How good are the visual arts programs (painting, drawing, etc.) at top colleges, specifically Duke and Vanderbilt? I make and sell art and would like to learn more about the fine arts while I pursue my main focus, political science. Should I bother to minor in fine arts at any top universities or do some of them have good fine arts classes? I don’t want to waste my time if the professors aren’t skilled and can’t teach me anything. In that case, I’d much rather just take independent online painting courses and minor in something else that’d be more beneficial.
Thank you!
You might want to investigate affiliations between some “top” colleges and nearby art schools. Brown for example seems to have connections (including a joint degree program) with RISD. JHU students may be able to take courses at MICA. However good the visual arts programs may be at Duke or Vanderbilt, I doubt they are at a level with places like RISD or MICA.
No top college is going to have worse fine art classes than an online course 
But: you have the cart well and truly ahead of the horse. You are worrying about a minor (which is a minor worry at the best of times) before you are even admitted to a college.
IF doing some fine art classes at college is important to you (whether or not you do a formal minor in it) THEN when you are evaluating the fit of various colleges you look at their specific fine art programs. Be sure to read the fine print about pre-reqs- there is often a 101 course that you have to go through to get into the specific ones you want, and space preference for popular classes will typically go to majors first.
For most people a minor is something that they pick up along the way, usually b/c they realize that they have done most of the classes anyway and only need a class or two more to get the minor. Most people just take the classes that they want to - for fun, for gen eds, b/c the teacher is supposed to be amazing- without having to take the ‘required’ ones.
Fyi, employers seriously do not care about minors (& their interest in your major is a lot more limited than you might think).
The best way to judge a visual arts program is to see the art. Is there a website where students display their work? At best, a college can give you studio space, expose you to some criticism and then give you some credits toward graduation for something you would be doing anyway. If you have the academic chops for places like Duke and Vanderbilt, I wouldn’t go into it with the attitude that they are going to teach you how to paint. They are there to give you an education (and we can discuss what that means 'till the cows come home.)
"For most people a minor is something that they pick up along the way, usually b/c they realize that they have done most of the classes anyway and only need a class or two more to get the minor. "
In my experience, that is often not true. Many consider it ahead of time just like the OP here in this thread.
“They are there to give you an education”
Fine arts, including instruction in how to paint, is an education as well.
I’m not familiar with the art departments at Duke and Vanderbilt. Will you be visiting the schools? If so, that’s a good time to visit the art dept, check out the quality of work of both the professors and students, check out the studio space, ask questions re: ease of completing prerequisites.
I cant imagine the fine arts at Duke or Vandy would be subpar. These are major prestigious universities that can hire strong faculty in all fields. Look at the prof backgrounds and the work they do. Look at course choices.
But this isn’t about just “teaching” you something. The arts are about guidance in your own skills. Do you have a portfolio?
Also remember that you need to get the admit first. It’s odd you’re focused on their arts profs being “unskilled.” Kinda feels backwards.
Believe it or not, Vanderbilt won’t let you send an art portfolio. I’m not sure about Duke. We were bummed about that. It was the only school on S19’s list that didn’t allow an art supplement to be sent. We felt it was a fairly important part of S19’s story. I called admissions and they were pretty rude, saying that they will not take one and they don’t have time to look at them. It was a turn off for S19. He was waitlisted and I think he maybe would have gotten off the waitlist if he took the option but he did not. (We has eight kids from our high school get off Vandy waitlist.)
So, in Vanderbilt’s case, I would spend time finding out about their fine arts department. Not sure if the lack of interest in seeing portfolios is any hint as to how strong their department is.
Dont think so. It could be other reasons.
We have no idea how OP qualifies for those colleges or what her art is. “Making and selling” isn’t enough info.
I’m having the same thought. It’s interesting that she led with that statement, as if to say she is already an accomplished professional. At that point I’d be concerned about opportunity costs associated with being “away” at college. Does she have an agent? Is she looking for a second career? Why a liberal arts education and not a technical degree?
@circuitrider I think you are extrapolating way too much based on the little the OP said. Rather than subscribing something off to her/his comment, just take it at face value. OP has an ongoing interest in art and wants to pursue it as a minor. Nothing unusual in that.
IOW, she’ll figure it out.