7 answers
Tobias
Student
Rochester Hills, Michigan
1
Question
Updated
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What is the best minor to choose for art majors?
What is the best minor to choose for art majors? My drawing professor strongly recommended business as a backup minor, but I've also been recommended some kind of STEM minor as well.
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7 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1209
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Tobias,
Having a backup for an arts major is a good idea! You'll have to decide if you want something that goes with art or something completely different.
If you want something that goes with art, a minor in conservation, restauration, museum science, interior design, graphic design or UX/UI could be very useful.
A business minor is a solid choice no matter where it might take you in the future. Anything in computer science/data science/AI would be other good options that could open up job opportunities outside of the art world.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Having a backup for an arts major is a good idea! You'll have to decide if you want something that goes with art or something completely different.
If you want something that goes with art, a minor in conservation, restauration, museum science, interior design, graphic design or UX/UI could be very useful.
A business minor is a solid choice no matter where it might take you in the future. Anything in computer science/data science/AI would be other good options that could open up job opportunities outside of the art world.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Prisilla Karolina Siregar
Art Teacher
5
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Prisilla Karolina’s Answer
Art programs aren't known for teaching their students how to navigate the art industry. I see why your art teacher would make that recommendation. I would suggest going into PR/Marketing as it combines both art and business. Learn how to market yourself as an artist and sell your own work. Or you could make a living promoting other artist/brands/products. Communication design is a strong bridge between fine art and marketing and PR, so this is not a far stretch if you want to stay within the creative realm and still get a feeling for business.
Priscilla Rall
Teacher
18
Answers
Rocky Ridge, MD
Updated
Priscilla’s Answer
I would consider getting certified to teach art, K thru 12. Teaching art is a very fullfilling way to share your love of art and to be able to continue to create art in the summer and weekends. It also offers lots of opportunities to go to workshops at nearby museums, often before opening! .
Teachers have health insurance and job security. Also, if you have kids, you will have the same schedule which is important with half days, holidays and summer vacations. That's a huge benefit! Good luck.
Teachers have health insurance and job security. Also, if you have kids, you will have the same schedule which is important with half days, holidays and summer vacations. That's a huge benefit! Good luck.
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
180
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
To be honest, anything STEM or business would compliment an art degree. I can't think of many degrees I would say avoid in combination with an art degree because most fields benefit from someone being able to visualize concepts. Creative thinking is a plus as well when it comes to art and other fields.
I think UX/UI is the obvious connection between tech and art. I think data presentation is the obvious connection between business and art. Start to think about where you want to be working and likely that will answer what other field you should delve into. Do you want to be in a classroom, board room, behind a computer screen, working with client base, working in a facility, working with someone else's art, or strictly promoting your work? (classroom -> education, board room -> business and finance, computer screen -> UX/UI or web design, client base -> sales) you get the idea.
Start to write down for yourself what is important for you and narrow down what your goals are. Picture yourself in the best place for you and use your creativity to start to answer these questions for yourself.
I think UX/UI is the obvious connection between tech and art. I think data presentation is the obvious connection between business and art. Start to think about where you want to be working and likely that will answer what other field you should delve into. Do you want to be in a classroom, board room, behind a computer screen, working with client base, working in a facility, working with someone else's art, or strictly promoting your work? (classroom -> education, board room -> business and finance, computer screen -> UX/UI or web design, client base -> sales) you get the idea.
Start to write down for yourself what is important for you and narrow down what your goals are. Picture yourself in the best place for you and use your creativity to start to answer these questions for yourself.
Chetna Thakur
AOM
4
Answers
Gurugram, Haryana, India
Updated
Chetna’s Answer
This really depends on what you're interested in, but you might want to consider Digital and Visual Arts. These areas can be really rewarding if you're into the Arts.
Sheetal Eachpilani
Sales Operations
16
Answers
Gurugram, Haryana, India
Updated
Sheetal’s Answer
Below is a practical way to decide, plus the most common “high‑ROI” minors for art majors (including business and STEM paths).
How to choose your minor (simple decision framework)
Step 1: Pick the lane you’re most likely to pursue
A) Freelance / studio artist / creative entrepreneur
B) Design career (graphic, brand, motion, UI/UX)
C) Art-adjacent careers (museum, galleries, nonprofit, arts admin)
D) Tech/AI adjacent creative roles (UX, product design, creative coding)
E) Teaching / community work / therapy-adjacent
Step 2: Choose a minor that gives you a “second proof”
A portfolio piece, certification, internship path, or hard skill you can show on a resume.
