In an Art History major, bachelor students explore the methods through which humankind has expressed its ideas, powerful emotions, and ideologies. Whether through painting, sculpture, architecture, film, and many other areas, students study a highly relevant lens through which to understand humanity.
Recommended Schools
Careers for those with an online Bachelors in Art History include museum and art gallery curators, art appraisers and dealers, professors, and historians. This degree also gives students a fantastic opportunity to travel to different countries in their studies and their careers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that those in the position of a curator, historian, or a career otherwise connected to art history are on a rise of 6-11%, which is about as fast as average. This is a very viable academic and professional career path for those individuals with a creative, dedicated, and disciplined nature.
quick links
- Top Online and Traditional Bachelor of Art History Degree Programs
- ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY (Online)
- UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY (On-Campus & Online)
- MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- BROWN UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
- NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY
- DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
- YALE UNIVERSITY
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- WILLIAMS COLLEGE
- SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
- POMONA COLLEGE
- Frequently Asked Questions
Check these out: Top Online Bachelor of Communications Degree Programs, Top Online Schools for Bachelor of Anthropology Degree Programs or Top Online Trade Schools for Photography Degree Programs
Top Online and Traditional Bachelor of Art History Degree Programs
METHODOLOGY: These programs are well-suited to individuals who wish to possess a deeper knowledge and understanding of different civilizations and cultures from a unique perspective. Art History presents students with an unparalleled world view and a massive amount of cultural understanding.
Methodology for this list involved researching as many lists and programs as possible that provided adequate feedback about academic institutions until a number of schools were collected for reference, the student and faculty reviews were consulted and used to determine the legitimacy and popularity of each program.
At OnlineSchoolsCenter.com, we do not believe in ranking schools and programs from “best to worst”—all schools on our top lists are special and unique for different reasons, such as the following:
- Provides the student with a comprehensive study of the cultural and social aspects of Art History,
- Student’s satisfaction according to retention rates no lower than 50%,
- Reviews listed on accredited resources listing college and university statistics,
- Offers a variety of Foreign Languages, as well as, concentrations in Art History,
- Ease of Transfer Course Credits,
- Financial Aid options through Grants, Scholarships and Military Discounts, Work Programs,
- 100% online or hybrid availability,
- Proper Accreditation.
For more information, please see our Methodology page.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY (Online)
ONLINE B.A. IN HISTORY
Program Standouts:
Designed to engage students in a variety of art and art history platforms, the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University offers a high-quality, online curriculum that is challenging and well-suited for independent students. According to their website, “Herberger’s internationally recognized faculty members collectively hold a broad base of art history knowledge, providing a remarkable educational experience.”
Campus Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $505 per credit hour
No additional program fees!
Financial Aid: Scholarships, grants, federal work-study, loans, and outside resources
Acceptance Rate: 63.4%
Admission Considerations:
Applicants must successfully complete ASU competency requirements. Admission may be granted with one deficiency in no more than two competency areas. Deficiencies cannot be in both math and laboratory science. Students must earn a minimum of 2.0 in any subject area. Most competencies may also be met by test scores or college courses.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Art and Television
- Women in the Visual Arts
Course Flexibility:
Unlike a standard online lecture, ASU’s online courses are highly interactive, engaging each student and ensuring the subject matter is fully understood. It was specifically designed to provide access to the vast academic, research, and career resources that ASU offers – to anyone, anywhere.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ASU’S ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
ONLINE B.S./B.A. ARTS HISTORY
Program Standouts:
This internationally renowned program is presented by world-class faculty who possess a gargantuan amount of information and knowledge concerning the history of art from prehistoric eras to the present. This program works closely with local galleries and museums, giving students first-hand experience in the field of art history.
