Arts, Media, Performance

Indirect Paths to Arts, Media, and Performance Careers

Explore alternative majors that can connect you to this field. If you’re looking for something different, visit Career Paths for more possibilities.

Key

M = Minor available, which is an optional specialization alongside your major
✦ = Accelerated program available
* = A career path that often requires extra schooling or certification beyond a Bachelor's degree (e.g., law, medicine, education)

• African American Studies (M)

  African American Studies (M)

  African American Studies explores storytelling and culture through African American perspectives.

  Career Paths: Civil rights advocate, community organizer, cultural affairs manager, government researcher, intelligence analyst*, journalist, librarian, museum curator, NGO researcher, refugee services worker, think tank researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Asian American Studies (M)

  Asian American Studies (M)

  Asian American Studies focuses on storytelling and the human experience through Asian American perspectives.

  Career Paths: Civil rights advocate, community organizer, cultural affairs manager, government researcher, intelligence analyst*, journalist, librarian, museum curator, NGO researcher, refugee services worker, think tank researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Asian Studies

  Asian Studies

  Asian Studies supports arts, media, and performance careers through global insight and cultural context.

  Career Paths: Content creator, cultural consultant, cultural programmer, film professional, international cultural exchange specialist*, journalist, museum educator*, screenwriter

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Black Study

  Black Study

  Black Study engages Black thought, creativity, and lived experience to examine culture, resistance, and representation.

  Career Paths: Civil rights advocate, community organizer, cultural affairs manager, government researcher, intelligence analyst*, journalist, librarian, museum curator, NGO researcher, refugee services worker, think tank researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Chicano Studies (M)

  Chicano Studies (M)

  Chicano Studies applies cultural knowledge, advocacy, and creative expression across arts and media.

  Career Paths: Civil rights advocate, community organizer, cultural affairs manager, government researcher, intelligence analyst*, journalist, librarian, museum curator, NGO researcher, refugee services worker, think tank researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Education, Society, and Human Development (✦)

  Education, Society, and Human Development (✦)

  Education, Society, and Human Development builds transferable skills in communication, design, and leadership.

  Options: Choose the 4-year Bachelor's degree or the 4-year accelerated program to earn both a Bachelor's degree and a Teaching Credential (the state-issued license required to teach in public schools). Once admitted, customize your major with one of two concentrations:

  • Education for Social Justice Concentration
  • Learning and Behavioral Studies Concentration

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, casting director, film producer, media literacy specialist, museum educator, performing arts educator, school administrator*, speech-language pathologist*, teacher/professor*, theatre director, therapist*

  See success resources in the School of Education.

• English (M)

  English (M)

  English prepares for careers in media, education, business, and law.

  Career Paths: Communications manager, content creator, editor, journalist, lawyer*, literary agent, proposal writer, public relations specialist, teacher/professor*, technical writer

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Ethnic Studies

  Ethnic Studies

  Ethnic Studies focuses on storytelling, preserving culture, analyzing ideas, and helping people understand the human experience.

  Choose from: African American Studies (M), Asian American Studies (M), Chicano Studies (M), Ethnic Studies (M), Native American Studies (M)

  Career Paths: Cultural affairs manager, journalist, librarian, museum curator

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Gender and Sexuality Studies (M)

  Gender and Sexuality Studies (M)

  Gender and Sexuality Studies explores identity, power, and representation to inform inclusive and socially engaged creative work.

  Career Paths: Arts and culture writer, community arts organizer, cultural critic, curator*, documentary filmmaker, media researcher, nonprofit arts manager, playwright, public programs coordinator, social impact producer*

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Global Studies (M)

  Global Studies (M)

  Global Studies enriches creative careers with international and cultural understanding.

  Career Paths: Cultural affairs officer*, documentary filmmaker, festival coordinator, international arts administrator*, media correspondent, nonprofit communications manager, public diplomacy specialist*, translator*, visual storyteller

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• History (M)

  History (M)

  History provides historical context to enrich storytelling and cultural interpretation in creative fields.

  Career Paths: Archivist*, cultural heritage manager*, curator*, documentary producer, historical consultant, museum educator*, public historian*, scriptwriter

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• History/Administrative Studies

  History/Administrative Studies

  History/Administrative Studies adds historical insight and research depth to storytelling and cultural work.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, cultural heritage manager*, curator*, event manager, journalist, museum educator*, nonprofit manager, public historian*, researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Languages and Literatures

  Languages and Literatures

  Languages and Literatures is ideal for cross-cultural communication and storytelling in creative and performance careers.

