Students working at an on-site preservation project.

Bachelor of Arts in
Art History

Discover the History of Art through Critical and Hands-On Study

Gain skills that are increasingly in demand in today's visually-oriented world in the bachelor’s in art history program at the University at Albany. In small classes covering a rich variety of art, including painting, sculpture, architecture, printmaking, drawing, photography, video and film, performance, installation, and digital media, you will develop expertise in writing and critical thinking through working with visual material.  

With a BA in Art History, you will be prepared to pursue graduate work leading to careers in museum curating, education, art conservation, and historic preservation, as well as digital image management for institutions from museums to libraries to businesses.

Additional Program Information

Undergraduate Bulletin   |   Course Catalog   |   Four-Year Plan   | Department Contact Sarah Cohen

Program of Study

programofstudy

Explore three possible tracks of study to tailor your program to your individual career goals and interests. 


Art History Research and Internships

Build a thorough portfolio of skills and knowledge that will prepare you for a career in the art world, as well as graduate school in art history, visual resources curating and management, other art-related graduate programs, and museum studies. You can incorporate internships into this plan for hands-on professional experience. 


Film Studies

Take advantage of the option to fulfill your art history requirements with coursework in Film Studies. Critical studies courses on film history, theory, criticism, and contemporary film topics can accompany video production courses or other hands-on learning and creative output projects.


Honors Program in Art History

An Honors Program in Art History allows declared Art History majors who have excelled in at least their first 12 credits of Art History coursework to pursue an advanced program of study and independent research. The Honors program will prepare you for pursuing in-depth graduate work in art history, art conservation, museum studies, or film studies.

Core Courses

Choose three:

  • Survey of Art in the Western World I and II
  • The Art of Medieval Knighthood
  • Introduction to Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture
  • Art in France from Absolutism to Impressionism
  • Introduction to Ancient Art: Greek and Roman Mural Painting and Floor Mosaic
  • Contemporary Art: A Global Perspective

Choose one:

  • Art and Society in Early Modern France
  • Research Seminar in Art History


Lower Division Electives

6 credits


Upper Division Electives

18 credits

 

Internship Opportunities

Receive one-on-one advisement and personalized counseling on internships and careers from Art History and Film Studies faculty, while gaining hands-on professional experience for academic credit through internships in museums and galleries throughout New York.

Recent placements at art history internships include:

  • Brooklyn Museum
  • New York State Museum
  • Albany Center Gallery
  • University at Albany Art Museum
  • University at Albany Library
  • Sand Lake Center for the Arts
  • Empire State Plaza Art Collection
  • Albany Institute of History and Art
  • New York State Bureau of Historic Sites

 

UAlbany Art History Minor, Sydney Pennington
Sydney Pennington, an art history minor and computer science major, is working as a Digital Communications Intern at the Brooklyn Museum. She helps to develop and write original social media content, assists with community management and audience development and tracks social media engagement.

 

internships

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Options


You can save time and money by beginning your graduate degree coursework while still enrolled as an undergraduate student. Up to 12 academic credits, billed at the undergraduate rate, will count towards both degrees – so you’ll complete your combined program in only 5 years and spend less than you would if you completed each program separately. Choose to combine your Art History undergraduate degree with the following graduate programs:

combined

MA in History
This master’s program deepens your exploration of history from U.S. and European history to cultural and gender history, with focus tracks in geographic, thematic and public history.
 

MS in Information Science
This ALA-accredited master's program covers a broad range of interdisciplinary topics related to library science, information processing, information management and data analysis.

UAlbany graduate at Commencement
Career Outcomes

With a degree in Art History, you can work in a variety of settings, from museums and galleries to classrooms and offices.

Common career choices for Art History majors include:

  • Museum Curator
  • Art conservation
  • Art educator
  • Museum marketing and public relations
  • Art Therapist
  • Art Appraiser
  • Gallerist
  • Digital Image Curator / Visual Information Manager

 

Iszzy Hernandez '22, stands on the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY.
Iszzy Hernandez '22, who earned a double BA degree in Art and Art History at UAlbany, has taken a position at the Museum of Modern Art as the Assistant to the Deputy Director in the Learning and Audience Engagement Department. Iszzy was well prepared for this position through her experiential learning as a collections intern in the University Museum, a peer mentor, a peer career advisor and teaching assistant.
careers

"They have a huge amount of resources that they curate and make sure the students have so they can understand art and understand these exhibitions and these galleries, and give them a better idea of why it's important and why we keep art in the academic world."

- Rue Taylor '25

UAlbany Majors: Art History
Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
  • Analyze visual and structural features of works of art and architecture.
  • Identify and describe salient aspects of form, structure, and medium.
  • Use art historical terminology.
  • Interpret cultural significance of art, and architecture.
  • Identify, analyze iconography and representational, symbolic elements; assess meaning from perspective of artist, patron, viewer, and/or function. Identify cultural artifacts influencing work of art.
  • Practice key elements of the discipline of art history.
  • Compare/contrast images and structures using traditional art historical practice.
  • Identify scholarly resources for research in art history; present findings in oral and written form.
  • Relate works of art and architecture to their wider historical context.
  • Locate works of art and architecture within a chronological framework.
  • Identify key historical events, movements, and ideologies that impinge upon artistic production.
  • Write coherently and persuasively in the art historical idiom. Formulate coherent sentences and essays. Assess and revise writing for accuracy and effectiveness of argumentation.
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What Makes The University at Albany Great

Student move-in day.

Living-Learning Communities

Live and take classes with other incoming freshmen who share your personal interests, passions or intended academic major.

A student abroad visiting a monument.

Study Abroad

Become a global citizen: international experience is crucial to success in business, education, research, and public policy.

A student conducting undergraduate research.

Undergraduate Research

Research, scholarship, and creative activities at the University at Albany is an option for all students, across all academic disciplines. You will be able to learn more about a specific academic field or career path all while building a long-lasting mentoring relationship with a faculty member or principal investigator.

Explore Minors

Build competency in a passion or strengthen your resume.

A minor consists of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits of advanced coursework at or above the 300 level. Most undergraduate degrees require completing a minor and it has to have a different title from your major.

Full List of Minors
Full List of Minors
  • Acting
  • Africana Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Art History
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Bioethics
  • Biology
  • Broadcast Meteorology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Communication (Fully Online Option)
  • Computer Science
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice Studies (Fully Online Option)
  • Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • Documentary Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics
  • Educational Studies
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Electronics
  • Film Studies
  • Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Fully Online Option)
  • English
  • Forensic Science
  • French
  • Game Design and Development
  • Geographic Information Science
  • Geography
  • Globalization Studies
  • Hebrew
  • History (Fully Online Option)
  • Informatics (Fully Online Option)
  • Instrumental Performance
  • International Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese Studies
  • Journalism (Fully Online Option)
  • Judaic Studies
  • Korean Studies
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies
  • Law and Philosophy
  • Leadership
  • Legal Studies
  • LGBTQ Studies
  • Library and Information Science
  • Linguistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Music
  • Musical Performance
  • Musical Theatre
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Pre-Education
  • Psychology (Fully Online Option)
  • Public Health
  • Public Policy
  • Religious Studies
  • Russian
  • Russian and Eastern European Studies
  • Social Welfare Studies
  • Sociology (Fully Online Option)
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Sustainability
  • Theatre
  • Theatrical Design/Technology
  • Urban Studies and Planning
  • U.S. Latino Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

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