What Job I Do With a BA in Art History

Have you finally earned your bachelors degree in art history, but aren't finding the great job you expected to land once you finished college? The good news is that an art history degree prepares you for a number of jobs in the art field. Your first job may not be your dream job, but the experience you gain will be invaluable in one day finding that perfect job.

There are several types of jobs available at museums for graduates with degrees in art history. Archives technicians assist with inventorying, research, preservation and outreach, while curatorial assistants spend their days organizing exhibits, preparing museum programs and working with the exhibitions and collections departments. As an education assistant, you can use your degree to plan and organize professional development programs and educational programs for the public. You may also be able to find a job at a museum installing new exhibits or teach at summer camp programs for children. You'll find a job listing section on the Global Museum website, which you can reach through the link in the Resources section of this article.

If you are a good writer and editor, you may be able to find a job at a company that produces art publications. In addition to writing skills, a solid background in art, a knowledge of trends in the market and good research and interviewing skills are necessary for many of these positions. Artist Resource, listed in the Resources section of this article, provides a listing of art publications.

If you have good painting skills and a background in chemistry and physics, you may want to consider art preservation as a career. Art restorers repair art work that has been damaged or has deteriorated over the years. The restoration process is slow and painstaking and requires good manual dexterity, but art restoration can be a good choice if you are an excellent painter who enjoys the challenge of restoring a piece of art to its original condition.

A job at a gallery involves plenty of contact with artists and the public. Depending on the gallery, you may be asked to handle correspondence, complete research, use computer programs to publish exhibit information, help arrange exhibits and shows and handle sales.

Large corporations often have extensive art collections in their offices and need someone to find and suggest new work for possible purchase, handle purchase details and decide where art should be placed. Art advisers may also be responsible for handling the sale of collections that the corporation no longer wants. You will also need computer skills in order to maintain a database of the company's collection.

Teaching at the elementary or secondary school level can be an option if you choose to pursue a teaching certificate. You can also teach adult education art classes or offer your own private art lessons if you are a skilled painter, sculptor or graphic artist who enjoys working with people.