Learn art online: courses, certificates, and degrees

How to choose the right online art program for you?

Consider these factors to ensure an online art program meets your needs:

• Your goals: Are you exploring art as a hobby, or do you want to build skills for a career? By reviewing the program's curriculum, you can ensure it aligns with your aspirations.
• Your skill level: Beginners may opt for introductory classes, while experienced learners may benefit from specialized courses, programs, or advanced degrees.
• Your preferences: Look for programs that match your schedule, preferred learning style, and budget.

edX delivers affordable, flexible online courses and programs that let you learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world.

Explore edX learning paths

edX offers a wide range of online art programs, including:

• Courses: edX offers online art courses designed to help you develop new creative skills or deepen your artistic knowledge. These flexible, self-paced courses typically last 2–6 weeks. While enrollment is free, you can upgrade to earn a verified certificate that highlights your achievement.

• Executive education programs: Executive education programs are 6–20 weeks learning experiences for business leaders and mid-level managers who seek to enhance their leadership skills and advance their careers by reskilling or upskilling.

  These cohort-based programs are an alternative to traditional graduate degrees. edX Executive Education programs focus on strategic learning with real-world case studies. They also offer networking opportunities with international peers.

• Degrees: For those pursuing careers that require a degree, an online bachelor of arts (BA) or an online master of arts (MA) may provide comprehensive training to build expertise and advance professionally.

  BA programs provide broad, foundational knowledge of the arts, while an MA offers more specialized subject-matter expertise in specialized areas or topics. Costs and completion times vary by school and program.

Discover jobs in the art industry

A common misconception is that lucrative career paths for art graduates are scarce. Learning art may prepare you for rewarding and profitable professions that blend art fundamentals, creative problem-solving, and in-demand skills.

Here are some examples of careers that require art education, with salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

Art directors

Art directors oversee projects' visual style and aesthetics for film sets, marketing campaigns, and publications. They collaborate with other design professionals and help bring an artistic vision to life.

• Required education: Bachelor's degree in art or design subjects
• Median annual salary (2024): $111,040

Graphic designers

Graphic designers use software to create visual elements, such as logos, illustrations, layouts, typefaces, and original imagery, for advertising, marketing, publishing, digital media, and exhibitions. As a graphic designer, you may specialize in branding, web design, product packaging, or interactive design.

• Required education: Bachelor's degree in graphic design or fine arts
• Median annual salary (2024): $61,300

Special effects artists and animators

Special effects artists and animators use computer software and coding to create 2D and 3D animated visuals for commercials, movies, music videos, video games, and television. Many specialize in computer-generated images (CGI), digital set extensions, or location decoration for movies, gaming, and advertising.

• Required education: Bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, fine arts, or a related field
• Median annual salary (2024): $99,800

Fashion designers

Fashion designers conceptualize new trends and create original clothing, footwear, and accessories for brands, manufacturers, or their own businesses. As a fashion designer, you may work in costume design for movies, television, and theater, computer-aided textile and apparel design, sustainable fashion, and fashion forecasting.

• Required education: Bachelor's degree in fine arts, fashion design, or fashion merchandising
• Median annual salary (2024): $80,690

Craft and fine artists

Craft and fine artists produce handmade artwork or objects for commission or exhibition, such as paintings, illustrations, jewelry, or home decor. In addition to artistic ability, these artists may be self-employed professionals who require entrepreneurial skills to manage their businesses in both online and brick-and-mortar marketplaces.

• Required education: A certificate in an art-related specialty or an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in fine arts
• Median annual salary (2024): $56,260

Learn art online with edX

Master foundational techniques, gain experience with digital design technologies, and understand the cultural history that shapes artistic expression with online art education. Sign up for an online art class on edX.