Are you finding it hard to convince yourself (or your parents) that a performing arts degree can pay off? Is your last college production looming with the uncertainty of post-graduation life on the horizon? Don’t worry, there are countless career paths you can pursue with a performing arts degree—and not all of them are onstage or onscreen. Learn why this track is beneficial for young creatives, plus we share more than a dozen possible career opportunities and the salaries that come with it.
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- What kinds of performing arts degrees are there?
- Why should you consider a performing arts degree?
- Performance careers with an arts degree
- Non-performance careers with a performing arts degree
What kinds of performing arts degrees are there?
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Typically, a performing arts program will land you either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) degree. If you’re wondering how to choose between a B.A. or BFA, it depends on what you’re seeking. B.A. programs are more academically diverse and research-based, while BFA tracks focus more deeply on firsthand performance experience.
While most programs under these two umbrellas allow you to pick and choose minors and majors to tailor your track, they usually center around one of three disciplines:
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- Drama degrees balance the study of specific acting techniques, voice coaching, improvisation, and stage combat with history and theory. These programs often culminate with actual experience onstage or in front of a camera.
- Dance programs develop your performance techniques with focuses on choreography, movement, and music appreciation. Supplementary focuses include topics like kinesiology, dance literature, and technical stage production.
- Music programs teach the technical skills for composing original music and performing alongside more academic subjects, such as music theory, history, and literature. Students can declare a specialty—a specific instrument, for example—from the outset or allow one to develop as they experiment and learn.
Why should you consider a performing arts degree?
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Artistically, pursuing a performing arts degree gives you the freedom to figure out exactly what you want your journey to look like. “A degree program primarily gives you some protected time to explore your identity as an artist,” says Dr. Brian Granger, assistant professor of theater at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Taking time to earn a degree in the arts also sets you up with numerous transferable disciplines—such as communications, public speaking, and interpersonal skills—that are useful in a wide range of fields. “Performing arts degrees teach you to see the world through the eyes and words of others,” says Nicole Ruark, artist-in-residence at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts. “Understanding someone else’s story and being able to communicate their needs, goals, and viewpoints is a highly desirable skill in careers such as customer relations, sales, teaching, and leadership.”
By gaining an understanding of yourself as an artist and a broader range of communication skills, performing arts graduates are well-positioned to navigate a freelance and contract-heavy job market. “Many [graduates] can also seek to create careers for themselves entrepreneurially,” says artistic director and music career coach Jennie Brown. “Understanding [your] own unique talents and interests can help craft a career that is both gratifying and sustainable.”
