- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Bowling Green Today
By the People, for the People
Arts Students Challenged by Negative Perceptions
Combating stereotypes about the value of creative degrees
Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:25pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A vibrant artistic celebration that challenges the notion of the 'starving artist' and uplifts the value of creative pursuits.Bowling Green TodayThis article explores the negative perceptions that arts students often face, such as being told their degrees are 'easy' or 'pointless' compared to STEM fields. The author discusses how the education system can frame STEM programs as more important, leading to arts students being seen as less intelligent. The article argues that both the arts and sciences require different skills and have their own unique rewards, and calls for a less critical and more curious approach when asking arts students about their future plans.
Why it matters
Challenging the stigma around arts degrees is important for supporting creative students and recognizing the value that the arts bring to society. Negative stereotypes can discourage students from pursuing their passions and undermine the contributions of those in creative fields.
The details
The article is written by a student writer for Her Campus at Bowling Green and explores the common question arts students face: 'What are you gonna do with that?' The author explains that this question is often asked in a judgmental way, implying that arts degrees are inferior to STEM fields. The piece discusses how the education system can frame STEM programs as more important, leading to arts students being seen as less intelligent. It also examines the perception of the 'starving artist' and how both the arts and sciences require different skills and have their own unique rewards.
- The article was published on March 30, 2026.
The players
Aly Julian
The author of the article, a student writer for the Her Campus chapter at Bowling Green.
Her Campus
The online magazine for which the article was published, written by and for college students.
The takeaway
This article highlights the need to challenge the negative perceptions and stigma surrounding arts degrees, and to recognize the equal value and unique contributions of both the arts and sciences. By fostering a more curious and less critical approach, we can better support creative students and celebrate the diverse talents and skills that different fields of study offer.
