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Degrees and Certificates
Art History
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Art Historians Illuminate the Human Spirit
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with a concentration in Art History
Some people who thrive in a visual arts career aren’t necessarily skilled painters, sculptors or photographers. They have discovered their passion for examining and illuminating art and culture—and find it rewarding to share their knowledge and perspective with others.
In AUM’s interdisciplinary BA with a concentration in Art History, you’ll be introduced to the fascinating history of art through images, artifacts, buildings, and works of art. Our concentration offers courses on art from the ancient world to the contemporary. You’ll be trained in highly desirable, transferable skills prized by employers, such as visual literacy, critical thinking, primary research, and effective written and oral communication skills.
At AUM, small classes foster long term relationships with your professors and free-thinkers like yourself. Attend lectures by visiting art historians or partner with more than 15 area cultural sites as an intern. Study abroad to enrich your educational experience.
You can put your BA with a concentration in Art History to work in a variety of ways. Art historians are needed in museums, art galleries, auction houses, private and corporate art collections, art foundations, and nonprofit or government organizations. You might research or coordinate exhibitions for museums, write grants for an arts-based organization, manage a collection or archive, or devise public arts programming. Of course, our concentration will also prepare you for graduate school.
Overall employment of archivists, curators, and museum staff is projected to grow 19 percent from now to 2030, much faster than the average growth for all occupations. Regarding American museums, they attract over 850 million visitors per year—more than attendees of all major sporting events and theme parks combined—and employ over 400,000 people nationwide. Employers trust graduates with a formal education in art history to understand and address the public’s interest in science, art, and history.
The other concentration available in this BA degree program is Visual Art.
Get Your Degree
The Know How
What you will know with a Art History concentration from AUM
We Prepare You For Life
You’ll learn how to assess problems and think critically in order to create solutions, a skill that will help you to succeed not only in your career but also in life.
We Encourage You To Think
Know that your passion and expertise changes our view of the world. You reveal what the untrained eye cannot see, thereby illuminating the human experience in new ways.
We Set The Bar Success
Through art you will better understand the human experience. You will succeed in gaining a career path that’s rewarding and flexible.
We Develop Valuable Skills
Know how a combination of skills in visual analysis and written communication is valuable in many careers—even those that are not considered “creative.”
Points of Pride
Soaring Warhawks
Customize Your Concentration
We Have the Answers
Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth
Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.
The Fine Arts faculty have numerous contacts and relationships in the art world, and you’ll benefit from this network when seeking internships. The department has an active internship program including partnerships with more than 15 area cultural sites and organizations.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts is more of a professional course of study where you design and create works like graphic designs, paintings, or photography. The Bachelor of Arts degree, such as in Art History, is focused more on academics while preparing students for the job market.
With an Art History concentration, you will be ready to undertake a variety of career choices. AUM’s Career Development Center helps you jumpstart your job search and use your network to expand your career options.
Degree Options
Is a Concentration in Art History right for me?
With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.
| Career/Job Title | Entry-level Education | Job Growth 2020-2030 | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist, Curator, and Museum Worker | Bachelor’s Degree | 19% (Much faster than average) | $52,140 |
| High School Art Teacher | Bachelor’s degree (plus certification) | 8% (As fast as average) | $62,870 |
| Art Director | Bachelor’s degree | 11% (Faster than average) | $97,270 |
| Museum Technician/Conservator | Bachelor’s degree | 19% (Much faster than average) | $45,710 |
Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Learn More
In-Class
Quick Facts
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
At AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.
Our academic departments include Communication and Theatre, Criminal Justice, Economics, English and Philosophy, Fine Arts, History and World Cultures, Political Science and Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, and Army ROTC. To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.
Official Name of the Art History Concentration
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with a concentration in Art History
Modality
This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.
Visual Art
Required Courses
To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, fine arts, and electives. Contact the Department of Fine Arts for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.
The course listings below are only a few of the classes this concentration requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.
| Course Number | Course Name | What you will know… |
|---|---|---|
| VISU 3020 | The Renaissance in Italy | Know how the masters like Leonardo da Vince, Michelangelo, and Raphael were influenced by the Renaissance. Unlock the past with a study of historical events and the visual artists who impacted humanity forever. |
| VISU 3070 | Women in the History of Art | Why have historical events been interpreted so differently over time? Know how history was written with this study of women in art. Investigate the visual arts for evidence to reveal new perspectives about the past. |
| VISU 4130 | The Artist in Film and Fiction | Do you have to be crazy to be an artist? Why does Western culture seem obsessed with the construction of the artist as a tortured genius? This course examines visual artists and the creative process as depicted in film and fiction. |
