14.09.2022
Overview
Arts
Those who are creative and full of ideas, those who enjoy expressing their artistic skills in a variety of materials or those who are interested in the impact and influence of arts will find a wide range of possibilities in this field of study.
The study field at a glance
The fine arts, art history and art education are the three pillars of this field of study.
- Fine Arts is divided into two main areas: Free and Applied Arts. Free Arts is basically painting, graphics, sculpture or photography, including three-dimensional works such as objects and installations. The field of applied arts includes goldsmithing, silversmithing, ceramics, textile arts and stage design. Some studies have a lot in common with graphic design, media art, textile design, product design, etc. Others can be compared with Fine Arts.
- Art history or science deals essentially with the historical development of the visual arts from antiquity to the present. It includes works in the fields of architecture, sculpture, painting, graphics, ornamentation and crafts, including digital media. It deals with the intension of artworks and their temporal and spatial classification as well as the interpretation of art work according to historical, aesthetic, stylistic, sociological, economical and psychological aspects.
- The focus of art education is the teaching of the art and the aesthetic phenomena of everyday life in our society. For this purpose, the degree program combines art studies with a practical work and didactics, whereby the theory and artistic work are always related.
Offered courses
The bachelor's program is available at art academies, universities, universities of education and also at some universities of applied sciences. There are undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of fine arts, art history, art education and art science - partly in the form of combined bachelor's degree programs (such as art education), partly in diploma courses. The degree programs include Free Arts, Illustration, Painting / Graphic Arts, Book Art / Graphic Design, Visual and Art History, European Art History, East Asian Art History, Art and Art Education, Visual Arts and Aesthetic Education.
Students can extend their knowledge in postgraduate studies such as art education, cultural, media education or art therapy.
Contents of the course
The undergraduate courses of Fine Arts impart scientific and practical basic knowledge in art, art history, art theory as well as design with visual, objective or digital methods. Possible modules are, for example, Sculpture, painting, drawing, graphics, design, photography, printing techniques, and video.
In Art History, the focus is on scientific and practical basic knowledge of architecture, sculpture and pictorial art from different eras. Possible modules include fine arts and architecture, modern art history, art history of medieval times, and Christian archeology.
In Art Education scientific and practical basic knowledge, e.g. about pedagogy and didactics, art history and art education play a major role. Possible modules are, for example, artistic action and interaction, designed environment, explorations and experiments on color, form and material, artistic work with modern media, art educational work with health or socially disadvantaged people.
Admission criteria & study application
In order to be admitted to art studies, interested parties must submit artistic-design work samples in addition to the higher education certificate and, in the course of selection or aptitude examinations, have to prove special artistic qualifications / aptitude for the degree program. Criteria for the selection are a portfolio of independent artistic works, exams and usually an interview. Studying without a higher education certificate is only possible with outstanding artistic talent. However, this does not apply to degree programs that conclude with the First State Examination for Teachings.
Prospective art educators may also need to provide evidence of foreign language proficiency.
Possible careers after graduation
Graduates of Fine Arts can work in the fields of sculpture, painting or artistic drawing. They often work as freelancers.
A study of Art History leads into the following fields of activity: exhibition management, planning, art, cultural management or sales, sales (art, antique trade). Art historians are employed mainly in museums, galleries, the art / antique shops, in research and teaching as well as in scientific institutions.
Art educators work in adult education, art education or media, cultural education.
