Art History

The Art History major offers students an in-depth, critical study of visual and material culture from the ancient to the modern period. You will learn how to interpret works of art, read major theoretical texts and explore the relationships between visual culture and society. Analyzing the power of images throughout history and the context of their production and mode of circulation is essential to understanding both the past and the present. Visual literacy – achieved through the study of a wide range of artistic practices, such as painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, film, architecture and performance art – can also help you approach broader, interdisciplinary questions relating to race, class, power, gender and sexuality. Outside of the classroom, you will benefit from unparalleled opportunities to study art history in Paris’s museums and monuments, as well as through study trips led by professors both within France and beyond. Frequent destinations include Venice, Rome and London.

The educational goals for this major are as follows:

• You will have in-depth knowledge of artistic periods.
• You will have the ability to critique and analyze works of art in fluid English prose.
• You will be able to situate works of art in historical and cultural contexts.
• You will have the ability to identify artists, styles, time-periods of works.
• You will be able to communicate orally and in writing about a variety of styles and genres.

The Department of Art History and Fine Arts is a close-knit community of students and professors, and our small class sizes mean that you will be invited to engage in intellectual debate. Located in the newly renovated Monttessuy Center for the Arts, the department offers specialized classrooms for both studio art and art history as well as access to the Olivia de Havilland Theater, where concerts, talks and other events take place. During your time at AUP, you will likewise benefit from local resources and hands-on opportunities, including a student-run publication and a diverse array of internships.

The art history major provides excellent preparation for students considering careers in education, museum management and curation, cultural institutions, or the art market. Courses in art history also give you the skills needed to succeed in any career that requires critical thinking, reasoning through visual and textual sources, or clear written and oral communication. You can enrich your AUP liberal arts education by combining an art history major with other, closely connected disciplines, such as fine arts; philosophy; communication, media and culture; film studies; history; comparative literature; or fashion studies.

With every single one of our majors, you’ll find a carefully curated medley of core courses and electives, which will provide you with the tools you need to establish an unshakeable foundation in the principles and concepts fundamental to your growth within your disciplines of choice. Many majors also enable you to specialize further within the broader area of study.

Browse all Majors and requirements

The Art History core courses, which you must take as part of the major requirements, will provide you with the tools you’ll need to ground your present and future studies. Your introduction to the fundamentals of Art History will help pave the way for your successful completion of other Art History courses.

OPTION I

OPTION II