School of Art History

Study the art, archaeology, architecture, and ideas of ancient Greece, a culture that shaped the foundations of Western culture. You research, write, and present with a critical lens, examining how this civilization continues to influence values and the arts today.

You will learn to examine the art of the 17th century Dutch Republic and its surrounding regions. Artists covered include: Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Hals, Dou, and Leyster. Students will engage in critical analysis of artwork through application of primary source readings and seminal theories of Netherlandish scholarship in written work and presentations.

Immerse yourself in the art, philosophy, and film of international Dada and Surrealist artists—anti-establishment voices that disrupt, provoke, and reveal. Their work sits at the charged intersection of image-making and war, framed through the lenses of Modernism and Postmodernism. What emerges isn’t just protest. It’s a pivotal shift in the arc of modern art history.

All art history begins with theory. As an art historian, you’ll use it to challenge scholarship, push the conversation, and in that exchange, uncover your own voice and methodology. This is how you step into the next generation of thinkers, critics, and specialists shaping the field.

We’ll impart knowledge of the traditional methods of production and techniques used by the great artists of the past giving you insight into their intent and the true value of their work. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for their process, seeing how it directly relates to how we understand the work.