(That’s why business, marketing, and CS/UX minors tend to help — they create demonstrable outputs.) [collegefactual.com], [samfoxscho....washu.edu], [olin.washu.edu]
Top minors that pair well with Art (and why)
1) Business / Entrepreneurship (your professor’s recommendation)
Best for: freelancers, creatives who want stability, anyone who wants to sell their work or run projects
Why it helps: Artists often need skills in marketing, pricing, planning, and running a “creative business.”
Great course themes: entrepreneurship, accounting basics, marketing, project management, pricing/finance. [collegefactual.com], [olin.washu.edu]
2) Some schools even offer a formal “Business of the Arts” style minor designed for creative ventures and arts-related organizations
Marketing (especially digital marketing / branding)
Best for: graphic design, illustration, content creation, branding, social media, advertising
Why it helps: Many design programs explicitly encourage pairing an art/design degree with marketing or entrepreneurship to improve employability and real‑world application.
Bonus: you’ll learn audience, messaging, campaign thinking — which aligns naturally with visual communication.
3) Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) / UX (a very “art + STEM” option)
Best for: UI/UX design, product design, interaction design, app/web experiences
Why it helps: HCI minors are built specifically to combine design + programming + user-centered thinking, preparing students for roles like UX/UI, product design, and interactive tech.
If you want a “STEM-ish” minor that still feels creative, this is one of the best fits
4) Computer Science (or “creative coding”)
Best for: digital art, motion/interactive, generative art, game/VR, creative tech careers
Why it helps: CS is commonly recommended as a versatile minor because it adds technical literacy and can open doors in tech-heavy creative roles.
Reality check: CS is more demanding than many minors, so it’s best if you genuinely like building things
How to choose your minor (simple decision framework)
Step 1: Pick the lane you’re most likely to pursue
A) Freelance / studio artist / creative entrepreneur
B) Design career (graphic, brand, motion, UI/UX)
C) Art-adjacent careers (museum, galleries, nonprofit, arts admin)
D) Tech/AI adjacent creative roles (UX, product design, creative coding)
E) Teaching / community work / therapy-adjacent
Step 2: Choose a minor that gives you a “second proof”
A portfolio piece, certification, internship path, or hard skill you can show on a resume.
(That’s why business, marketing, and CS/UX minors tend to help — they create demonstrable outputs.) [collegefactual.com], [samfoxscho....washu.edu], [olin.washu.edu]
Top minors that pair well with Art (and why)
1) Business / Entrepreneurship (your professor’s recommendation)
Best for: freelancers, creatives who want stability, anyone who wants to sell their work or run projects
Why it helps: Artists often need skills in marketing, pricing, planning, and running a “creative business.”
Great course themes: entrepreneurship, accounting basics, marketing, project management, pricing/finance. [collegefactual.com], [olin.washu.edu]
2) Some schools even offer a formal “Business of the Arts” style minor designed for creative ventures and arts-related organizations
Marketing (especially digital marketing / branding)
Best for: graphic design, illustration, content creation, branding, social media, advertising
Why it helps: Many design programs explicitly encourage pairing an art/design degree with marketing or entrepreneurship to improve employability and real‑world application.
Bonus: you’ll learn audience, messaging, campaign thinking — which aligns naturally with visual communication.
3) Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) / UX (a very “art + STEM” option)
Best for: UI/UX design, product design, interaction design, app/web experiences
Why it helps: HCI minors are built specifically to combine design + programming + user-centered thinking, preparing students for roles like UX/UI, product design, and interactive tech.
If you want a “STEM-ish” minor that still feels creative, this is one of the best fits
4) Computer Science (or “creative coding”)
Best for: digital art, motion/interactive, generative art, game/VR, creative tech careers
Why it helps: CS is commonly recommended as a versatile minor because it adds technical literacy and can open doors in tech-heavy creative roles.
Reality check: CS is more demanding than many minors, so it’s best if you genuinely like building things
Flower xu
41
Answers
Updated
Flower’s Answer
Choosing a minor really depends on your long-term goals, but if you’re thinking about future flexibility and career opportunities, it’s a smart idea to consider something more technical—especially AI or a STEM-related field.
Art is a strong and creative major, but the job market can sometimes be limited or competitive. Adding a minor like Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, or even basic programming can give you a big advantage. These skills are in high demand and can open doors to roles like UI/UX design, digital product design, creative tech, or AI-assisted art.
Also, if you ever consider switching careers or exploring more stable or higher-paying industries, having a STEM-related background will make that transition much easier.
Art is a strong and creative major, but the job market can sometimes be limited or competitive. Adding a minor like Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, or even basic programming can give you a big advantage. These skills are in high demand and can open doors to roles like UI/UX design, digital product design, creative tech, or AI-assisted art.
Also, if you ever consider switching careers or exploring more stable or higher-paying industries, having a STEM-related background will make that transition much easier.