CREATING YOUR FUTURE

CREATING YOUR FUTURE What can I do with my degree?

should have. To assist you with the

Get Started Right Away

In an era characterized by financial

basics, we have required core studios

Use your first semesters at Stamps

pressures and rapid technological

(courses like drawing, 2-D, 3-D and

to explore. You may think you want

change this is an important question.

4-D media, etc). Then to help you

to go into advertising, only to find

Stamps’ curriculum, and our faculty

explore and develop your individual

that you love fibers. You may imagine

and staff can help you define and

skills and talents, you will choose

yourself working as a solo artist, only

reach your goals. But it’s important

from a variety of studios at more

to find that you like working as part

to keep in mind that it’s your degree.

advanced levels.

of a team. So explore various media

And, ultimately, the answer depends

and look for opportunities outside

on the role you play in designing and

Learn from Real-world Experiences

of your classes. These opportunities

directing your education.

Part time jobs, internships, freelance

may come in the form of freelance

work and other experiential learning,

work, calls for art/design, part time

Here are some things you can do to identify your passion, improve your opportunities and maximize your skills:

including study abroad, will help

jobs, internships etc. The Career

you develop your resume, portfolio

Development Coordinator posts new

and career network. No one school

opportunities on a regular basis at

or major can teach you everything

http://stamps.umich.edu/career

you need to know to prepare for your first job out of college, let alone

Do Your Research: Once you have

what you do for the rest of your life.

identified interesting career fields,

Learn the Basics.

But the Stamps’ approach reinforces

do some research. Read about the

Explore Your Talents and Interests.

your ability to make choices and

field and conduct informational

Stamps’ unique curriculum can help.

learn from those choices while

interviews. An informational

We recognize that during your years

encouraging you to figure out how

interview is just what it sounds

here you will have multiple interests

to get what you want. These are

like: interviewing someone for

and will want to develop multiple

skills you will use forever.

information. Ask whatever you like!

talents. We also recognize that there are some skills every creative person

Sample questions might be:

look for when hiring?” The answer

   Stamps’ programs allow you to

How long have you been doing this?

was a strong portfolio, internship

individually craft a direction, but the

What made you interested in doing this?

or other experiential learning, and a

responsibility is yours. Work with

course in marketing.

your Academic Advisor when it

   Work with advisors to find

comes time to register to make sure

the courses that fit your path. Or,

that you are both taking courses

look to classes at the Center for

you need, and courses that interest

Entrepreneurship: cfe.umich.edu

you and augment your creative

or the Multidiscipline Design Minor

development.

What is your background? What do you know now that you wish you had known before you started? What do you look for when you hire someone? What is the best advice you can give someone like me? Do you take on interns? Get Some Experience in the Field It could be a part time job, freelance work or an internship. An internship not only gives you real world experience in your fields of interest, but also allows you to try something on for size. Before interning, you may wish to shadow someone for a day and get a feel for the work, the environment, the people, etc.    Stamps has a handout out on internships, and internship opportunities are posted to the Stamps web site and the Career Center Connector. http://careercenter.umich.edu/ article/career-center-connector Make The Most of Your Academic Courses Learning can be a means…and an end. Stamps requires certain academic credits that, on the surface, may not seem related to your career choice. However, a liberal arts education helps you learn to learn — a skill that you will use the rest of your life. Some academic courses may be directly related to your career path. For example:    In a recent presentation by five top advertising companies who were asked the question, “What do you

www.engin.umich.edu/minors/ multidisciplinarydesign, or any other

Join Student Organizations

minor at the University of Michigan

Art & Design Collective (ADC) is the

that fits your individual goals.

umbrella organization for students

   If you plan to be a freelance artist or

at Stamps. Want to help shape the

designer, certain courses can help you

future of the school? Join ADC!

learn to market yourself, your talent,

Get to know your fellow students.

and your work. Other useful courses

Plan events. ADC is the voice of the

include Social Psychology (PSYCH

students at Stamps. Find out more by

280), Visual and Material Culture

emailing [email protected]

(AMCULT 231) and several courses

   American Institute of Graphic

offered through the PAT program: 

Artists (AIGA) has a student chapter

http://www.music.umich.edu/

at Stamps. If you are interested in

departments/pat/index.php

graphic, media, web design, etc. then

   Remember, courses may have

this is the organization for you. Find

pre-requisites so meet with your

out more about AIGA on line at 

academic advisor to plan accordingly.

www.aiga.org

Interested in art therapy? 

   Industrial Designers Society of

   Plan to take as many psychology

America (IDSA) has a student chapter

courses as you can since most

at Stamps. If you are interested in

masters programs require upwards of

product, manufacturing, shoe design,

15 credits in psychology.

etc. then this is the organization for

How about work in film, video,

you. Find out more about IDSA online

animation?

at www.idsa.org

   In addition to your studio courses,

   American Advertising Federation

take a look at what Screen Arts and

(AAF) has a student chapter at U

Culture (SAC) is offering.

of M. The organization is made up

Work in museums? 

of students from across campus

   Check out History of Art and

including A&D, LSA and the Business

Museum Studies since these courses

School. In 2007 the U of M team

will come in handy.

came in second in the national

   These are just a few examples of

competition for Coca Cola and we

how non-studio and studio courses

have NO ADVERTISING MAJOR.

come together to prepare you for

   There are many other student

your first career after graduation

organizations on campus that may

(and beyond).

be useful in exploring your career

interests. For a list of student

Interested in film and video? 

are required to study abroad and

organizations, please visit the

The Screen Arts and Culture

employers report that they look very

Maize Pages:

Department of LSA offers many

favorably on candidates with such

http://studentorgs.umich.edu/maize

courses that may count as elective

experience. Again, meet with John

By being part of a student group you

studios. Again, meet with your

Luther to check on transferability.

can further your career development

advisor to find out more.

   Your degree is designed by you

as well as your resume, your portfolio

   You are allowed to transfer two

for your future so take advantage

and your career network.

studio courses at a more advanced

of the resources available not just

level from another school in the

in Stamps but across the University

Take Studio Courses

United States. Many students

and the world!

Outside of Stamps

augment their Stamps studio work

Interested in theater? 

over the summer by taking elective

For more information about

The School of Music, Theater, and

studios in NYC, Chicago, etc. Check

career development, or to

Dance offers courses in scenic design,

with John Luther for transferability of

discuss other issues related to

lighting design, costume design,

such studios.

career development, schedule an

etc. With permission, these courses

   When you take studios as part

appointment with John Luther,

can count as elective studios in the

of an International Study program,

Career Development Coordinator, via

Stamps curriculum. Meet with your

these studios will most likely transfer

http://www.stamps.genbook.com

Academic Advisor to find out more.

to Stamps. All Stamps students