Art History is the study of the visual arts in their historical and cultural contexts.  Majors investigate works of art from a wide range of periods and regions, employing the methods and theories of art historical inquiry in courses taught by a distinguished art history faculty.

The program takes advantage of New England’s rich museum offerings, national and international travel courses sponsored by the College, and unique opportunities for combining research and studio practice offered by a long-established school of visual art.  The major provides the undergraduate education necessary for further work in the humanities, including museum studies and graduate school, and professional careers in teaching, galleries, libraries, and art criticism.  Students also benefit from the College’s visiting artist programs and renowned exhibitions of contemporary art.  Studio majors are encouraged to double major in art history, thereby enriching their perspective on the historical and cultural context of their own work.   

The major in art history reflects the changing nature of the discipline and draws upon the wide-ranging expertise of the faculty.  After completing the two-semester freshman survey, Perspectives in Art History (CSA 101 and 102), majors choose their elective courses from a wide range of offerings in consultation with their faculty advisors.  Students are required to take courses from each of four major areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century; Modern/Contemporary; and Arts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa.  Once they have satisfied this distribution requirement, students may wish to focus their studies on a particular area of art history.

Majors take courses at three levels: lecture courses, advanced lecture courses, and seminars. Art history majors acquire

1) a general familiarity with world art, achieved through the distribution requirement (as well as CSA 101 and 102: Perspectives in Art History, the pre-requisite for all upper-level art history courses)

2) the opportunity to study in considerable detail periods and subjects of particular interest to each student, achieved through lectures and seminars, directed study, and courses abroad

3) the ability to read, think, speak, and write critically about art historical issues, developed through increasingly advanced course work, including seminars which focus on research and communication skills