We are committed to advising students in identifying and choosing successful internship, graduate school, and career opportunities.

In addition to our faculty and staff members, who serve as excellent resources, networking connections, and advisers, the Betty and B. Frank Matthews II ’49 Center for Career Development (Matthews Center) also provides a large number of online and in-person services to assist you in finding internships, graduate programs, and career opportunities. You can find resources on bulletin boards in the Belk Visual Arts Center as well.

Art majors are able to apply understanding of visual expression to a wide array of professions that rely upon creativity, analysis, interpretation, and context.

College Internships

Internships provide you with opportunities to explore your interests in meaningful ways through real-word applications. Students participate in internships during the academic year and/or over the summer, domestically and/or abroad. A sample of recent student internships range from business litigation at McGuireWood to auction/appraisal at Sloans and Kenyon to data science at Tresata and graphic design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Faculty members regularly assist students in identifying internships, as do the Career Services staff. You also may access the college's internship database (login required) and strong alumni network.

Van Every/Smith Galleries Internships

The Van Every/Smith Galleries offer comprehensive work study and internship opportunities that equip students with hands-on gallery experience including art handling, installation, research, and events. Opportunities are posted at the beginning of the fall semester via Handshake. Opportunities are open to anyone regardless of major or class year, though preference is given to Art History or Studio Art majors/minors.

Graduate School

The Art Department prepares you for graduate-level study through rigorous coursework, high-level research and publication opportunities, and individual advising/guidance as you make plans for continued study. You will leave Davidson with the skills and experience you need for success in graduate school and beyond.

Art Department alumni have attended many of the world's top graduate programs, including those at Harvard University, Emory University, Duke University, Cal Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Art Institute of Chicago, University of Edinburgh, and the Courtauld Institute of Art, among many others. They have earned master's and doctoral degrees in architecture, law, medicine, counseling, business administration, and more.

Careers

Our graduates' interests are diverse and multi-faceted, and they pursue careers in a wide range of industries in public and private sectors.

Whether you choose to create art or teach art history, art majors work for museums and galleries, art foundations, auction houses, in conservation and preservation, film and television, government agencies, industry, publishing, retailing, visual resources, and writing. Jobs such as grant administrator, corporate curator, art appraiser, and architectural conservationist blend and showcase the interests and expertise of today's art majors.

Art graduates have gone on to careers not only in art and architecture, but also in medicine, law, and business. Recent graduates have worked in investor relations, strategic development, obstetrics & gynecology, education and innovation. Employers include UBS Wealth Management Americas, Vogue, Population Services International, and Kelley Blue Book.

Hear from our Alumni

An art degree opens the door to a wide variety of careers and provides a solid foundation for post-graduate study.

Why Study Art?