Campus Location: Philadelphia, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition and Fees:
- $66,800 per year—full tuition, fees, meal plan, housing, books, and personal funds
- $55,100 per year—full tuition, fees, meal plan, books, and personal funds for those living off-campus
Financial Aid: Need-based scholarships, an all-grant policy which includes a work-study position
Acceptance Rate: 9.3%
Admission Considerations:
Because of the competitive nature of this institution, it is paramount that students submit all the necessary transcripts and relevant testing scores to the Admissions Department in time for consideration. Most admitted students have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and exhibit disciplined characteristics as a student.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Jewish Art
- Topics in Animation: Contemporary Issues in American Animation
- The Material World in Archaeological Science
Course Flexibility:
The History of the Art community at the UPenn is tight-knit and very active. With opportunities to explore museums both locally and internationally. “Special excursions to museums allow students to examine paintings, sculptures, prints, and manuscripts first hand, and each year seminars organize exhibitions at the Ross Gallery or the Institute of Contemporary Art and other venues.”
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S MAJOR IN THE HISTORY OF ART
ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY (On-Campus & Online)
ONLINE B.S. FINE ART EDUCATION-HISTORY OF ART
Program Standouts:
Merging the study of Western Art with the “skills and practice of fine arts education,” students receive a very well-rounded curriculum in which they are educated and trained in identifying and discussing art and art history using relevant and modern tools, and they have a broad-based, general education to assist with other important skills.
Campus Location: San Francisco, CA
Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Tuition and Fees:
- $835 per unit (3 units per class)
- $22,086 per year—full tuition and fees
Financial Aid: Grants, many different institutional and alternative loans, scholarships, and work-study
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Admission Considerations:
Students must submit the relevant and necessary documentation for admission consideration—transcripts from all high school institutions or GED test scores; an art portfolio is not required but is highly encouraged.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art of the Dutch Golden Age
- 20th Century Art
- Italian Renaissance Art
Course Flexibility:
As it is most elegantly state on the School of Art History’s website, “The general education program (Liberal Arts) supports major coursework by promoting the breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, and communications skills necessary to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. Student portfolios will demonstrate a variety of skills and creativity developed.”
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY’S UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OPTIONS IN ART HISTORY
MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
ONLINE B.A. HISTORY OF ARTS
Program Standouts:
Mansfield University’s online bachelor’s degree in art history is designed for those individuals who are seeking a challenging program that can be delivered online with on-campus opportunities available for any interested students. Coursework prepares students for a wide variety of career opportunities such as art dealers, curators, appraisers, advisors, teachers, and many more!
Campus Location: Mansfield, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition and Fees:
- $284 per credit hour—in-state
- $469 per credit hour—good neighbor
- $710 per credit hour—out-of-state
- $30 per credit hour—education fee
- $27 per credit hour—technology fee
Financial Aid: Loans, grants, merit-based awards and scholarships, and work-study programs on a need-based scale.
Acceptance Rate: 89.2%
Admission Considerations:
All applicants must submit high school transcripts and/or GED testing scores as well as SAT/ACT test scores. An art portfolio is not required for consideration for this program. Students must have a solid and consistent GPA level and must maintain said academic performance within the program.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Women in Ancient Greek Art
- Empires of the World Through Art
- Visual Studies/Application of Aesthetic Theory
Course Flexibility:
This highly affordable program is designed to be a complete program and can be completed on a part-time or a full-time basis. There is more availability for coursework during the summer. Mansfield University is concerned with supplying students with a thorough and active education, with all the need and aid available to them, that will lead to a promising and fulfilling career in one of the many fields of art history.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S ONLINE BACHELOR OF ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
BROWN UNIVERSITY
ONLINE B.A. HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES
Program Standouts:
Brown University offers students the opportunity to focus on two separate concentrations in their History of Art and Architecture Department. Students in this program heavily focus on and research global architecture. In collaboration with the Rhode Island School of Design, students are permitted to take up to 4 courses from RISD.
Campus Location: Providence, RI
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $24,136 per semester—full tuition
- $537 per semester—fees
Financial Aid:
“Brown has a need-blind admission policy for all first-year applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. This means that their ability to pay for their education will not be a factor in the admission decision. And, if admitted, Brown will meet 100% of their demonstrated financial need.”
Acceptance Rate: 8.5%
Admission Considerations:
For this highly competitive program, students are expected to be in the top 10% of their class with an impressive and consistent, cumulative GPA. Brown will consider how students’ unique talents, accomplishments, energy, curiosity, perspective, and identity might weave into the ever-changing tapestry that is Brown University.
