Art History

What it’s about:

Art history majors study how works of art were created, how they were interpreted by their first audiences, and what they mean to us now. Through visual analysis and extensive reading and writing, majors achieve an understanding of the context of majors achieve an understanding of the context of art-time, place, culture, influences, and traditions-and develop the ability to describe art and its meaning to others.

What the study of this major is like:

This major teaches you to differentiate among art-works by their style, materials, workmanship, and other characteristics. You can then identify (and seek to understand) the artists, cultures, and/or periods that produced the works. In addition, you consider how individual works of art and groups of works may express or symbolize ideas or emotions. Like archaeologists and anthropologists examining artifacts, you explore what a work of art reveals about a society’s culture, rituals, and other aspects of civilization. Often your discover that the art’s original value and meaning resulted from its connection to specific religious, political, or social practice.

In your first and second years, you generally take introductory art history courses, along with liberal arts courses in science, English, math, and history. Because art varies widely among societies (both past and present), art is often studied in association with a particular time and place (for example, Renaissance art, East African art). Thus the study of art generally includes some account of the religious, political, economic, literary, and intellectual history of the culture in which a work was created. You will read about art patrons, critics, and viewers, as well as artists. Frequent field trips to local museums augment classroom slide presentations.

After the introductory courses, you take smaller lecture courses that explore art in more detail. Seminars help you develop and refine advanced skills in research and presentation. In your fourth year, you usually have the option of writing a thesis under the direction of a faculty member. Many art history majors also take courses in area related to their particular interests, such as history, anthropology, or literature. In addition, many study two or more years of a foreign language as a way of understanding other cultures.

Art history majors usually enjoy the benefits of working in a relatively small department where your needs can be dealt with individually. Study-abroad programs are common, and you should have opportunities to participate in internships at museums, galleries, and historic sites. Keep in mind, however, that while internships in museums are attractive, many involve work in education departments that may be isolated from the museum’s curatorial activity. Smaller museums often offer more interesting opportunities. Commercial galleries may hire some summer staff, although summer is generally their slow period.

Career options and trends:

Teacher (college or high school); museum curator*; museum management/staff (education, installation, registrar, etc.)*; commercial gallery operator/assistant*; art editor; art appraiser.

Art history majors graduate with a liberal arts degree that has trained them in observation, analysis, and communication. This preparation may qualify you for many jobs in business and government. A master’s degree is generally required for employment in museums, archives, auction houses, and galleries, and for teaching in high school; a Ph.D. is essential for positions as museum curators and directors, and as instructors at the college level. Art conservation usually requires specialized training and knowledge of chemistry.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors