Art History

Minor: Art History

Studying art history makes so many experiences richer: travel is more interesting when you know something about the visual culture of the areas you visit; even watching movies and television becomes a more interesting experience when you are primed to pick up on the obvious and subtle references to art and history.

But even more importantly, our contemporary culture is overwhelmingly visual. Of course humans have always been a visual species, but we take in more visual information in a week now than earlier humans did in their entire lives. We are inundated with visual information. Being trained to parse images, separate the good from the bad, and recognize propaganda and emotional manipulation when we see it is absolutely vital. By studying the past, we can understand what is being done in the present to manipulate viewers—some of it positive, some negative. 

Being an Art and Design student, you’ll take a minimum of five Art History courses, establishing a thorough and expansive visual foundation for your major degree of study. You may even add a Minor in Art History to continue your learning experience. Beyond our five core courses, you may take additional special topics classes covering areas such as Women in Art, Art in the South, African-American Art, or even the History of Music Videos. 

Why Study Art History Here? 

While many Art and Design programs require only one or two courses in art history, we require five classes, each of which is designed to build on the others to provide a holistic view of global art history from earliest prehistory to contemporary movements.

Our program is special because of its dedication to providing a structured sequence of classes giving you a thorough foundation for upper level classes and establishing a shared visual vocabulary.

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Our program stands out for its low professor-to-student ratio, which allows us to know you personally, foster enduring relationships beyond graduation, and demonstrate genuine care for your individual growth and development.

Each art historian contributes a distinctive combination of experiences, career trajectories, and professional expertise while the diversity of perspectives from the different student majors (studio art, art education, graphic design, and interior design) means that class discussions and student observations are varied and interesting.

In an image-saturated world, having skills of historical awareness, analysis, and reflection will help you view the world with engagement and attention by learning to look carefully and with contextual understanding.

Art History Classes

As an Art+Design student, you’ll take the following courses, giving an expansive, historical foundation to your studies and experience. You may also choose to add a Minor in Art History too!

Beyond the Classroom