Program Options:
- Architectural Studies
- History of Art and Architecture
Course Flexibility:
The History of Art and Architecture Department directs the flow of the curriculums to embrace a wide-reaching and unique approach to the field. Students are required to learn to read at least one foreign language within this program and are highly encouraged to travel within their major and explore the architecture which they study.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BROWN UNIVERSITY’S CONCENTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES DEGREES
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
B.A. IN ART HISTORY
Program Standouts:
The four historians on staff in the small Art History Department at Baylor University specialize in different core areas of art history and provide an interesting and eclectic curriculum with special, one-time-only offered classes each semester, keeping course work lively and fresh. Upper-division courses and field studies requirements give students the opportunity to use their knowledge first-hand in internships and travel destinations.
Campus Location: Waco, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $36,360 per year—full tuition
- $4,038 per year—fees
Financial Aid: Academic, need-based, and alternative scholarships; loans, grants, and work-study.
Acceptance Rate: 38.9%
Admission Considerations:
All students applying to this program must submit all high school transcripts or GED scores, SAT/ACT scores, represent a solid GPA, and it is recommended that students also submit a resume, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay.
Program Options:
The faculty in Baylor University’s program offers specialization in Greek antiquity, Roman antiquity, Italian Renaissance, Mannerism, Italian Baroque, Nineteenth-Century Europe, Colonial America to 1900, America Since 1900, Contemporary; and Method and Theory.
Course Flexibility:
Students are required to complete fieldwork and travel experience while in this program—which should be an incredibly exciting prospect to many! Interested students will have the opportunity to work directly in the field of art history and have a hands-on approach to their education.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY’S BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
B.A. OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY
Program Standouts:
Graduates from the Art History Department at the UT Knoxville go on to do many exciting things. Whether entering an impressive graduate program, traveling the world in a new career, or applying their knowledge to areas “such as archaeology, restoration and conservation, anthropology, religious studies, art education, and criticism. Moreover, this is a program of study with an emphasis on detailed visual analysis, writing and oral work, skills that can also lead readily to studies in law and business.”
Campus Location: Knoxville, TN
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $5,938 per semester—in-state tuition
- $15,163 per semester—out-of-state tuition
Financial Aid: Grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, special accommodations for study abroad and summer term financial aid.
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Admission Considerations:
UT Knoxville admission requirements are made up of core academic subjects, core GPA, standardized test scores, and other individual factors such as extracurriculars, personal essays, and more.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Arts of the African Diaspora
- Non-Western and Indigenous Architecture
- History of American Architecture
Course Flexibility:
With the degree of flexibility within the program, students are able to build their major toward the areas which they find most intriguing and best suited to their future career goals. The art history major allows students to focus on specific areas of art and art history, or in a broader approach.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE’S BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
UNDERGRADUATE IN ART HISTORY, B.A. DEGREES
Program Standouts:
The Art History Department at New York University has a faculty of world-renowned professors who each contribute a unique understanding of art history to the curriculum. NYU students have the opportunity to utilize a substantial reference library and impressive research facilities during their studies.
Campus Location: New York, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition and Fees:
- $26,217.00 per semester—full tuition and fees
Financial Aid: Many different institutional and federal loan options, grants, scholarships, award and merit-based aid, and work-study.
Acceptance Rate: 27.7%
Admission Considerations:
All students should submit high school transcripts; standardized testing requirements vary depending on applicant status; extra materials such as a portfolio are not required and will not be considered if submitted.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Architecture in Context
- Architecture in New York: Field Study
- North American Indian Arts
Course Flexibility:
This program has special course offerings in a unique area: Urban Design and Architecture, in which students study the ins and outs of urban design and the architecture behind current sustainability trends. With this kind of concentration, art history students at New York University have the opportunity to involve themselves in an important and newly popular field.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY’S UNDERGRADUATE IN ART HISTORY DEGREE
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
B.A. IN ART HISTORY-STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
Program Standouts:
Students enrolled in Vanderbilt University’s art history program are highly encouraged to spend part of their time in college studying abroad to gain a more full experience and immersion within the history of art. Vanderbilt and the HART Department offer many exciting opportunities for specific and non-specific agendas and countries.
