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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2020-2021

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
  • Art Gallery Associate
  • Creative Writer
  • Education Director
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Fundraising Manager
  • Museum Educator
  • Recreation Manager
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Art Economist
  • College Professor
  • Museum Director
  • Publishing 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
Transfer Maps

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
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Complete your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study (FWS) job on- or off-campus through Handshake.
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation with the da Vinci Center.
  • Create a draft resume and meet with a career advisor in VCU Career Services to discuss it.
  • 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

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Ask questions about how to use the library.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.  
  • Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes, and strategies for success in your program.
  • Complete the University Core courses by the end of your sophomore year.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for the New Leaders Retreat or Alternative Spring Break.
  • Find opportunities and organizations through SOC that can help you make a difference and make your mark.
  • Meet with a faculty member to discuss your personal and professional interests.
  • Take a service-learning class or volunteer to address a social issue (Hands on Greater Richmond).
  • 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
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 ask to serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.   
  • Get plugged into VCULink to connect with students and alumni.
  • Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Identify scholars in your field; learn from their articles and career path.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Deepen your expertise at finding information in your discipline by working with your subject expert librarian & using research guides.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • See your academic and career advisors regularly to discuss your progress towards graduation and career planning.
  • Take ARTH 390 Art Historical Methods. 
  • Take ARTH 302 if anticipating using ARTH 493 as the capstone.
  • Complete foreign language at the 202-level.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Continue to find opportunities and organizations through SOC that can help you make a difference and make your mark.
  • Create a community-engaged research project.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
  • Consider joining professional associations, such as the College Art Association or Virginia Association of Museums, and attending conferences.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Apply to be a Diversity Ambassador with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
  • Richmond is known for hosting a wide array of festivals! Learn about new cultures, food, and music by attending one of these events.
  • 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!
  • Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Research graduate/professional schools at least 1 year in advance of deadlines. Study for and complete any exams the summer before senior year. 
  • Talk to advisors, faculty, and VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
  • If applying to graduate school, take additional language classes and begin studying for the GRE.

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
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
  • Reflect on your own cultural competency, and be prepared to answer interview questions that outline how you have worked with diverse populations.
  • Seek out opportunities to work collaboratively with students from other majors.
  • Take a leadership role in the Art History Club.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Continue to engage in research to create more content for your ePortfolio.
  • Present your research at conference/meeting such as UROP Undergraduate Research Symposium or other conferences. 
  • Reflect on the experiential learning you have engaged in thus far, and discuss with current or potential mentors (peers, faculty, advisors, alumni, professionals).
  • Consider participating in professional networking through relevant organizations, such as the College Art Association or American Alliance of Museums.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for after graduation.
  • Consider training to become an educator through programs like RTR, which prepares graduates from a variety of majors to become effective teachers in high-need schools.
  • Engage with the VCU Alumni Association at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and by joining a VCULink Industry Network and alumni chapter as you prepare to graduate.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed and do a mock interview through InterviewStream or with a career advisor.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

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 your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study (FWS) job on- or off-campus through Handshake.
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation with the da Vinci Center.
  • Create a draft resume and meet with a career advisor in VCU Career Services to discuss it.
  • Engage your creativity, risk-taking and scholarly investigation and apply for a VCUarts Grants and Student Research Programs at VCU.
Experience Year 2
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Ask questions about how to use the library.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses.  
  • Talk to your professors about research interests, picking future classes, and strategies for success in your program.
  • Complete the University Core courses by the end of your sophomore year.
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for the New Leaders Retreat or Alternative Spring Break.
  • Find opportunities and organizations through SOC that can help you make a difference and make your mark.
  • Meet with a faculty member to discuss your personal and professional interests.
  • Take a service-learning class or volunteer to address a social issue (Hands on Greater Richmond).
  • Visit an area art gallery, museum, historic house or other art/object collecting institution.
  • Attend VCUarts public lectures, exhibitions opening, or film screenings.
  • Conduct an informational interview or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would ask to serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.   
  • Get plugged into VCULink to connect with students and alumni.
  • Meet with a coach at The Money Spot to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Identify scholars in your field; learn from their articles and career path.
Year 3
  • Deepen your expertise at finding information in your discipline by working with your subject expert librarian & using research guides.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • See your academic and career advisors regularly to discuss your progress towards graduation and career planning.
  • Take ARTH 390 Art Historical Methods. 
  • Take ARTH 302 if anticipating using ARTH 493 as the capstone.
  • Complete foreign language at the 202-level.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Continue to find opportunities and organizations through SOC that can help you make a difference and make your mark.
  • Create a community-engaged research project.
  • Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
  • Consider joining professional associations, such as the College Art Association or Virginia Association of Museums, and attending conferences.
  • Apply to be a Diversity Ambassador with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
  • Richmond is known for hosting a wide array of festivals! Learn about new cultures, food, and music by attending one of these events.
  • 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!
  • Update your resume to include how you have developed your communication and interpersonal skills for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Research graduate/professional schools at least 1 year in advance of deadlines. Study for and complete any exams the summer before senior year. 
  • Talk to advisors, faculty, and VCU Career Services about graduate school versus a job.
  • If applying to graduate school, take additional language classes and begin studying for the GRE.
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.
  • Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
  • Reflect on your own cultural competency, and be prepared to answer interview questions that outline how you have worked with diverse populations.
  • Seek out opportunities to work collaboratively with students from other majors.
  • Take a leadership role in the Art History Club.
  • Continue to engage in research to create more content for your ePortfolio.
  • Present your research at conference/meeting such as UROP Undergraduate Research Symposium or other conferences. 
  • Reflect on the experiential learning you have engaged in thus far, and discuss with current or potential mentors (peers, faculty, advisors, alumni, professionals).
  • Consider participating in professional networking through relevant organizations, such as the College Art Association or American Alliance of Museums.
  • Complete exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for after graduation.
  • Consider training to become an educator through programs like RTR, which prepares graduates from a variety of majors to become effective teachers in high-need schools.
  • Engage with the VCU Alumni Association at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and by joining a VCULink Industry Network and alumni chapter as you prepare to graduate.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed and do a mock interview through InterviewStream or with a career advisor.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.