So What are You Doing after College? An Investigation of Individuals Studying the Arts at the Post-Secondary Level, Their Job Aspirations and Levels of Realism

Abstract

Even as jobs in the arts continue to be scarce and rates of pay relatively low, post-secondary school students on both the undergraduate and graduate levels continue to pursue degrees in the arts. The present study was designed to investigate who is pursuing such studies, in what areas, and why. Questions were asked regarding perceived probability of finding and keeping employment in the arts after graduation, the perceived respect that students' chosen fields of endeavor have in the general population of citizens, the degree of support for newcomers by colleagues in the arts, and contingency plans students are making if they cannot find employment in the arts. It was found that a large proportion of arts majors were also seeking certification as arts educators even though they did not intend to teach, and that teaching jobs in the arts fields are also scarce. It was also indicated that post-secondary students in the arts were both realistic and at the same time optimistic and enthusiastic about their chosen professions and plan to stay in the arts as a lifelong endeavor.