Art History

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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

School of the Arts

Program description

Art History is a liberal arts program composed of an academic course of study exposing students to the scholarship, theoretical perspectives, and research methods of not only the history of art, but related disciplines in the humanities. Courses focus on cultures, historical periods, and regions. The program also includes possibilities for directed research projects as well as museum internships. 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 enjoys a close relationship with the other departments in the School of the Arts. Art history students complete a Level 4 REAL experience as a part of the major capstone course. 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

Continuing VCU students considering a change of major to art history must have have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA and submit a short research writing sample of 600 words with their change of major application.

Bachelor-level job titles

Administrative Coordinator
Conservation Technician
Content Strategist
Donor Services Coordinator
Preservation Librarian
Program Coordinator
Project Manager
Gallery Host

Graduate and professional level job titles

Art Conservator
Curator
Librarian and Archives Manager
Museum Educator

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Art History, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Art History, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's

Plan of study in Bulletin

Art History, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Art History, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), accelerated Bachelor's-to-Master's

Requirements

Highest level of math required

Quantitative Foundations requirement only

Science required

Natural Sciences requirement only

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

3.0+ cumulative GPA

Transfer Maps

View Transfer Maps for this major

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

https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/art-history/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Carefully consider your major choice by attending departmental events, reviewing program learning outcomes in the Bulletin.
Enroll in Art Foundation Project Courses to test a major that you may be interested in.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson.
Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
Attend a documentation workshop to prepare for the creation of your digital portfolio.
Participate in Spukhaüs and the Annual AFO Juried Student Show
Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Create a digital portfolio or website for the Major Declaration. Attend a portfolio building workshop hosted by Art Foundation and the Workshop. Registration is on Handshake.
Research VCUarts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities.
Thoughtfully write about your major and career goals for the Major Declaration.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Apply for required teacher preparation on March 1.
Enroll in ARTE 310, ARTE 311, ARTE 250, and EDUS 301.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
Consider volunteering with Investigation Now or other community opportunities.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Build your best work via supportive critique in practicum-based, peer feedback groups.
Enter teacher preparation and enroll in the practicum sequence of ARTE 401 and ARTE 402.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.
Build your resume and get your research funded by applying for a VCUarts undergraduate research grant.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Apply for an internship with a community art space or art museum like the VMFA, Art 180, or the Visual Arts Center.
Take and pass the required Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge exam prior to final semester before applying for clinical internship (student teaching) to stay on track with the commonwealth's licensure requirements.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Be sure you complete TEDU 485 or TEDU 486, as well as ARTE 404, no later than your final semester so you meet your clinical internship requirement.
Plan for meeting your student teaching requirement and apply to your clinical internship on September 1 for spring placement or February 1 for fall placement.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Consider Peace Corps Prep, or scholarship opportunities through the National Scholarship Office.
Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
Complete Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course.
Join national and state professional organizations like the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA).

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Complete a Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course to meet teaching licensure requirements.
Use your clinical internship to create your own professional teaching portfolio with lesson plans and learning artifacts.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

Art History

School of the Arts

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Carefully consider your major choice by attending departmental events, reviewing program learning outcomes in the Bulletin. Enroll in Art Foundation Project Courses to test a major that you may be interested in.	Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community. Consider applying to the Honors College. Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.) Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks. Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson. Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!	Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones. Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services. Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app. Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage. Attend a documentation workshop to prepare for the creation of your digital portfolio. Participate in Spukhaüs and the Annual AFO Juried Student Show Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.	Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni. Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor. Create a digital portfolio or website for the Major Declaration. Attend a portfolio building workshop hosted by Art Foundation and the Workshop. Registration is on Handshake. Research VCUarts alumni for networking and mentorship opportunities. Thoughtfully write about your major and career goals for the Major Declaration.
Experience	Year 2	Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Apply for required teacher preparation on March 1. Enroll in ARTE 310, ARTE 311, ARTE 250, and EDUS 301.	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work. Consider volunteering with Investigation Now or other community opportunities.	Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Build your best work via supportive critique in practicum-based, peer feedback groups. Enter teacher preparation and enroll in the practicum sequence of ARTE 401 and ARTE 402.	Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Design a community-engaged research project. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.	Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio. Build your resume and get your research funded by applying for a VCUarts undergraduate research grant.	Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center. Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. Apply for an internship with a community art space or art museum like the VMFA, Art 180, or the Visual Arts Center. Take and pass the required Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge exam prior to final semester before applying for clinical internship (student teaching) to stay on track with the commonwealth's licensure requirements.
Excel	Year 4	Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree. Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Be sure you complete TEDU 485 or TEDU 486, as well as ARTE 404, no later than your final semester so you meet your clinical internship requirement. Plan for meeting your student teaching requirement and apply to your clinical internship on September 1 for spring placement or February 1 for fall placement.	Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Consider Peace Corps Prep, or scholarship opportunities through the National Scholarship Office. Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field. Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps. Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity. Complete Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course. Join national and state professional organizations like the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA).	Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey. Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation. Complete a Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course to meet teaching licensure requirements. Use your clinical internship to create your own professional teaching portfolio with lesson plans and learning artifacts.