Art History Minor
The Art + Design Department offers a Minor in Art History which allows students to expand their knowledge of the history and context of the visual arts while majoring in another concentration. Columbia's Art History Minor is designed to reflect our engagement with contemporary culture, our commitment to diversity, and our emphasis on critical analysis. In addition to the core art history surveys, students in the Art History Minor will focus on modern and contemporary art, non-western art, and art theory and criticism. A knowledge of Art History combined with other fields will provide students with excellent preparation for graduate studies or for exciting careers in museums, galleries, art criticism, and cultural agencies. With a Minor in Art History students majoring in Fine Arts or one of the Design fields will gain a better understanding of the history of style and ideas within their discipline and will be able to think and speak more knowledgeably about their own work. In addition, the Art History Minor allows many possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration, in particular with concentrations in Journalism, Cultural Studies, and Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management.
The basic skills of art history ? analyzing visual elements and relating art to its historical and cultural contexts ? have become potent tools for understanding our world as it becomes increasingly dependent upon visual media. These skills prepare students for a wide variety of professional opportunities or for further graduate study, whether in art history, other fields of the arts and humanities, journalism, or management. Graduates with a B.A. in Art History typically pursue art-related careers in museums and art galleries, as well as teaching, art criticism and publishing, art conservation, historic preservation, arts management, and cultural advocacy.
The basic skills of art history ? analyzing visual elements and relating art to its historical and cultural contexts ? have become potent tools for understanding our world as it becomes increasingly dependent upon visual media. These skills prepare students for a wide variety of professional opportunities or for further graduate study, whether in art history, other fields of the arts and humanities, journalism, or management. Graduates with a B.A. in Art History typically pursue art-related careers in museums and art galleries, as well as teaching, art criticism and publishing, art conservation, historic preservation, arts management, and cultural advocacy.