When choosing a degree, it is not just about picking something interesting; it's also about matching your skills, preferred work environment, and post-graduation career goals. Art history and philanthropy, for example, can lead to careers in preserving culture, working with communities, and creating positive change through institutions that serve the public good.

Art history studies art in historical context. Philanthropy, or giving to charity, studies individuals and groups who give their resources to create value to society. Looking at the courses, possible careers, and education levels for each major can help you decide which major is best for you.

What You Study in an Art History Program

In an art history program, students use art to understand past societies by studying paintings, sculptures, architecture, and even photography. By analyzing these works of art and studying the history of different periods and places around the world, students can determine how political, religious, economic, and cultural climates have affected art. Students also develop research and writing skills, as well as the ability to critically analyze visual information and write detailed essays about it.

As students progress through the program, they will develop research skills, such as using primary sources, as well as writing skills to present findings. Moreover, the ability to analyze and interpret images, both in terms of the work of art itself as well as within the larger historical and cultural context of the artist and his/her era, is critical to developing thoughtful written arguments about art.

You can work in many areas within a museum, or in other organizations, as a museum educator, collections assistant, archivist, art consultant, or as a gallery coordinator. Sometimes curatorial or academic work requires a Master’s degree or even a Ph.D.

What a Philanthropy-Focused Education Covers

Philanthropy is typically taught in nonprofit management, business, public administration, and social impact programs. Courses in these programs typically cover how organizations can secure funding to support programs, as well as how to manage and evaluate programs to ensure they have the desired impact. Philanthropy students can learn about many aspects of the philanthropic sector, including fundraising, grant writing, nonprofit financial management, and working with and managing donors.

Comparing Your Interests and Strengths

Your primary way of working can also indicate which field best suits you. For example, someone who loves close observation of objects, historical research, and works with ideas written about in articles, books, and conversations would likely be better suited to an Art History program. Art History work is often very detailed, and an object's meaning can change depending on the historical period in which it was created and the physical space it is displayed in.

Working within philanthropy could be a great fit for someone who enjoys connecting people, resources, and goals to help implement specific programs or work within organizations that strive to make a positive difference in the world. Such work requires strong communication skills, organizational ability, and the ability to work within teams.

Choosing the Right Level of Education

The bachelor’s degree can serve as the foundation for those seeking to enter either art history or philanthropy-focused careers. Art history undergraduate programs expose students to various time periods and geographical regions, helping them better understand the subject matter. Additionally, the research and analysis skills learned will help bolster future endeavors in the professional arena.

A master’s degree allows for greater specialization. Art history students may focus on a particular period, region or medium. Those pursuing philanthropy can study nonprofit leadership, fundraising strategy or program evaluation. Graduate education may also help professionals qualify for management positions that require deeper subject knowledge.

Doctoral study is most relevant to people pursuing university teaching, advanced scholarship or specialized curatorial work. A doctorate requires a substantial commitment to original research and may not be necessary for many museum, foundation or nonprofit careers. Students should review the qualifications requested for their preferred positions before selecting this route.

When Business Education Supports Either Career

Cultural and non-profit institutions function within the parameters of a financial mission. They require leaders with the skills to manage budgets and administer departments, as well as designers of funding strategies and decision makers able to make the best operational choices for the organization’s specific mission. Having business knowledge will provide the art historian or philanthropist with the skills necessary to secure leadership positions within museums, galleries, non-profit organizations, and foundations.

With many years of experience working in the arts, it can be highly beneficial to gain additional skills by earning an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in areas of finance, leadership, and organizational strategy to help strengthen your skills in your chosen field and/or enhance your career prospects for more senior roles in the museum, arts, or nonprofit sector.

People who earn an MBA can also help someone in the arts/administration or non-profit sector move into an executive or administrative role within a museum, arts organization, or non-profit foundation.

Deciding Between Online and In-Person Study

An online program is ideal for a student who has lots of commitments and needs the flexibility to complete his or her program around existing work, family, etc. Online programs record the lectures, so students can complete the class assignments online too. Online programs work well for business or nonprofit management programs.

Like any graduate program, art history programs are taught in various formats. Usually, graduate-level art history classes are taught in a classroom with a professor, in a lecture-style format. Students can usually form close relationships with other students in the program and even some professors. This face-to-face interaction is key to understanding how the art history department functions, and to having the opportunity to aid in teaching classes, getting research help, and looking at art in local museums.

Exploring Combined and Alternative Routes

Combining both subjects in a degree can be a good option. Some students choose to major in one subject and minor in the other, e.g., Art History with a minor in Business, Communications or Nonprofit Management. Others take a degree in Public Administration with modules in Museum Studies or Cultural Heritage.

Depending on your personal goals and interests, one can add a certificate, complete an internship, or do volunteer work to get more specialized knowledge on the cultural scene while supplementing one’s formal art history education. In such cases, one gets to gain practical experience in museums, galleries, museums’ membership offices, assisting with fundraising campaigns for non-profit organizations, or supporting an exhibition.

Evaluating Cost and Career Value

Lastly, weigh the cost and value of degree programs against your career goals. Compare total program cost and financial aid packages to degree program requirements for desired careers. Even very expensive programs may not offer enough value or practical experience if they provide limited career guidance.

In evaluating the potential cost of a program vs. value, focus on the actual curriculum (and how it prepares you for desired roles) and the extent to which you can gain experience in your desired career (through internships, research, etc.). Do not assume that a program’s title is indicative of a program’s value to your career goals.

Making Your Final Decision

Begin by identifying several potential jobs, and then research the requirements for each. Consider whether the degree you’re interested in could meet the requirements, and research the student and alumni experience at that school. Talk to current students and faculty, as well as professionals working in museums, galleries, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations, to gain more insight into what each career path entails.

Art history is probably best for someone who is very into culture and interested in interpretation and historical research. On the other hand, someone who is interested in organizational leadership, fundraising, and is mission-driven to help non-profits might be better suited for a degree in philanthropy. Many people, however, find they are best suited to a degree that combines both interests through an interdisciplinary program and includes hands-on experience in museums and nonprofits.