Info:
Art history provides the opportunity to explore visual culture, as well as the social, aesthetic, and personal values that shape it.
Students are introduced to the study of art history and archaeology through general introductory courses that focus on European, Asian, American, Classical and Oceanic art; and world archaeology. In more advanced courses, students explore art from a broad range of world cultures, and enjoy studying original works of art in the collections of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Contemporary Art Museum, and local private collectors.
A variety of career paths are available to majors in art history and archaeology. Many graduates earn advanced degrees in related fields and work in museums or academia or for art publishers, commercial art galleries, auction houses, non-profit organizations, and other arts-related organizations.
The Major: When you major in art history and archaeology, you must take two introductory courses (L01 111 Intro to Asian Art and L01 113 History of Western Art, Architecture and Design), which serve as prerequisites for most of the 300- and 400-level offerings. The major consists of 24 additional hours of art history at the 300- or 400- levels. (One course may be at the 200-level.) Students must complete courses from three of the following five areas of the discipline: 1) Ancient and Medieval 2) non-Western 3) Renaissance and Baroque 4) Modern European and American 5) Architecture. At least two courses must be 400-level seminars, home-based in the department. All courses for the major must be taken for a letter grade; students must receive at least a C- for the course to count towards the major.
Senior Honors: Exceptional students who hold an average of 3.65 in courses for the major may apply to work toward Honors in the department. Honors are awarded to students for maintaining their GPA during their senior year and writing an Honors thesis (enrolling in L01 4900 in fall and L01 499 in spring of the senior year), which is defended before at least two faculty members from the department. Students undertaking Honors complete 3 additional credits of independent study above the typical 30 total credits for the major. For additional details concerning the Honors program, please contact the Department.
As an art history and archaeology major, you are encouraged to acquire a good reading knowledge of French, Italian, or German. If you choose a concentration in ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology, ancient Greek, Latin, or both will be useful. Similarly, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi or Arabic, for example, will be useful if you choose a concentration in non-Western art.
The Minor: To minor in art history and archaeology requires a total of 18 hours. You must take two introductory courses (L01 111 Intro to Asian Art and L01 113 History of Western Art) and four more courses (one of which may be at the 200-level; all others must be at the 300- or 400-level.) These must be chosen from at least two of the five areas listed above.
Undergraduate Internships: Internships in museums or commercial galleries are available to you as an undergraduate art history and archaeology major or minor. You may devote up to 3 credit hours to a voluntary internship per semester, or secure a paid internship for no credit. Such internships provide invaluable experience and may help lead to employment opportunities after graduation. Internship credit does not count toward the required credits for the major or minor, but up to a total of six credits can count toward the overall university graduation credits.
Study Abroad: Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of international programs available in a number of overseas locations during the summer or regular school year. Foreign language ability is not a barrier; programs based in English are also available. Students should consult the Department's Study Abroad Advisor to find the program that best meets their particular interests and needs.
**Departmental Section/Faculty list for research projects and independent studies:
02 Childs
03 Kleutghen
04 Bass
05 Sheren
06 Jones
07 Klein
08 Miller
12 Wallace
16 Gabel