Program Overview

Department of Fine Arts

The Department of Fine Arts at Brandeis University offers a range of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate programs in art history and studio art.

Bachelor of Arts in Art History

The Bachelor of Arts in Art History program cultivates a deep understanding of humanity's fundamental impulse to create. The history of art traces how artists across all time periods and geographical regions confront their environment and society, producing artifacts of lasting resonance and insight into the cultural practices of their age.

Why Study Art History at Brandeis?

Brandeis is home to a thriving arts scene, with state-of-the-art studios and the renowned Rose Art Museum. The department often partners with the Mandel Center for the Humanities to offer lectures and artists' talks. Nearby Boston and the surrounding area are home to numerous superlative art institutions, including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Academics and Research

Art History majors may choose to devote two semesters of their senior year to an independently designed Honors Thesis. This project involves completing primary research in archives, on site, or in conversation with artists and experts on a topic of their choosing. The final thesis, written under the mentorship of a faculty advisor, is an extended paper presenting the student's own arguments, observations, and perspectives.

Faculty Excellence

The art historians at Brandeis are experts in their fields and publish widely. The studio faculty are esteemed professional painters, sculptors, and media artists who have exhibited at major galleries and museums in New York, New England, and internationally.

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art

The Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art program provides students with a comprehensive education in the visual arts, emphasizing the development of technical skills, creative vision, and critical thinking.

Undergraduate Advising Head

Students interested in majoring in Studio Art can contact Professor Jonathan Unglaub to learn more about the curriculum and requirements.

Post-Baccalaureate Program

The Post-Baccalaureate Program in Studio Art is designed for students who have completed a bachelor's degree and wish to pursue additional study in studio art.

Minor in Art History

The Minor in Art History provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the history of art, from ancient to modern times. Students can choose from a range of courses that explore the development of art across different cultures and historical periods.

Graduate Study and Career Opportunities

Art History majors go on to pursue MA degrees in art history, museum studies, curatorial studies, museum administration, and art education, as well as PhDs in art history at top programs. They work throughout the art world as:

• Professors of art and art history at colleges and universities
• Gallery directors
• Art dealers
• Specialists, sales associates, and CEOs of auction houses
• Curators at major museums
• Directors of institutions such as the Whitney Museum and the Seattle Museum of Art
• Leadership roles in non-profit cultural organizations
• Conservators in museums and private practices

Internships and Resources

The Rose Art Museum offers summer and year-long curatorial internships to Brandeis students interested in exploring a museum career. Students can also find internships at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and Institute of Contemporary Art, as well as other museums and galleries across the country.

Study Abroad

Brandeis in Siena is a summer program that combines studio experience, art history coursework, and field trips to historic cultural sites in Tuscany. Students can also explore other study abroad opportunities through the university's study abroad website.

Student Fellowships and Grants

The Mortimer Hays-Brandeis Traveling Fellowship provides travel and living expenses outside the continental United States for one year after graduation. Past recipients have traveled to various countries for research and scholarly production.