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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2018-2019

Art History

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):
Art Historical
Program description

The Department of Art History offers programs that acquaint students with the humanistic discipline of art historical inquiry. While providing students with the opportunity for a broad education on the liberal arts and humanities, the department also emphasizes a close bond with the studio and performing arts and end enjoys a close relationship with the other departments in the School of the Arts.

The department offers a broad-based education in the humanistic discipline of art history at the baccalaureate, masters’ and doctoral levels.

Overseas studies are available through university-sponsored programs abroad in Europe and Asia.

Career opportunities

This curriculum provides students the best possible background for future graduate work in art history.  Additionally, the study of art history prepares students with highly sought after skills in writing and communication, problem solving, critical thinking, creative expression,  cultural awareness, independent thought, organization and research,  and advocacy.  Current students take advantage of multiple internship opportunities in Richmond’s vibrant art community to gain practical experience, and alumni of the program may hold positions in the public and private art worlds, government, nonprofits, and businesses, depending upon their interests and expertise.

Change of major requirements

Student must submit application to VCUarts Admissions. https://academicadvising.vcu.edu/major/

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Archivist
  • Art Gallery Associate
  • Creative Writer
  • Education Director
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Fundraising Manager
  • Museum Educator
  • Recreation Manager
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 3.0

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Art History
Building/room location:
922 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Phone:
(804) 828-2784
Email:
arthistory@vcu.edu
http://arts.vcu.edu/arthistory/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Complete ARTH 103 and ARTH 104.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take the foreign language placement test to find out which level to register for.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s museums, parks, festivals and events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
  • Get to know Cabell Library, the Campus Learning Center and the Art History Club.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers and job titles in your field.
  • Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Engage your creativity, risk-taking and scholarly investigation and apply for a VCUarts Grants and Student Research Programs at VCU.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Build your LinkedIn profile with Career Services.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic or career advisor, to identify and schedule pre-professional experiences.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology and creative skills using Lynda.
  • Visit The Well, The Money Spot, and use tools like What Does it Cost to Be You to learn and practice independent living skills.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Explore certificates and skills-based value added courses with your advisor. Fine arts studio minor or chemistry minor aligns well with conservation and help to fulfill electives and gen eds.
  • Talk to your professors during office hours about research interests in different areas of art, picking future classes, and strategies for success.
  • Complete the University Core courses by the end of your sophomore year.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA)
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Visit an area art gallery, museum, historic house or other art/object collecting institution.
  • Attend VCUarts public lectures, exhibitions opening, or film screenings.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Consider short-term, semester and year-long Study Abroad opportunities and explore the possibility of completing an internship or research project while abroad.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct an informational interview or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Identify scholars in your field; review their articles and career path to learn how these work in tandem with research opportunities.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • See your advisor each semester to discuss degree progression and elective coursework.
  • Take ARTH 390 Art Historical Methods. 
  • Take ARTH 302 Museums in the 21st Century, if anticipating using ARTH 493 Internship as the capstone. ARTH302 is a prereq for ARTH 493.
  • Complete language requirement at 202 level (French, Spanish, German or Italian).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Create a community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Consider joining professional associations, such as the College Art Association or Virginia Association of Museums, and attending conferences.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Apply for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office.
  • Junior year is the best time to study abroad while completing fine arts studio or major requirements in locations including Florence, Lima, and London. Funding is available!
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Search for internship and job opportunities. 
  • Develop a professional online presence by updating your Linkedin page, creating a personal website or e-portfolio, or networking through social media.
  • Support your upcoming summer internship and apply for a VCUarts Internship Support Grant.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Talk to your academic advisor, faculty, and/or career services about whether graduate school or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • If applying to graduate school, take additional language classes and begin studying for the GRE.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Update your “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic advisor.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Complete your senior capstone by enrolling in ARTH 490, ARTH 493, or ARTH 497.
  • Enroll in additional language courses, if planning to apply for graduate school.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Consider participating in an undergraduate research experience (College Art Association, Virginia Association of Museums, American Alliance of Museums). 
  • Attend or present your research at SECAC or NCUR.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Consider participating in professional networking through relevant organizations, such as the College Art Association or American Alliance of Museums.
  • Complete online tutorials through Lynda.com to hone relevant skills, such as web coding.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Build your LinkedIn profile with Career Services.
  • Have your personal statement, writing sample and curriculum vitae reviewed and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2018-2019

Art History

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):
Art Historical
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Complete ARTH 103 and ARTH 104.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take the foreign language placement test to find out which level to register for.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s museums, parks, festivals and events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
  • Get to know Cabell Library, the Campus Learning Center and the Art History Club.
  • Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers and job titles in your field.
  • Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Engage your creativity, risk-taking and scholarly investigation and apply for a VCUarts Grants and Student Research Programs at VCU.
  • Build your LinkedIn profile with Career Services.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic or career advisor, to identify and schedule pre-professional experiences.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology and creative skills using Lynda.
  • Visit The Well, The Money Spot, and use tools like What Does it Cost to Be You to learn and practice independent living skills.
Experience Year 2
  • Explore certificates and skills-based value added courses with your advisor. Fine arts studio minor or chemistry minor aligns well with conservation and help to fulfill electives and gen eds.
  • Talk to your professors during office hours about research interests in different areas of art, picking future classes, and strategies for success.
  • Complete the University Core courses by the end of your sophomore year.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA)
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Visit an area art gallery, museum, historic house or other art/object collecting institution.
  • Attend VCUarts public lectures, exhibitions opening, or film screenings.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Consider short-term, semester and year-long Study Abroad opportunities and explore the possibility of completing an internship or research project while abroad.
  • Conduct an informational interview or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Identify scholars in your field; review their articles and career path to learn how these work in tandem with research opportunities.
Year 3
  • See your advisor each semester to discuss degree progression and elective coursework.
  • Take ARTH 390 Art Historical Methods. 
  • Take ARTH 302 Museums in the 21st Century, if anticipating using ARTH 493 Internship as the capstone. ARTH302 is a prereq for ARTH 493.
  • Complete language requirement at 202 level (French, Spanish, German or Italian).
  • Create a community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Consider joining professional associations, such as the College Art Association or Virginia Association of Museums, and attending conferences.
  • Apply for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office.
  • Junior year is the best time to study abroad while completing fine arts studio or major requirements in locations including Florence, Lima, and London. Funding is available!
  • Search for internship and job opportunities. 
  • Develop a professional online presence by updating your Linkedin page, creating a personal website or e-portfolio, or networking through social media.
  • Support your upcoming summer internship and apply for a VCUarts Internship Support Grant.
  • Talk to your academic advisor, faculty, and/or career services about whether graduate school or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • If applying to graduate school, take additional language classes and begin studying for the GRE.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Update your “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with your academic advisor.
Excel Year 4
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Complete your senior capstone by enrolling in ARTH 490, ARTH 493, or ARTH 497.
  • Enroll in additional language courses, if planning to apply for graduate school.
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Consider participating in an undergraduate research experience (College Art Association, Virginia Association of Museums, American Alliance of Museums). 
  • Attend or present your research at SECAC or NCUR.
  • Consider participating in professional networking through relevant organizations, such as the College Art Association or American Alliance of Museums.
  • Complete online tutorials through Lynda.com to hone relevant skills, such as web coding.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Build your LinkedIn profile with Career Services.
  • Have your personal statement, writing sample and curriculum vitae reviewed and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.