Campus Location: Nashville, TN
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $43,620 per year—full tuition
- $1,370 per year—student activities and recreation fees
Financial Aid: The university has many institutional and federal loans and grants that students can take advantage of as well as scholarship and student employment opportunities. Qualifying students may also take advantage of the Academic Year Student Contribution program and tuition assistance programs.
Acceptance Rate: 10.9%
Admission Considerations:
Vanderbilt uses a holistic admissions process — they do not employ cutoffs for standardized testing or grade point averages. Rather they look for students who have demonstrated strong academic skills and intellectual curiosity, and who have engaged in activities outside the classroom that have nurtured their growth as leaders. Most successful applicants have taken a very rigorous course load and have challenged themselves at the highest levels of the available curriculum.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art and Controversy in 20th Century America
- Other Shores, Other Lands: Islamic Culture and Art in Premodern Travel Accounts
- Surrealism
Course Flexibility:
Vanderbilt offers an impressive and distinctive array of courses in which students can compose a curriculum that is specific to their interests. Study abroad classes may be less available, but the value of putting strong academic understanding to use in a first-hand experience is incalculable.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY’S ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAMS
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
B.A. WITH A MAJOR IN ART HISTORY PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Students in this special program have the opportunity to learn from FAAH faculty and curators from fabulous and renowned Washington D.C. museums. These students can direct their education through some of the most famous museums in the world that house some of the rarest and most beautiful art ever created.
Campus Location: Washington, D.C.
Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $1,545 per credit hour
Financial Aid: Many different grants and merit-based award opportunities. Need-based scholarships and grants are available to qualifying students, and there are student employment opportunities as well.
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Admission Considerations:
Students applying to this program must take all of the proper steps outlined in the Common Application. High schools will typically send transcripts electronically, but if not, students should be sure that their transcript is successfully submitted. CD and DVD submissions will not be considered.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Archducal Belgium and Flemish Tapestries for European Courts
- Revolutionary Symbols and Myths in US Visual Culture from the Eighteenth Century to the Present
- Photo Special Effects and Eye Machines
Course Flexibility:
With a diverse blend of coursework and a renowned faculty, as well as special opportunities for fieldwork in museums in Washington D.C., students in this program will get all of the most bizarre and fabulous opportunities available to an art historian.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY’S BA IN ART HISTORY
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
B.A. OF ARTS IN HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Program Standouts:
Boston University has ties with the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London), and students majors in History of Art and Architecture have the opportunity to earn at least 16 credit hours in a study abroad program overseas, which is an incredible opportunity for any art historian as much of an art history program focuses on European art history.
Campus Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $47,422 per year—full tuition
- $1,014 per year—fees
Financial Aid: Scholarships, grants, loans, financial assistance, and payment plans, student work opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: 25.1%
Admission Considerations:
Applicants to Boston University must demonstrate a solid GPA as well as consistency in their high school transcript. Teacher and counselor recommendations are required as is a personal essay dictating what makes an individual a worthy applicant. BU is also concerned with activities outside of class such as volunteering, athletics, and extracurriculars.
Program Options:
- Track 1: Art History focus
- Track 2: Architecture focus
Majors in History of Art & Architecture are encouraged to take courses in related areas such as archaeology, classics, philosophy, history, religion, and literature.
Course Flexibility:
Majors in History of Art & Architecture are encouraged to take courses in related areas such as archaeology, classics, philosophy, history, religion, and literature. Opportunities exist for dual majors or major/minor combinations and are encouraged for those who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary liberal arts education.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOSTON UNIVERSITY’S BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE DEGREE PROGRAM
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
B.A.-ART HISTORY-UNDERGRADUATE ART HISTORY MAJOR
Program Standouts:
Perhaps one of the most innovative art history departments on a U.S. college campus, Dartmouth’s art history program utilizes creative techniques in unique classes to teach students a new way of viewing, not only the artwork but the cultural worlds that surround them. Students should also take advantage of the Foreign Study Program in Rome that is offered every spring!
