A career in the arts offers several different opportunities to be involved in the production of culture, either working creatively as an artist in fields such as film, photography, or writing, or working on the business side of the culture industry, in either management or development.

For those seeking a career in the arts, Rhetoric and Critical/Cultural Studies classes would be the most beneficial, as they foster a deeper understanding of culture in society and work to appreciate the relationship between culture and community. In addition, courses in Communication and Culture can aid students in understanding how communication works across cultures and would prepare students to understand art as produced in different cultures. Courses in Communication, Technology, and Society would also provide students with the skills to understand the relationship between technology and art and society and how technology may be used to enable the production of art.

There are a number of jobs that are available to those hoping for a career in the arts. Some examples are:

• Actor
• Arts director
• Author (fiction/nonfiction)
• Filmmaker/video artist
• Grants manager
• Photographer
• Screenwriter/playwright

In order to better prepare for a career in the arts, students may consider taking coursework in the Arts Department. In addition, students are encouraged to take specialized courses in fields such as drama, creative writing, film, and business depending on how they choose to direct their work in the arts. Students interested in furthering their education beyond the undergraduate degree may also consider attending a graduate program either inside or outside the field of communication.

Examples of internships available through the Department of Communication include:

• Festival Assistant for the Rehoboth Beach Film Society
• Video/Media Intern for African Promise
• One Reel PR and Social Media Intern
• Video Intern for the UW Graduate School
• Design Intern for Rytek Grafx

A full list of internships available through the department can be accessed here.
Below, we’ve listed several alumni from the Department of Communication with successful careers in the arts.