Major Discovery Series Crafts Bachelor of Fine Arts: Crafts With Specialization in: Fiber, Ceramics, Metal, or Wood The Crafts major focuses on the aesthetics, techniques, and creative processes for designing and fashioning objects from fiber, ceramics, metal, wood and prepares individuals to create in any of these media. Craft majors find career opportunities in craft production and related industries such as textiles and furniture making, as well as in museums and art centers. Employers recommend one or more internships to be successful and competitive when entering this field. Many crafts graduates also open their own studios. As a crafts major you will study weaving, wood, jewelry and metal craft, and crafts design. Liberal arts courses in subjects such as oral communication, literature, music, psychology, the natural sciences and mathematics will broaden your horizons and enrich your educational experience. Career themes associated with Crafts Common interests of Crafts majors Realistic, Enterprising, Social and Conventional Working part-time or volunteering in an art studio Related skills, values, and qualities Learning handcraft and folk art traditions Attending art fairs and other visual art events Developing skills in weaving, sculpture, macramé, or museum Strong sense of craftsmanship and manual dexterity Ability to communicate ideas, thoughts, and feelings with a variety of materials and media Heightened sense of beauty, rhythm, and style Ability to think creatively Familiarity with traditional art approaches as well as other new and digital media Intuition and innovation in understanding and extracting ideas to generate visual concepts Organization and attention to detail High degree of commitment to field of study. Strong interpersonal and networking skills furniture restoration, or jewelry making Sewing, knitting, and/or crocheting Collecting antiques, art, jewelry, and/or crafts For more information about the major Contact the Crafts Department, 402 Sharadin, 610-683-4520, or visit http://www.kutztown.edu/Crafts Courses Crafts majors typically enjoy KU Majors related to Crafts Art Education, Comm. Design, Studio Art, Electronic Media Art Art History Drawing Sculpting Photography Printmaking Technical/Industrial Arts Realistic students may also be interested in: Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Electronic Media, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Leisure & Sport Studies, Logistics/Supply Chain Mgt. (cert), Management, Marine Science, Mathematics, Physics For More Information on Crafts Careers or to speak to a Career Counselor, contact KU Career Development Center • 113 Stratton Administration Center • 610-683-4067 • careerhelp@kutztown.edu • www.kutztown.edu/careercenter Attend your senior kick-off and other info sessions to prepare for job search/grad school. Enroll in the Career Success Update your resume and Certificate. LinkedIn profile. Complete an internship and/or Meet with CDC career Create cover letter drafts. undergraduate research. coach. Enroll in the Career Gain experience through Attend info sessions about Attend info sessions to learn Exploration Certificate. internships and/or internships, interviewing, job about resume writing, and Attend info sessions to learn undergraduate research. search strategies, and grad externships. about career development Secure references for job/grad school. Confirm your choice of major and personal branding. school applications. Build a LinkedIn profile and and consider options for Take a career assessment to continue to monitor your online Create your “30 second” double major or minor. identify and confirm interests. commercial. presence. Research careers of interest. Get involved in campus clubs Meet with CDC to develop Complete a mock interview. Complete a job shadowing and organizations. job search strategies. Build skills through research (externship) experience. Develop basic workplace skills Research employers. projects, part-time employment, through jobs or volunteer work. Seek meaningful employand volunteer work. Network with professionals ment or volunteer work in a Talk with professors, family, through events and social Participate in Coffee and field related to your major. and friends about career media. Convos & networking programs. Explore options for underideas. Join a professional organization Attend internship & job fairs. graduate research and Conduct informational in your discipline. Take on a leadership role in a study abroad. interviews with professionals Attend the senior etiquette student organization or work. Write a resume and have it working in fields of interest. dinner. Consider graduate school reviewed by the CDC. Develop a relationship with Participate in job fairs and options and prepare for Manage your online your professors and faculty on-campus interviewing. admissions tests. presence. advisor. Sample Career Titles Crafts majors can be found working in a wide variety of career fields. Here are just some career titles that may be of interest. Please note that some jobs may require further education and training. Advertising Artist Advertising Designer Art Administrator Art Consultant Art Critic Art Dealer Art Director Art Exhibition Coordinator Art Historian Art Teacher Art Therapist Artist’s Agent Calligrapher CD/Record Cover Designer Ceramic Artist Color Expert Copyist Costume and Mask Designer Craft Productionist Designer Display Artist Display Designer Drafter Fashion Artist/Designer Floral Designer Freelance Letter/Designer Furniture Designer Gallery Owner Gemologist Glass Blower Graphic Arts Technician Graphist Impressionist Interior Decorator Jewelry Designer Kitchenware Designer Landscape Architect Metal Craft Designer Motion Picture Artist Motion Picture Scenic Designer Municipal Graphic Designer Museum Artist Newspaper Layout Artist Photographer Photojournalist Printing Designer Product Designer/Illustrator Sculpturist Silkscreen Artist Stained Glass Artist Stencil Cutter Still Photographer Textile making Weaver Woodworker To learn more about these careers, visit http://online.onetcenter.org or www.bls.gov/oco. Common Internship sites and Employers Crafts majors often find internships and employment in the following fields/industries. Photo Studios Art Studios Galleries Mural Projects Publishing Firms Motion Picture Studios Manufacturers Schools/Camps Museums Interior Design Firms Printmaking Workshops Community Arts Organizations Fabricators Magazines/Newspapers Furniture Development KU Career Network is the primary online resource for preparing and connecting students and alumni with employers. www.kutztown.edu/KUCN Useful Websites for Crafts Majors Whether you are researching related career fields, applying for internships or jobs, or planning to join a professional association, these websites are for you! Industry/Employment Information Job/Internship Search Boards Professional Associations O*NET OnLine http://online.onetcenter.org The College Central Network www.collegecentral.com/kutztown College Art Association www.collegeart.org Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco Museum Jobs www.museumjobs.com American Association of Museums www.aam-us.org National Endowment for the Arts www.nea.gov Museum Job Resource Online www.algonquincollege.com/ museum/jobres Southern Graphics Council http://sgcinternational.org NY Foundation for the Arts www.nyfa.org ResArtis www.resartis.org Art Deadline http://artdeadline.com Professional Artist Magazine www.artcalendar.org Playbill On Line www.playbill.com Greater Phila Cultural Alliance www.philaculture.org/jobbank Interior Design Jobs www.interiordesignjobs.com Internships Www.Internships.com Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen www.pacrafts.com/ The American Art Therapy Association www.arttherapy.org Assoc. for the Advancement of Art www.aaae.org Nat’l Assoc. of Independent Artists http://naia-artists.org/ Building Your Resume for a Career in Crafts Building a strong resume for your career field starts long before you ever start your job search. Employers want to hire graduates who not only have the necessary educational background but also have experience applying that knowledge to real life situations. Take note of the skills and knowledge obtained through your educational background and hands-on experiences. Highlight transferable skills such as language fluency and technological proficiencies. Learn more about your field and develop the necessary skills for employment by gaining hands-on experience through externships, internships, part-time jobs and related volunteer positions. Develop professionally through campus involvement and professional memberships. This illustrates responsibility, leadership abilities and time management skills.