Campus Location: Hanover, NH
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $48,120 per year—full tuition
- $1,386 per year—fees
Financial Aid: Grants, scholarships, student employment, student loans, parent loans for undergraduates, private alternative loans, and veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 10.4%
Admission Considerations:
Strong applicants to Dartmouth College must submit high school transcripts and are typically near the top of their class. It is strongly encouraged that students submit a peer evaluation along with the two required teacher evaluations and the counselor evaluation. Students must complete the Dartmouth Writing Supplement to prove their competency as an academic and submit standardized test scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Pompeii in Antiquity and in the Modern Imagination
- Castles, Cloisters, and Cathedrals
- Two Thousand Years of Korean Painting
Course Flexibility:
Operating within a year-round quarter system, students pick 12 terms to graduate and can design their curriculum to suit their own interests! Students are encouraged to spend time on campus during their freshman and senior years, but to explore foreign study programs and internships during the school year of sophomore and junior years.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION DARTMOUTH COLLEGE’S UNDERGRADUATE ART HISTORY MAJOR
YALE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF ART PROGRAM-B.A. IN ART HISTORY
Program Standouts:
At Yale University, the faculty of the History of Art Department believes in educating students in ancient and classic art that will always be highly renowned, but also in the analysis of modern art and architecture in the world around them. Students in this major will take full advantage of the Yale University Art Gallery, one of the oldest and most extensive galleries in the country.
Campus Location: New Haven, CT
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $44,800 per year—full tuition
- $1,065 per year—fees
Financial Aid: Yale offers many different institutional awards, grants, and scholarships for merit that are departmental, and otherwise; students can also take advantage of many other federal grants and loans and student employment opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: 6.9%
Admission Considerations:
As Yale University receives a high number of applicants each year, it is important to pay close attention to the application process. An applicant’s academic strength is the institution’s first consideration. Yale will review grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations by a counselor and two teachers to determine academic strength. The admissions committee then factors in student qualities such as motivation, curiosity, energy, leadership ability, and distinctive talents.
Sampling of Coursework:
- The Art of Dionysus: Drink, Drama, and Ecstasy
- Photography and Memory: Public and Private Lives
- Sacred and Profane in Late Medieval Europe
Course Flexibility:
The discipline of art history at Yale University encompasses the study of all forms of art, architecture, and visual culture. It is taught as a world discipline that includes art from different cultural and geographical regions of the globe and from all time periods in human history. The major in art history can serve either as a general program in the humanities or as the groundwork for more specialized training.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YALE UNIVERSITY’S HISTORY OF ART PROGRAM
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
B.A.-SECONDARY FIELD IN HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Program Standouts:
Despite being one of the strongest academic institutions in the world, students at Harvard University’s History of Art and Architecture Department have the opportunity to put their powers of art and critical analysis to use in Harvard’s Fogg, Busch-Reisinger, and Sackler Museums. Students in this concentration are encouraged to pursue other concentrations to utilize tools and techniques gained in art history education within other fields.
Campus Location: Cambridge, MA
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $45,278 per year—full tuition
Financial Aid: Many different outsides, alternative, and institutional awards, grants, and scholarships for merit; loans, student employment opportunities, and payment plans.
Acceptance Rate: 5.2%
Admission Considerations:
While academic accomplishment is important, and the typical documentation is required, the Admissions Committee considers many other factors—strong personal qualities, special talents or excellences of all kinds, perspectives formed by unusual personal circumstances, and the ability to take advantage of available resources and opportunities.
Program Options:
Students choose one of the following as their area of focus:
- African
- Ancient
- Architecture
- Baroque and Rococo
- Byzantine
- Chinese
- Indian
- Islamic
- Japanese
- Latin American/Pre-Columbian
- Medieval
- Modern and Contemporary
- Renaissance
Course Flexibility:
Students have the opportunity to focus their coursework in an area that interests them and is also highly encouraged to complete the art history concentration in conjunction with one or more other concentrations to have a more applicable set of skills upon graduation.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S SECONDARY FIELD IN HISTORY OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE DEGREE
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
B.A. PROGRAMS, WITH A MAJOR IN ART HISTORY
Program Standouts:
Stanford University believes in allowing students to shape their own academic experience with the help and advisory of professionals and a team of internationally recognized faculty. When students have built their own concentration, they apply their knowledge to on-campus resources and galleries, working closely with peers and professors.
