Art History
College of Fine Arts
Arts Pass
Bennion
Center
Learning Abroad
Office of
Undergraduate Research
Courses
Getting Started
- Start by taking ARTH 2500 - Intro to Art History
- Complete WRIT 2010 to prepare for ARTH 4000
Meet with an advisor early to
- Learn about navigating major coursework
- Discuss your interests & select GE/elective courses
Making Progress
- Enroll in at least one ARTH elective course before you take ARTH 4000 - Good Looking
- Plan to complete the BA language requirement
- Complete the art history seminar requirements (ARTH 4985, 4X90, or 4X95)
- Consult with the college's Internship Coordinator to explore options and create an internship plan
- Check out requirements for Undergraduate Research Scholar designation
Finishing Up
- Use degree audit to track your progress and ensure you meet degree requirements
- Apply for graduation & meet with an advisor if necessary or helpful
Community
Getting Started
- Join the Art History Student Association or ArtsForce to engage in the campus community
- Start a professional social media account or follow accounts of respected museums & art historians
Making Progress
- Gain research experience with a faculty member and earn a stipend by participating in UROP
- Attend a variety of lectures, talks, and workshops (see events calendar)
- Visit museums like the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Natural History Museum of Utah, or Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
- Participate in cultural events on campus and throughout SLC
- Look into Learning Abroad programs
Finishing Up
- Talk to your professors & peers about extracurricular options
- Volunteer or intern with museums or other organizations
- Share academic work at an undergraduate conference
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Explore coursework or minors in other departments to enhance your major
- Consult the Writing Center for research & writing support
- Attend a Learning Abroad 101 info session
Making Progress
- Volunteer through the Bennion Center to develop skills & experience
- Create opportunities to research and work with faculty through UROP
- Apply for a FAF grant to seek financial support for extracurricular experiences
- Meet with CFA's Internship Coordinator to explore internships and/or consider options through the Hinckley Institute
- Embark on a Learning Abroad experience
Finishing Up
- Present research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Work with a Career Coach to create or refine professional documents like resumes/cover letters and practice interviews
Transformation
Getting Started
- Become familiar with museums like the UMFA and explore other cultural events on campus/throughout Salt Lake City
- Connect with faculty to discuss ideas for professional careers
Making Progress
- Complete mandatory advising & schedule additional advising meetings as helpful or necessary
- Take GEs and courses outside the major to explore other areas of interest
- Join or create a student club to network with students and professionals who share your interests
- Attend events & activities hosted by the Art History Student Association
- Consider CEL-courses or service projects
Finishing Up
- Explore post-graduation plans with a Career Coach or faculty advisor
- Consider graduate programs to take your knowledge to the next level
- Participate in graduation events
Impact
Getting Started
- Use your ArtsPass to access events
- Explore the college's Create Success Initiative for helpful information about things to do early and often to support your academic success
Making Progress
- Explore Alternative Break options or community service projects through the Bennion Center to engage in the larger community
- Continue to participate and interact in cultural events & activities offered on campus/throughout SLC and beyond
- Attend the Undergraduate Research Symposium in the spring to get ideas for your own research
- Apply to participate in a UROP research project
Finishing Up
- Attend a conference like the College Art Association Annual Conference & go to panels/sessions that interest you
- Talk to your faculty advisor about other ways to share/publish your work
Careers
Getting Started
Making Progress
- Meet with the CFA's Internship Coordinator to discuss your internship plan
- Monitor the ArtsForce Canvas page for internship opportunities
- Draft a resume & update it regularly
- Check out resources like Bennion Center, UROP, Learning Abroad, or the CPDC for additional support and opportunities to build your resume
- Maintain professional social media accounts and network via LinkedIn or Instagram
Finishing Up
- Meet with a Career Coach in the CPDC to practice interviewing and salary negotiation, refine your resume, or discuss career plans
- Apply to grad school, if desired
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
If you are passionate about the arts and would like to explore how art and culture intersect, the Art History major at the U is an outstanding option for you. Art history is the study of the visual arts and cultures of peoples around the globe, and professional art historians seek to understand the context of art: why art and visual culture are made, how visual objects communicate, and how they relate to historical and cultural circumstances. The Art History and Visual Studies program fosters a dynamic research and learning environment for you to study global art and visual culture of the past and present. This major trains you to develop historically-informed approaches to art and visual culture within the context of an interdisciplinary humanities education. Through lecture classes, discussion-based seminars, internships, and independent study, you explore diverse theoretical perspectives and multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of art and visual culture. You also complete seminar capstone experiences that allow you to apply your analytical and research skills to a select art history theme or area. The Art History program offers undergraduate research opportunities, community-engaged internships, and learning abroad experiences and our faculty members are dedicated to providing an open, respectful center for diversity, critical thought, and creative expression. With a degree in Art History from the U, you gain essential skills of visual analysis, critical reasoning and effective communication, and will be well-suited for advanced graduate programs and a wide range of careers.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of cultural artifacts, visual images, and visual representation specific to a historical period or cultural or geographical context
- Demonstrate an understanding of the scope of concepts, theories, and approaches to research and interpretation in the study of art and visual culture
- Identify, analyze, and assess concepts and approaches in a variety of sources and perspectives
- Formulate and express an art historical argument clearly and cogently in written communication
- Demonstrate an understanding of interdisciplinary and pluralistic frameworks of the field of art history and visual culture
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.