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Art HistoryMajor

An interdisciplinary field drawing on philosophy, history, literature, religion and mythology, Art History examines works of art and their contexts. Our program combines the benefits of a small, close-knit program with the facilities and resources of a major research university.

Overview

What is Art History at WVU like?

Description

The BA in Art History provides a foundation in the history of art and architecture in its cultural and theoretical context. Courses in Art History introduce tools for the making and analysis of art.

The Art Museum of WVU, the Mesaros Galleries in the Creative Arts Center and the Visiting Artist Lecture Series offer unique opportunities in your course of study and allow for curatorial exploration. Internships with regional museums and galleries are possible.

Each semester, Art History field trips travel to study works in regional museums. Majors are encouraged to study abroad through several field study and study abroad programs available. Art History courses are offered abroad through our special Global Positioning Studies program that includes the Disegno Italia program, 18th Century Painting and Photography in France and Medieval Stained Glass in France.

Art History program highlights:

At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Fast Facts

What makes Art History at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

  • Our program’s reputation and quality faculty open up many doors for you to continue learning through top graduate programs and internships, or to launch directly into gallery work. You're encouraged to pursue your interests through summer programs and field schools.
  • The Evansdale Library contains an extensive collection of art history books and has a dedicated Creative Arts librarian to assist with student research. You'll also have digital access to scholarly databases and journals through the library website.
  • Courses cover a wide range of topics, including Art History Core, the Classics, Western European Traditions and Modern and Contemporary Studies.

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Professional Organizations

Network with professionals in your field as a student member of:

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Our students pursue a variety of careers in academia, archaeology, gallery and museum work and library sciences. Many go on to graduate school to obtain their MA in Art History. Undergraduates in our program have been accepted by top graduate schools throughout North America, including the University of Western Ontario.

Alumni have participated in prestigious internships at galleries like Pace Prints in New York City, and have found employment in the Archives of the Smithsonian and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Art History major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Employers

Graduates from this major have gone to work at:

Courses

What are the courses like in Art History at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Art History major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Capstone Projects

Before graduating, all undergraduates in this major complete an academic project (or "capstone") to demonstrate their research, communication and critical thinking skills.

ART 401 is the Senior Capstone Course. This class concentrates upon independent research, closely supervised, on a topic of student's selection. This must be well-defined and contain historical, critical and theoretical issues.

Cost and Aid

How much does Art History at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current West Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

Scholarship Chart

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

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Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Ohio Tuition Reciprocity

As the result of a special agreement, students from Ohio who are fully admitted to Art History can enroll at WVU and pay in-state tuition rates. Students must be admitted to both the University and this major.

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Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Art History at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Art History major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2022-23 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Art History at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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Visit WVU

It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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