For Prospective Students
Why We're Different
Our students produce original scholarship that they present at our senior colloquium, and they participate in a senior art exhibition featuring their creative work
Through an endowed lecture series, we bring distinguished scholars and artists to campus
All majors gains hands-on and professional experiences and curate shows on campus and in the community
Regional museum field trips to the National Gallery, Smithsonian, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Opportunities to work closely with senior faculty who exhibit, publish, and lecture across the country and around the world
Our Art & Art History students explore art and architecture through creative studio practice and historical inquiry. You will develop visual literacy, critical thinking, aesthetic judgment, and a range of practical skills. You will also develop sophisticated communication and technical abilities that allow you to understand and respond both critically and productively to our world's visual culture. Majors focus their studies in Studio Art or Art History.
Degree Programs
Art History concentrators choose one of three tracks: General art history, Critical Curatorial Studies, or Built Environment Studies. Studio Art concentrators choose between the 2D or 3D tracks.
Courses
See the Undergraduate Catalog to explore the complete list of Art History courses and Studio Art courses.
Research
Studio artists and art historians have very different approaches to research, with the same overall goal: Understanding the development and expression of visual arts and current disciplinary issues. We have many resources that help both the studio artist and art historian.
Our faculty-curated Andrews Gallery exhibits contemporary work in various media, particularly in painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and architecture. Our Visual Resources Center maintains databases of images that support faculty and students in their teaching and research. The Muscarelle Museum of Art features our annual student-curated exhibition. Our newsletter will keep you up to date on our faculty, student, and alumni achievements.
Careers
The flexibility of our program allows you to pursue a wide range of careers in art, architecture, art history, museums, conservation/preservation, teaching, and applied arts in business. Some Art & Art History alumni have also put their skills to work in fields such as medicine or urban planning. Check out our alumni updates to see the breadth of careers our alumni have established.
Talk to Us
Want to know more? Our current students and faculty want to connect with you.
- Get an inside look: contact a current Studio Art or Art History major
- Ask a professor: contact [[ssayek, Professor Sibel Zandi-Sayek, Department Chair]]
