Definition of the Field:

Art History students explore the history of the visual arts and the theoretical and critical literature associated with the cultures producing a given art style. The discipline of art history requires the development of critical writing skills and a background in history, philosophy, religious studies, literature, anthropology and foreign languages.

Career Opportunities:

Graduates in art history at the bachelor's degree level are employed in commercial art galleries, entry-level jobs with art publications and museums. A graduate degree is essential for professional jobs such as teaching and entry into museums, auction houses and publishing companies. A Ph.D. is a necessity for employment at a university or college and responsible administrative posts in the museum and publishing world.

The Program:

Courses are offered in areas ranging from ancient art to modern art in various cultures, and from the introductory through graduate levels. In these courses, students not only study the art, artists and stylistic aspects of these periods, but also explore the historical and social issues that influence art production and its presentation.

Exposure to artists in other periods can help students to clarify their sense of what it means to be an artist today; exposure to art of the past nourishes the daily work done in the studio. Artists must be able to talk and write about their own work, and to think about other artists' work in relation to their own. Many students find a great overlap between conceptualization and critical thinking about the art of their own time, and the critical choices involved in their own art-making.