by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you enjoy using your hands to create unique works of art, the Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry major is for you.
Students working towards this degree learn different techniques that allow them to work with materials such as glass, pottery, wood, and textiles to create one of a kind crafts to be sold. You will take a variety of specialized classes in art history, ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpting, woodworking and more to improve your skills and learn the history and methods of varying types of handcrafts.
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry was the 341st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 119 degrees in this year alone. This 10 less than the prior year, a decrease of 8.4%.
This year's Best Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry Schools ranking compares 9 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of folk art programs later in this article.
Craft, Folk Art, and Artisanry professionals are often extremely creative and are able to constantly create new and unique pieces of art. A close attention to detail and passion for perfection helps professionals craft high quality products that are desired by collectors and art enthusiasts. Most students in this field have previous experience and skill in crafts, art, and artisanry.
Careers in Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry are both full and part time. Often artists have another job while working on their craft. However, some artists work full time for commercial art studios or woodworking companies. Those who are full time work typical work hours, while those who are part time or self-employed work irregular hours, sometimes in the evenings or on weekends.
Professionals in the Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry field typically only need a high school degree. However, some craft professionals decide to pursue additional classes to sharpen skills, while woodworkers are trained on the job. A bachelor's degree may allow students to find a full time job, but often previous experience is more helpful.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic crafts, folk art and artisanry program qualifications, to serve in some folk art careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of folk art degrees. You can get anything from a in crafts, folk art and artisanry to the highest folk art degree, a . The time it takes to complete a folk art degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to folk art, with approximately 27.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for folk art workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 35.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 17.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.8% |
| High School Diploma | 5.4% |
Most workers in folk art have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in crafts, folk art and artisanry have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which folk art career you choose.
Graduates who pursue careers as woodworkers often work for cabinetmakers or bench carpenters, while crafters and artisans work for glass and clay manufacturing companies, commercial art studios, or performing art studios. Other graduates are self-employed and create crafts that they sell at shows.
Want a job when you graduate with your folk art degree? Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry careers are expected to grow 10.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to crafts, folk art and artisanry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Artists | 13,500 | 5.5% |
| Craft Artists | 13,100 | 4.8% |
Recently graduated crafts, folk art and artisanry students earned an average of $24,452 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $19,401 to as high as $32,047. As you might expect, salaries for folk art graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for crafts, folk art and artisanry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers folk art grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Artists | $67,700 |
| Craft Artists | $40,490 |
With over 36 different folk art degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased folk art school rankings to help you with this.
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
Image Credit: By User:Gengiskanhg under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
