, broadcast design and game development. Some schools, like the Savannah College of Art and Design do offer more traditional programs in fields like painting, but they require students to complete on-site residencies at their Savannah and Atlanta campuses, in addition to online work. Programs like this one can help students who prefer to work independently but also need in-person critique and instruction, as well as a personal introduction to the program and its unique administrative and evaluation techniques. Students looking for online art programs may also want to search for schools that offer connections to internships and exhibitions, and extra career placement or portfolio and resume advising.
While online art programs afford some students the opportunity to enroll in prestigious or far away schools, some students may feel that they do not offer enough structure. Depending on your learning personality, you may need to walk to class everyday, meet with professors face to face, and depend on the competition and reviews of your classmates. Teachers at traditional art schools may also get to know their students and their students’ unique talents more intimately, making it easier for them to make introductions to artists and exhibitors in the community. Art students in these programs will also have access to more resources, including computer software, classroom space, dark rooms, easels, and reference guides that are offered to them at a discount or free of charge. Online students may not be able to access these resources in their community without the sponsorship of a school.
