An Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree may include courses on topics such as painting, sculpture, art history, drawing, photography and fashion. This type of degree usually takes up to two years for completion. An associate degree in fine arts teaches fundamentals in a concentrated discipline, or courses that serve as a foundation for upper-level work leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Someone with an Associate of Fine Arts degree can have potential career as a private music or art teacher, jewelry designer, theater production assistant or a freelance photographer.
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program offers students to take a variety of classes in different genres while concentrating on one sub-field such as painting, architecture or sculpture. A bachelor's degree is usually a four-year program. It qualifies graduates for positions at museums, theatrical companies, art schools or other organizations. Depending on the major, a fine arts bachelor degree holder can have opportunities to work as a creative writer, director, art or dance teacher or visual artist.
A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree requires up to two to three years to complete. Under master's program, the student is required to complete the specified coursework depending on his field of concentration along with compiling a portfolio of work that is to be submitted at the end of the program. A master's in fine arts with concentration in art history for instance, can have a potential career as a museum curator. Other careers include theatre director, painting or sculpture teacher, or costume designer.
A doctoral program in fine arts can be the culmination of study in the field of visual or performing arts. It includes more theoretical studies than other fine arts programs, or a multidisciplinary approach that includes both hands-on studies and research. A bachelor's degree in fine arts is usually a prerequisite for a student to enroll in a doctorate program. Doctoral degrees in fine art allows the student to comprehensively study a field of specialization, which may be architecture, music, painting, sculpture or other forms of art. Someone with a fine arts PhD can lead a music or art school or work in an administrative capacity in any arts organization.