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Introduction to the Department of History of Art and Architecture

The Department of History of Art and Architecture critically examines the major fields in global art and architecture, from ancient through contemporary, and serves to connect the arts to the other humanities. Interdisciplinary by definition, the department encourages students to develop both visual and cultural literacy through extensive study of art, architecture, and material culture and the historical contexts in which they were created.

Program Offerings

The department offers a major and a minor in history of art, a major and a minor in architecture and the built environment, and a minor in museum studies. Students who major in history of art or in architecture and the built environment take advanced seminars related to the faculty's areas of research and publication.

Courses

The department offers courses at all levels and in most major subfields of the discipline. Our courses employ varying approaches, including:

• Broad survey courses in the global history of art and architecture presented every semester
  • Topics include the history of Greek art and architecture, Roman art and architecture, medieval art, Renaissance and Baroque art, American art, modern European art and architecture, contemporary art and sound art, urbanism and landscape design, the history of Asian architecture, art and architecture of China and Japan, and Indian, Himalayan, and Islamic art
• More specialized lecture courses and advanced seminars that enhance the curriculum by allowing students to engage in research according to their own interests
• Digital humanities courses, which incorporate photogrammetry and 3D modeling, museum studies, and Exhibiting Historical Art, a seminar that allows students to work firsthand with objects for a student-curated exhibition

Honors Program and Undergraduate Research

The departmental Honors program allows exceptional undergraduate majors to undertake independent research projects in consultation with faculty members. The program is open to all juniors majoring in history of art or architecture and the built environment who meet the minimum GPA requirements and are approved for acceptance into the program. Requirements for the program include:

• Completion of an independent research course beyond the major requirements
• An Honors thesis The department also offers competitive funding for student travel to collections, libraries, or exhibitions related to the thesis project. Students completing the Honors program receive a Vanderbilt diploma that records Honors or High Honors in History of Art or Architecture and the Built Environment.

4+1 B.A./M.A. Program

The Department of History of Art and Architecture offers a 4+1 program that allows outstanding students to complete a B.A. and M.A. in just five years of study. The department offers a 4+1 M.A. degree in both history of art and in architecture and the built environment. The M.A. is a valuable qualification for museum and gallery work, heritage management and preservation, and professional school, especially for students interested in subsequently earning an M.Arch. degree.

Other Special Opportunities

Students may earn pass/fail academic credit for internships, which the department strongly encourages. These internships may be in museums or galleries, historic houses, or other cultural institutions. With departmental approval, they may lead to an independent research course or may help to develop a project for an Honors thesis. Majors and minors are encouraged to join the department's student organization, the History of Art Society, which sponsors a series of events each year.

Faculty and Research Areas

The history of art and architecture faculty consists of 10 experts who are dedicated to the highest standards of teaching and research. They aim to instill a heightened consciousness of artistic cultures, both past and present, that will stay with students for a lifetime. The faculty are leaders in their respective fields, engaging in discourse, conducting research, and publishing across various academic areas. Our areas of research and teaching are global, covering the entirety of the Western canon from Greco-Roman Antiquity through Modernism in Europe and America, and both East Asian and South Asian art and architectural traditions.

Career Opportunities

Our discipline teaches students how to think critically and write with clarity. Visual and textual analytical skills, based on sophisticated research methodology and the ability to present information through images, uniquely position our graduates for a wide variety of post-graduate studies and careers. Students are accepted into competitive graduate programs in the discipline or into professional schools for architecture, law, medicine and dentistry, business, social work, and public policy, and others. Alumni also find employment in galleries, museums, auction houses, and design-related fields.