Art History
Studying visual art in its historical and cultural context.
Art history studies visual art, painting, sculpture, architecture, and more, in its historical, cultural, and theoretical context, analyzing how meaning is created through form, style, and circumstance. It's a research- and writing-intensive humanities field, not a studio practice degree.
Coursework typically surveys broad periods before narrowing into specialized seminars on a movement, artist, or region, with an emphasis on visual analysis (close reading of images, much like literary close reading) and research using primary and archival sources.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Survey of Western Art
- ✓Non-Western Art History
- ✓Art Historical Methods & Theory
- ✓Renaissance or Modern Art Seminar
- ✓Museum Studies (often available)
- ✓Architecture History
- ✓Research Seminar
- ✓Senior Thesis
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Survey of Western Art
- +General education requirement
- ✓Non-Western Art History
- +General education requirement
- ✓Art Historical Methods & Theory
- +General education requirement
- ✓Renaissance or Modern Art Seminar
- +Free elective
- ✓Museum Studies (often available)
- +Free elective
- ✓Architecture History
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Research Seminar
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Thesis
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Loves visual art and wants to study it critically, not just make it
- ★Enjoys research and historical context
- ★Comfortable with heavy reading and writing
- ★Considering museum work, curation, or further academic study
Common minors & double-major pairings
History · Anthropology · Fine Arts
Frequently asked questions
What is a Art History major?
Studying visual art in its historical and cultural context.
What courses do Art History majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Survey of Western Art, Non-Western Art History, Art Historical Methods & Theory, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Art History program?
Art History coursework typically builds skills like Visual analysis and interpretation, Historical and cultural contextualization, Research using archival and primary sources, Analytical and persuasive writing.
Is Art History a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Loves visual art and wants to study it critically, not just make it" or "Enjoys research and historical context" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What other majors pair well with Art History?
Common minor or double-major pairings include History, Anthropology, Fine Arts.
How is Art History different from Fine Arts / Studio Art?
They're related but distinct. Art History: Studying visual art in its historical and cultural context. Fine Arts / Studio Art: Developing an original artistic practice across media. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Art History degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/art-history