BA in Art History
With intense training in visual analysis, critical thinking, interpretation, and communication, BA students in Art History at Florida State University are well prepared for a wide range of careers in and out of the arts, as well as graduate study in art history and related fields. Our internationally renowned faculty are experts in three major areas of specialization: the Post-Ancient and Medieval World, Modernities and Modernisms, and the Visual Cultures of the Americas. Their overlapping interests result in a great variety of disciplinary subfields, giving students the opportunity to create their own studies and career paths in innovative ways.
Prospective freshmen and transfer students may apply through the FSU Undergraduate Application Portal. When prompted to choose intended major, select Art History.
Contact Info
Advisor
Emily Johnson
Academic Program Specialist
etjohnson@fsu.edu
(850) 644-8207
Director
Dr. Tenley Bick
Director of Undergraduate Studies
tbick@fsu.edu
Degree Requirements
For the BA in Art History, students must complete 45 credit hours of coursework, including 39 in art history and 6 in studio art, with a minimum grade of C in all major coursework. The foundation survey courses (ARH 2050 and 2051) provide an overview of major artists and works of art from around the world. Two seminars (ARH 4800) are required of all majors. For a detailed outline of program requirements, see Course Distribution below. For undergraduate courses offered in the upcoming semester, see Current Courses.
Majors must also satisfy all other university requirements for the BA, including a foreign-language course at the 2000-level. Only foreign-language coursework with a C– or better will count toward graduation. Majors may apply up to one 3-hour museum (ARH 4941) toward the upper-level requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Art History (Note: this option is not available to students minoring in Museum Studies, for whom a 6-hour internship is required).
Research Concentration (ARC)
Beginning Fall 2024, all art history majors will identify an “ARC,” or Art History Research Concentration, under the mentorship of the Academic Program Specialist (Emily Johnson) and the Director of Undergraduate Studies (Tenley Bick). Students should identify an ARC by the end of the junior year, or when they’ve earned between 60-90 credit hours. An ARC is satisfied by three 3000- or 4000-level ARH courses offered by the Department of Art History. At least 2 courses of the 3 in the ARC must be 4000-level courses. Concentrations might include historical periods, cultural areas, history of specific media (e.g. books and prints, photography, architecture), or methodological approaches to art history. Students may develop their own ARC after consultation and approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies
Honors in the Major
The Art History Department offers honors in the major to students who wish to pursue an extended independent research project in the form of an honors thesis. The honors program is designed to encourage ambitious students capable of independent initiative to undertake original research. Honors work also gives students the opportunity to work more closely with individual faculty members.
Why Art History at FSU?
Our students are trained to carry out research in art history at the highest levels and to become accomplished professionals in museums, art galleries, the cultural heritage sector, and many other fields. Of our alumni who earned BAs between 2017 and 2023, 42% are employed in arts-related fields and 26% are continuing graduate study in art history, archaeology, management, and law. Employers include the Clark Art Institute, Mennello Museum of American Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, Miami City Ballet, Museum of Florida History, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Dalí Museum.
International Opportunities
Students in Art History at Florida State University also have a variety of opportunities for international internships and studies. Art History-intensive programs and courses are offered in London, Paris, Panama, and Valencia. Since the founding of the FSU Florence Program in 1966, Art History has collaborated with FSU’s top-ranked International Programs to offer courses at rich cultural sites around the world. Visit International Programs for the latest information on upcoming programs abroad.
