John Constable, Wivenhoe Park, Essex (1816). Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Art History Program

The Art History Program provides students with the opportunity to engage in the academic study of works of art, architecture, film, and new media. Courses span the history of art from the ancient to the contemporary world, across Europe, North America, and Asia, and employ traditional means of interpretation as well as newer approaches in visual culture and theory.

Students will learn to analyze visual objects, considering their form, materials and techniques, meaning, and historical and political context.  Course requirements ensure that students gain a broad background in three historical periods: ancient and medieval art, renaissance and baroque art, and modern and contemporary art. Students will also take more specialized courses focused on a single theme such as Contemporary South Asian Art, Pilgrimage, or the History of Photography. Some upper-level courses focus on student research projects, while others emphasize reading and class discussion.

• Degree options: specialist, major, minor
• Degree requirements: visit the UTM Course Calendar.
• What courses will I take?: Art History students take courses with the prefixes VST, FAH, and VCC. A full listing of these courses can be found by visiting the All DVS Courses page of this website.  
   

Possibilities with an Art History Degree

Specialization in this program may lead to curatorial work in galleries, museums, or corporations; administrative work in the cultural sector or government; careers in library, archive, or collections management; journalism and art criticism; or simply to deeper engagement with, and enjoyment of, art. 

William Henry Fox Talbot, Orleans Cathedral (1843). Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.