Campus Location: Stanford, CA
Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $14,728 per quarter—full tuition
- $957 per month—VSR fee
Financial Aid: University and outside scholarships, federal and state grants, student employment, and federal loans.
Acceptance Rate: 4.7%
Admission Considerations:
See the Freshman applications .pdf form for detailed instructions on applying to Stanford University, here!
Program Options:
- Open
- Modern
- Asian
- Architecture
Students also create their own topical, genre-based, interdisciplinary, or historical and national concentrations within their art history concentrations. Samples of these concentrations are:
- Art and Medicine
- Art, Politics, Race, and Ethnicity
- Modern and Contemporary
Course Flexibility:
In order to keep focusing their major more and more in a direction that suits their interests, students can build their own unique concentrators and work closely with faculty and advisors to build a strong, applicable curriculum.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STANFORD UNIVERSITY’S ART HISTORY MAJOR
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
B.A. PROGRAMS WITH AN UNDERGRADUATE IN ART HISTORY
Program Standouts:
At the University of Iowa, students are surrounded by beautiful and intricate architecture, such as the Art and Art History building designed by renowned architect, Steven Holl. The Department of Art and Art history works toward a multidisciplinary approach to the field in which the two disciplines work together to encourage further academic success.
Campus Location: Iowa City, IA
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $8,104 per year—in-state
- $27,890 per year—out-of-state
Financial Aid: Federal, state, institutional, and private: loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study.
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Admission Considerations:
To view the requirements for admission consideration, click here!
Program Options:
- From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals
- From Mona Lisa to Modernism
- Writing for the Visual Arts
Course Flexibility:
To develop a well-rounded sense of critical analysis of artwork, students are required to complete several hours of studio credits. The courses available in this department are wide and strange in their variety. Coursework is subject to change quite often, keeping the department up-to-date and relevant.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA’S UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN ART HISTORY
WILLIAMS COLLEGE
ART HISTORY AND STUDIO ART MAJOR-B.A. DEGREE
Program Standouts:
Students in Williams’ Art History get to take advantage of the many glorious facilities on-campus to hone their critiquing and analyzing skills. The Williams College Museum of Art houses part of the department and students spend much of their time in this beautiful building. “Art professors engage with students in diverse spaces, from the classroom and the studio to museums in Williamstown and beyond. Students benefit from an array of opportunities—critiques, lectures, exhibitions, travel, and internships—as they progress through the program.”
Campus Location: Williamstown, MA
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Tuition and Fees:
- $49,780 per year—full tuition
- $290 per year—activities fee
Financial Aid: Federal and institutional grants and awards packages, scholarships, loans, and employment opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: 14.6%
Admission Considerations:
Necessary documentation includes two teacher evaluations, a personal essay, high school transcript, and standardized test scores. Williams also largely takes into account a student’s experience outside the classroom, within the community at large. As a very competitive institution, it is important that students represent their qualities as a leader.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Photography in/of the Middle East
- Comic Lives: Graphic Novels & Dangerous Histories of the African Diaspora
- Bilad al-Sudan and Beyond: Arts of the Afro-Islamic World
Course Flexibility:
Students in this program learn to critique artwork and architecture with keenly developed, psychoanalytical, archaeological, anthropological, and many other tools. Because of this focus, art history students have the ability to delve into the history and ideology within cultures across the globe.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILLIAMS COLLEGE’S ART HISTORY MAJOR DEGREE PROGRAM
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
B.A. IN ARTS HISTORY-ARCHITECTURE, CRAFTING NATURE, COLLOQUIUM
Program Standouts:
Complementing and enhancing the art history curriculum, students utilize the fabulous resources on-campus and in the numerous museums in close proximity to the campus. There are facilities of many different varieties in which students can find the area that most interests them in the history of art.
Campus Location: Swarthmore, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition and Fees:
- $47,070 per year—full tuition
- $372 per year—student activities fee
Financial Aid: Federal and institutional loans and grants, scholarships, and payment plans.
