At which campus can I study this program?
Requirements for a minor may be completed at any campus location offering the specified courses for the minor. Students may not change from a campus that offers their major to a campus that does not offer their major for the purpose of completing a minor.
Program Description
The minor in Art History provides students with a broad introduction to the history of art, as well as the opportunity for more specialized study in one or two fields. Specialized study may concentrate upon one region of the world (e.g. India) or one period (e.g. Renaissance). A student should seek the advice of her/his minor adviser on course selections. The study of art history develops a student's visual acuity by providing a critical understanding of visual culture in a diversity of societies around the world. Students learn to understand art within the contexts of religion, politics, philosophy, culture, technology, society, and gender. A minor in Art History can be of particular interest for students pursuing careers in art, art education, history, anthropology, archaeology, classics, English, foreign language/literature, cultural studies, international business, and arts administration. Students majoring in Art History cannot take this minor.
What is Art History?
Art history is the exploration of art and architecture from ancient to contemporary times, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It’s museum studies, historiography, iconology, art criticism, connoisseurship, and research. It’s studying aesthetics, and the context, form, and social significance of art throughout time and place. Art history relates visual images back to questions of religion, politics, society, gender, economics, philosophy, and culture.
You Might Like This Major If...
- You are fascinated by art, architecture, and visual materials from prehistoric times to the present.
- Visual images make your mind light up with a hundred questions that all relate to “Who? Where? When? How?”
If you can't wait to get to the business of answering these questions, then art history might be the minor for you!
Entrance to the Minor
For specific information on entrance procedures, please visit the website for the College of Arts and Architecture.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 21 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| ARTH 111 | Ancient to Medieval Art  | 3 |
| ARTH 112 | Renaissance to Modern Art | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits of the following: | 3 | |
| Asian Art and Architecture | ||
| Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas | ||
| Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art | ||
| Architecture and Art of South and Southeast Asia | ||
| Chinese Art | ||
| Islamic Architecture and Art | ||
| African Art | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 6 credits of 001 to 400-level ARTH courses 1,2 | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits of 400-level ARTH courses 1 | 6 | |
| 1 | Students are encouraged to use these supporting courses to focus their studies in one or two areas of art history and should discuss these course selections with an Art History faculty member. |
| 2 | Except ARTH 100 |
Learning Outcomes
Art History teaches deep looking and analysis. It therefore develops the sort of visual literacy essential in today's world. The major also sharpens writing and verbal communication skills, and improves critical thinking.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information need to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Christine Cooper
Administrative Support Coordinator
240A Borland Building
University Park, PA 16802
514-865-4873
ccw2@psu.edu
Abington
William Cromar
Program Chair
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
267-670-1945
wrc11@psu.edu
Career Paths
Art history provides students with a solid background in the liberal arts, as well as a strong foundation in the history of painting, sculpture, architecture, design, and the graphic arts. It opens the door for numerous careers, and is an excellent first step toward pursuing advanced degrees in art history.
Careers
Art history students have found employment in museums, galleries, publishing, arts agencies, visual resources, archives and libraries, archaeology, historic preservation, and historic sites.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
The two most common careers for art historians are teaching at the college level, or working in a museum as a curator, registrar, or director (among other possibilities). These careers typically require a graduate degree.
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF ART HISTORY
240 Borland Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-6326
exn30@psu.edu
Abington
DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
267-670-1945
wrc11@psu.edu