Program Overview

Art History, B.A.

McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

Enlighten yourself about the history of art across different cultures around the world and through different movements.

In art history, you will develop skills such as close looking, contextual knowledge, research and writing. These skills will help enrich your general knowledge of history and culture, along with specialized abilities in visual studies and research that are applicable to many professions and experiences.

Program Highlights

• Small Student Cohort: Immerse yourself in a positive atmosphere and network of support and connections through your peers and our faculty.
• Experiential Learning: Enhance your education through internships and other hands-on opportunities.
• Dedicated Faculty: Be mentored by a faculty that places the field in larger humanistic, cultural, historical and political contexts.
• Flexible Curriculum: Supplement your education with a curriculum that works well with a second major and helps you meet your goals.

What You’ll Study

One of the most popular courses is American Architecture, where students research local buildings and give a tour at the end of the semester for the public. Some popular topics courses include art history in Germany and Japan, the African Diaspora and the Baroque movement. Many students choose to take art history as a second major.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

• Cultural Awareness: Learning about and respecting diverse cultures and beliefs
• Visual Literacy: Analyzing and understanding images, graphics and visual representations to extract meaning and communicate effectively
• Critical Thinking: Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments
• Understand Complexity: Analyzing and synthesizing information to identify patterns and connections
• Research: Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems
• Writing: Creating professional written content for inclusion in scholarly journal articles, books and reports

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

• Museum or Gallery Assistant
• Curator
• Grants Writer / Manager
• Cultural Heritage Manager
• Historic Preservationist
• Editor / Publisher

Job Titles of Alumni

• Collections Manager
• Project Manager
• Art Director
• Community Manager
• Foundation Director

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $61,962

Workplace Settings

• Museums
• Galleries
• Nonprofits
• Higher Education

Employers of Alumni

• Historic Columbia
• EdVenture Children's Museum
• South Carolina State Museum
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Art Institute of Chicago

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

• Master's
  • Art History, M.A.
    • McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
• Certificate
  • Museum Management, Certificate
    • McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

This program offers many opportunities to work with historians and galleries. I worked with a curator in our Department of Rare Books in the library on a collection of historical prints where I got an amazing work experience and built beneficial relationships.

Stephanie Roznowski