Acceptance Rate: 10.7%
Admission Considerations:
In an effort to seek a variety of students leading to a well-rounded class, the admissions staff carefully considers a number of criteria without a rigid emphasis on any one factor in particular. Applicants are evaluated based upon the following: high school record (as well as strength of curriculum), rank in class (if high school ranks), standardized tests, extracurricular commitments, essays (included in application), recommendations (two from academic teachers, one from a counselor), interview (highly recommended, but not required).
Program Options:
- Architecture of Philadelphia
- Crafting Nature: The Arts of Japanese Tea Culture
- Colloquium: Native North American Art
Course Flexibility:
Students are highly encouraged to spend time studying abroad for part of their major, as much of what they learn has to do with the context within a certain region.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SWARTHMORE COLLEGE’S BACHELOR OF ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
POMONA COLLEGE
ART HISTORY B.A. DEGREE-PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY
Program Standouts:
In collaboration with Scripps College, Pomona College has a broad art history program that hones in on aspects of cultural diversity, feminism, and critical theory. Designed to educate students in analyzing culture and its ideologies through artwork is the main goal of this art history department.
Campus Location: Claremont, CA
Accreditation: Western Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $45,832 per year—tuition and fees
Financial Aid: Federal and state grants, student employment, gift aid, and private outside scholarships
Acceptance Rate: 8.4%
Admission Considerations:
Students are required to submit a Common Application along with all of the necessary documentation to prove high school education. Students are also asked to complete an additional, Pomona specific personal essay on why they chose this institution.
Program Options:
- Daughters of Africa: Art, Cinema, Theory, Love
- Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism: A Social History of North American Art
- Whiteness: Race, Sex and Representation
Course Flexibility:
The art history department designs the major curriculum so that students are constantly challenging themselves with bigger and more expansive projects. There are required theses defense meetings and capstone projects in which students can take full advantage of what they find most interesting in the field.
LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE’S ART HISTORY DEPARTMENT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I earn a Bachelor of Art History degree? Can I obtain it through an online format?
An online bachelor’s degree program in art history can take up to four years to complete. You should strive to build an excellent portfolio upon graduation, as well as, secure an internship and obtain additional certifications when available. Choosing an online school with proper accreditation is also essential, typically from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Coursework should include an introduction to design, drawing, color, and shapes. You will also learn about anthropology, political science, art movements, and different styles of art. You’ll also learn about all types of design, such as architecture, fashion design, and web design, in addition to, marketing techniques used in the world of art. Specializations are also available, such as ancient art, Renaissance art, or modern art, plus many more.
Are Bachelor degree programs available through an online distance learning format? Yes, they are; however, hybrid classes are also available if you would like the personal interaction with fellow students and faculty. Also, you may be required to work an internship.
What can I do with my online Bachelor’s degree in Art History?
An online Bachelor of Art History degree can be useful in many types of occupations, from education or law to a museum curator or art gallery manager. In some instances, higher education, such as a master’s degree, can be required.
As an art historian with a bachelor’s degree in the field, you may be hired to work in a museum obtaining or securing art pieces for an art exhibit in which you will set up, as well as, other curator duties. If you are trained in restoration, perhaps a position as a preservationist or art restorer is for you. As of May 2019, the BLS stated an annual average salary of $49,850 for the Archivist or Museum Curator.
Is a career in Art History right for me? Do I need to be an artist or have artistic abilities to excel in the field?
Do you need a great way to express yourself? Education in the field of art history gives students a creative outlet, as well as, an opportunity to learn about the history of all types of art, including sculptures, paintings, pottery, and other artistic expressions.
There are many qualities that an art history major should acquire throughout their online Bachelor of Art History degree program. Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are a must. Also, you must be well organized and use your time wisely. Exceptional written and oral skills are needed, as well as, the ability to do public speaking for presentations and for enlightening others about your passion. Can you be a team player, and will you enjoy the research process? Are you detail-oriented? Do you have an open mind? Are you open to other’s opinions? If so, becoming an art major is for you!
Should you be an artist to pursue a degree in art history?
Not necessarily; however, you should check with your desired program first to see what their prerequisites are before signing on. Many art history programs would like for you to be, at the very least, familiar with different art forms; therefore, giving you a better understanding of the art in which you will be evaluating as you learn about techniques and history of each art masterpiece.