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Career Preparation

Prepare for a career in the creative industries

Our dedicated and professionally engaged faculty are actively involved in helping students successfully transition into a wide range of creative careers with national and international employers. You'll graduate from Youngstown State University as a skilled and versatile artist prepared for careers in art and design. And, you'll also be ready to become an innovative leader in numerous other creative professions. As a student in the Youngstown State University Department of Art, you'll earn a degree in an area about which you're passionate, and you'll be prepared for a meaningful and successful career.   
 

 

"Youngstown State University and the Department of Art were instrumental in my development as a graphic designer, equipping me with many skills in design while also building my industry-standard software proficiency. The projects and critiques honed my ability to work in a group setting and receive constructive feedback, which is essential in this industry. Networking with professors and alumni helped me build connections that led to my internship among other professional opportunities. Additionally, the experience I had in the Department of Art allowed me to achieve a full-time graphic design position after graduation."
 

- Avery W. Sandy (B.F.A. in Studio Art, Graphic + Interactive Design)

 

Redefining careers for visual artists

The roles of creatives continue to be redefined, and artists are influencing the world in nearly every industry. Your education at YSU's Department of Art will help you develop one of the most important skills for which today’s industries are searching: creativity. You'll further expand your critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and collaborative skills. You’ll learn to adapt techniques and tools to various processes, budgets, and end uses. And, in the process, you’ll significantly increase your career opportunities.

 

Career Resources

YSU Office of Career Exploration and Development

The office is here to provide assistance in all areas of your unique professional journey. 

Cliffe College Career and Professional Development Series

Find work you’re passionate about with the college’s extensive range of services, which include one-on-one career planning. We’ll prepare you for a life you’ll love. 

Attend networking events

 

Campus employment

Each year, YSU hires over 1,000 students to a variety of positions, many of which allow visual artists to hone their skills. Gain valuable professional experience right here on campus.

Begin your career with an internship

Professional organizations

Build a network of professionals across industries, access databases of internships and job openings, and more.

 

Careers our alumni currently enjoy:

  • App developers
  • Animation artists
  • Art directors
  • Art educators
  • Art therapists
  • Arts administrators
  • Brand specialists
  • Ceramicists
  • Concept artists
  • Costume designers
  • Creative directors
  • Design consultants
  • Digital artists
  • Editors
  • Entertainment attorneys
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Furniture designers
  • Graphic designers
  • Interior designers
  • K-12 educators
  • Landscape designers
  • Merchandising analysts
  • Museum curators
  • Painters
  • Photographers
  • Printmakers
  • Product designers
  • Resident artists
  • Sculptors
  • Set designers
  • University faculty
  • UX/UI designers
  • Videographers

Our talented and versatile alumni become cultural influencers and entrepreneurs and are making their mark locally, nationally, and globally. Department of Art alumni regularly earn national and international recognition—they are Emmy® Award winning designers, studio artists, academic faculty across the globe, and more. Our graduates may be found in every segment of today's creative industries.

 

Where our alumni work

  • Amazon
  • American Greetings
  • Apple
  • Artix Entertainment
  • Art Inst. of Chicago
  • Bank One Corp.
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Canon Solutions America
  • Carnegie Mellon Univ.
  • Coca-Cola
  • Comedy Central
  • Converse
  • Dartmouth College
  • Delphi
  • DORÉ
  • DreamWorks Animation
  • ESPN
  • Hallmark Cards
  • Hobby Lobby
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • MCF Architecture
  • Michael Kors
  • Microsoft
  • Nationwide Ins.
  • NBC LA/KNBC-TV
  • Palantir Tech.
  • Rutgers University
  • Siemens
  • Southwest Airlines
  • Toyota
  • University of Chicago
  • The Walt Disney Co.
  • The Weather Channel
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Verizon
  • Vitamix

Discover the possibilities with us!

Explore our programs Meet our faculty Discover what it’s like to be a student

CLIFFE COLLEGE OF CREATIVE ARTS | DEPARTMENT OF ART