Art History is the study of the visual world, both past and present. In our program, we look closely at a wide array of images, objects, buildings, and sites in order to better understand human societies. We seek to understand visual and material culture more broadly. Our majors develop a range of skills, including visual analysis and interpretation, original research and careful argumentation, image-based thinking and communication, and clear and persuasive writing in a variety of modes (e.g., analytical, creative, and journalistic).
With the University situated in the Twin Cities, near world-class museums such as the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Weisman Art Museum (right on campus!), art history majors find a strong connection to collections and touring exhibitions at museums like these. In the heart of a large urban area with an amazingly vital arts scene, there are plenty of opportunities to supplement your education with real life experiences.
The College of Liberal Arts Advantage: More Than a Major
When you study Art History at the University of Minnesota, you gain the added advantage of a College of Liberal Arts education. At CLA, the liberal arts mean you get more than just a degree in one major or another; it means you will be exposed to different areas of study, to different ways of thinking and learning. In fact, the liberal arts teach you how to learn—how to ask the right questions, how to problem solve, and how to innovate. The liberal arts prepare students for the complexities of our world, because here at CLA you will study not just, say, politics or art but also where politics and art intersect, where science and ethics intersect, where economics and the environment intersect.
