Does creative coursework predict educational, career, and community engagement outcomes for arts alumni?

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores how exposure to creative coursework during one’s education can influence a variety of educational, career, and community involvement outcomes for arts alumni. Data were drawn from over 40,000 undergraduate-level arts alumni from the 2015, 2016, and 2017 administrations of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). A series of ordinary least squares and binary logistic regression models (controlling for relevant demographic characteristics) suggest that exposure to creative coursework is a significant predictor of several desirable outcomes. Specifically, the analyses suggest significant effects for exposure to creative coursework on the following: creative skills gained during time at institution, sense of connection to one’s institution, time until first job after graduation, relevance of first job after graduation, relevance of training to current occupation, current income, current occupational field, and arts community involvement. However, the magnitude of these effects was often small, and limitations are discussed. Overall, these findings can help to support curricular changes that encourage the increased use of creative activities and assignments in higher education, as well as provide accountability evidence for the effectiveness of arts education across a variety of outcomes.