Program Overview

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Bachelor's Degree (BA) in Art History & Visual Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Visual Studies is a program designed for students passionate about exploring the cultural, historical, and social significance of art and visual media. This program prepares graduates for careers in museums, galleries, education, cultural heritage preservation, or fields like art curation and criticism, providing expertise in visual analysis, historical research, and cultural interpretation.

Program Overview

The Art History and Visual Studies bachelor's degree delves into the history, theory, and cultural significance of visual arts across time and place, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. Through coursework and research, students examine art movements, iconic works, and the evolving role of visual media in society. Graduates are prepared for diverse careers in museums, galleries, cultural heritage organizations, education, and media.

Related Careers

• Curating
  • Teaching
  • Arts management
  • Gallery Director
  • Publishing
  • Art journalism

Program Details

• Offered by: College of Fine Arts
• Credit Hours: 120
• Credential: BA

Admission Requirements

• Official High School Transcript with Pre-College Curriculum
• Test Scores (optional): ACT or SAT scores can be submitted but are not required for university admission.

Application Requirements

• Completed applications include an official high school transcript, application fee ($50 domestic/$60 international), and optional official ACT/SAT score.
• The University of Kentucky is test-optional for admission and scholarships through the academic year.

Application Deadlines

Freshman

• Early Action: 12/01/2025
• Regular Decision: 02/15/2026

Transfer

• Fall Scholarship: 06/15/2026
• Fall: 08/01/2026
• Spring: 11/15/2025
• Summer: 04/15/2026

Curriculum

The program offers two distinct tracks: the Art History track and the Visual Studies track.

• Art History track emphasizes the development of fine arts within a broad liberal arts tradition, focusing on the histories of painting, sculpture, architecture, and related media.
• Visual Studies track takes a wider lens, drawing on methods from the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences to examine how visual culture shapes—and is shaped by—diverse global contexts.

Sample Curriculum Plan

• Freshman Year: 32-33 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 16-17 credit hours
    • A-S 102: 2D
    • A-H 105: WORLD ART BEFORE 1400
    • UKCRCC1: UK Core - Comp. & Comm. I
    • UKCRQFO: UK Core - Quantitative Foundations
    • FAAHAHOF101: Foreign Language 101
  • Spring Semester: 16 credit hours
    • A-H 106: RENAISSANCE TO MODERN ART
    • UKCRCC2: UK Core - Comp. & Comm. II
    • UKCRNPM: UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math
    • FAAHAHOF102: Foreign Language 102
• Sophomore Year: 30 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 15 credit hours
    • A-H 300: TOPICS IN ART HISTORY & VISUAL STUDIES
    • FAAHAOCOG: Cognate
    • UKCRSIR: UK Core - Statistical Inferential Reason
    • UKCRSSC: UK Core - Social Sciences
    • FAAHAHOF201: Foreign Language 201
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • A-H 360: VISUAL CULTURE OF POLITICS
    • FAAHAOSCCPM: Shared Curr Core-Europe Pre-Modern Era
    • FAAHAOSCCNW: Shared Curr Core-Non West Cultures
    • FAAHAOAH3: Art History Course (300+ level)
    • FAAHAHOF202: Foreign Language 202
• Junior Year: 30 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 15 credit hours
    • FAAHAOSCCME: Shared Curr Core-Modern Era
    • FAAHAOCOG: Cognate
    • FAAHAOCOG: Cognate
    • FA6HAMT: 6 Hours (Art Admin, Music, or Theatre)
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • FAAHAOUPR: Upper Div Art Hist/Visual Stu Course
    • FAAHAOCOG: Cognate
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
• Senior Year: 28 credit hours
  • Fall Semester: 13 credit hours
    • A-H 555: METHODS IN ART HISTORY & VISUAL STUDIES
    • FAAHAOSEM: Seminar
    • FAAHAOCOG: Cognate
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHAOFE1H: Elective (1 hour / 100-level)
  • Spring Semester: 15 credit hours
    • FAAHAOSEM: Seminar
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHAOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHVOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)
    • FAAHVOFE: Elective (3 hours / 100+ level)

Additional Information

• Degree requirements, course descriptions, and academic policies for all programs are detailed in the University Catalog.
• The program has a degree pathway from KCTCS, allowing students a seamless transfer process to obtain their bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky.
• The program is part of the Accelerated Master's Pathways program, which can save students time and money with dual credit hours.