  Choose from: Chinese (M), Classical Studies (M), Comparative Ancient Civilizations, Comparative Literature, French (M), Germanic Studies (M), Japanese (M), Languages, Russian Studies (M)

  Career Paths: Arts and culture critic, author, curator*, editor, literary agent, literary translator*, publishing professional, screenwriter, subtitler, voiceover artist

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Latin American Studies

  Latin American Studies

  Latin American Studies is valuable for creative work rooted in Latin American culture.

  Career Paths: Arts and culture journalist, community arts organizer, curator*, documentary filmmaker, festival organizer, media content developer, nonprofit communications manager, public historian*, translator, writer/editor

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Liberal Studies

  Liberal Studies

  Liberal Studies is well suited for careers supporting diverse careers across arts, media, and performance.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, community arts educator, content creator, media producer, museum educator*, nonprofit program manager, public programs coordinator, scriptwriter, social media manager

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Linguistics (M)

  Linguistics (M)

  Linguistics supports storytelling and media through language and communication.

  Career Paths: Computational linguist*, dialogue editor, language consultant, lexicographer, linguistic researcher*, localization specialist, screenwriter, speechwriter, teacher/professor*, translator, voice and speech coach

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Middle East and Islamic Studies (M)

  Middle East and Islamic Studies (M)

  Middle East and Islamic Studies is for creative careers grounded in Middle Eastern and Islamic perspectives.

  Career Paths: Arts and culture writer, cultural program coordinator, curator*, documentary filmmaker, foreign correspondent, media content researcher, nonprofit communications manager, public diplomacy specialist*, teacher/professor*

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Native American Studies (M)

  Native American Studies (M)

  Native American Studies explores storytelling and culture through Indigenous perspectives.

  Career Paths: Civil rights advocate, community organizer, cultural affairs manager, government researcher, intelligence analyst*, journalist, librarian, museum curator, NGO researcher, refugee services worker, think tank researcher

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Philosophy (M)

  Philosophy (M)

  Philosophy brings philosophical and ethical insight to creative careers.

  Career Paths: Arts critic, culture critic, curator*, documentary filmmaker, ethics consultant*, film/TV story consultant, journalist, media analyst, museum educator*, playwright, public programs coordinator

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Psychology (M)

  Psychology (M)

  Psychology can lead to creative careers grounded in human behavior and emotion.

  Career Paths: Art therapist*, consumer behavior analyst*, creative director, drama therapist*, games narrative designer, mental health consultant for media*, public programs coordinator, story consultant, UX designer

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Public Policy (✦)

  Public Policy (✦)

  Public Policy is for careers focused on public engagement and cultural impact.

  Option: Choose the 4-year Bachelor's degree or get your Bachelor's and Master's degrees through a 5-year plan of study.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, cultural policy analyst*, documentary producer, entertainment policy advisor*, film commission manager, media relations officer, museum policy advisor*, performing arts advocate, public affairs producer, public information officer, theatre program manager

  View success resources in the School of Policy.

• Religious Studies

  Religious Studies

  Religious Studies prepares for careers in education, social services, counseling, and cultural organizations.

  Career Paths: Arts and culture critic, cultural program coordinator, curator*, documentary filmmaker, ethics consultant*, museum educator*, public historian*, religion correspondent, scriptwriter, spiritual advisor, writer

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Religious Studies/Administrative Studies

  Religious Studies/Administrative Studies

  Religious Studies/Administrative Studies combines religious insight with leadership in arts and media.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, community program director, cultural program coordinator, curator*, event manager, museum educator*, nonprofit manager, public programs manager, script consultant, spiritual advisor

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Sociology (M)

  Sociology (M)

  Sociology prepares for creative careers using social insight.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, community arts organizer, documentary filmmaker, media analyst, nonprofit program manager, screenwriter, social impact producer, sociocultural researcher*, writer/editor

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Sociology/Administrative Studies 

  Sociology/Administrative Studies 

  Sociology/Administrative Studies brings social insight to creative work.

  Career Paths: Arts administrator, cultural critic, journalist, media analyst, public programs coordinator, story consultant

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Spanish (M)

  Spanish (M)

  Spanish provides cultural insight that informs and inspires creative work.

  Career Paths: Arts and culture writer, author, cultural program coordinator, dubbing script adapter, interpreter, literary translator, media correspondent, publishing professional, screenwriter, voiceover artist

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

• Sustainability Studies

  Sustainability Studies

  Sustainability Studies combines sustainability insight with creative expression.

  Career Paths: Eco-exhibition designer, environmental advocacy coordinator, media campaign strategist, multimedia storyteller, public art project coordinator, social enterprise manager, sustainable fashion consultant

  Discover all majors in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.