Art: Art History

Art History majors are passionate about looking and thinking critically about art, visual culture, and their histories. Students in OU’s Art History program study the art of different cultures, past and present, in the OU School of Visual Arts surrounded by other students pursuing degrees in art and design, which makes for a dynamic environment that bridges the study of art to the making of art. The adjoining Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art has a large collection of art from around the world with especially strong holdings in Native American art, art of the American West, and French Impressionist and Postimpressionist paintings.  Classes are often taught in the museum to bring students into direct contact with the art they are studying.

In conjunction with the art history courses, undergraduate students also take humanities courses in areas such as history, literature, anthropology, philosophy, or histories of dance, music, or drama. A minimum of four classes in a language are required, as well as nine hours of studio art. Thus, the art history degree is truly interdisciplinary, allowing for many elective courses. Courses in museum studies are offered regularly, and there are many opportunities for museum internships both on and off campus.

Art history courses include:

• Introduction to Art History
• Art History, Theory & Practice
• Introductions to Early Modern Art, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, and Native American Art
• Introduction to Museum Studies
• Upper-division courses on the art of the world from prehistory to the present

Visual Art students may want to explore minors in:

• Classics
• History
• Anthropology
• Language
• Art
• Business Management

• Museums
• Art galleries and auction houses
• Libraries
• State and regional historical societies
• Graduate School
• Colleges and universities

Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website to explore the median pay for jobs you can pursue with this degree.