An Examination of the Role of Creative Arts in Student Success in Non-Arts Fields

This qualitative study examines how the creative process, learned through
inclusion of college visual and performing arts courses, can have an impact on student
success. Through narrative portraits of graduates from a midwestern community college,
this research examines the relationship of their perceptions of the impact of prior college
arts experience on the development of their STEM or other non-arts career success.
With workforce development and transfer preparation as two of the major
missions of community colleges, pressures have mounted to develop ways to improve
student success, increase graduation and transfer rates, and to prepare a more
competitive workforce. Innovation and creativity are two terms described as important to
future economic development by political, business, and educational leaders across the
nation (Maeda, 2012; Pink, 2006; Robinson, 2005). Since the Great Recession, quickly
shifting economies have reinforced the need for a post-secondary education that
prepares workers who can move between industries in a more adaptable and creative
ways. This research explores whether more experiential practice-based training in the
arts can address this need (Carnevale, Smith, & Strohl, June 2010).
The resulting narratives revealed student perceptions of their college arts
experiences played in later educational and professional success. The results were
coded and analyzed revealing three majors themes: structure, emotion, and transition.
Findings suggest that experiential arts courses can strengthen skills in patience,
persistence, improved communication, collaboration, and understanding complex
systems.

Recommendations include potential curricular changes to general education.
Due to the small sample size, further research is recommended and should include a
larger sample size, and quantitative data as permitted. Implications from this research
suggest potential changes to general education requirements in order to take advantage
of the benefits that experiential visual and performing arts courses offer in terms of
student persistence, adaptability, and professional success.
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