
School of Art
Fine Arts Building, Room 116
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
P 479-575-5202
E-mail: SoArt@uark.edu
Art History
The discipline of art history focuses on the study of the visual objects. In art history classes, the activity is not the creation of art works, as in studio art courses, but rather the analysis of the art forms that have been created from prehistory to the present and produced in a variety of cultures.
Quick Info
Degrees Offered
Bachelor of Arts
Student Organizations
The Society of Art Historians
Art History Faculty
Lynn Jacobs, distinguished professor
John R. Blakinger, endowed associate professor Jennifer A. Greenhill, endowed professor Ana Pulido Rull, associate professor Abra R. Levenson, assistant professor
Janine A. Sytsma, assistant professor
Contact Us
(479) 575-5202
Location
Fine Arts Center, School of Art
340 N. Garland
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Events
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History in the School of Art prepares students to be analytical thinkers, incisive researchers, and polished writers.
This program prepares students for career placement and graduate programs in a range of fields such as:
_Museum or Gallery Curator
_Museum or Gallery Exhibitions Officer
_Art Gallery Manager
_Conservator
_Education
_Archivists
_Preservationists
_Art Restorers
The School of Art offers a wide range of courses, lectures, and seminars in the history of art from antiquity to the present day.
Students will have the opportunity to choose a selection special topic courses that dive deep into more specialized issues and problems in the history of art.
The program provides opportunities for students to pursue individual research interests, including independent study courses for graduate students and for undergraduate students who elect to write an honors thesis.
Course Topics Can Include:
_Pre-Colombian Art and the Art of New Spain
_Ancient
_Medieval
_Renaissance
_Baroque Art
_Modern Art in Europe and America (18th, 19th and 20th centuries)
_African Art
_Contemporary Art
_Critical Theory
_Art Criticism
_New Media
_Museum Studies
Art history is ideal double major with history, world languages, anthropology, business, journalism, English, gender studies – and many other fields.
B.F.A. students can also do a double degree, getting their B.F.A. along with a B.A. in art history.
An art history minor is offered as well. Studio majors, whether B.A. or B.F.A. can earn the minor if they take an additional 3 courses (9 hours) in upper division classes beyond the required art history courses for their major.
Students need to contact their art history mentor and Fulbright College advisor to create their degree plan.
The School of Art and the U of A have designed a vast array of study abroad programs for students to choose from, including summer-term courses at the U of A Rome Center and faculty-led programs.
Art History students are encouraged to apply to these programs, and depending on the courses selected, they may earn art history credit toward their majors or minors.
Financial aid and scholarships are available.
Additional Student Benefits Include:
_Enhances student education
_Exposure and experience new cultures
_Language development
Museum internships are valuable complements to academic coursework in art history.
Our majors have completed or have accepted internshipts at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and other institutions.
We encourage students to apply for these and other internship opportunities to deepen their understanding of art and its institutions.
Internships help students clarify their career goals and provide essential practical experience. In addition, they can strengthen applications to graduate school programs in art history and museum studies.
_Students who are in the major, college honors or departmental honors are eligible to write an honors thesis during their senior year, and can sign up for six hours of credit for this project.
_Contact art history honors mentor at the beginning of the second semester of junior year.
_This opportunity is particularly valuable for those who wish to continue their study of art history in graduate school.
Student planned activities have included symposiums and tours at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, educational trips to regional cities such as Kansas City and Oklahoma City, as well as guest lecturers from national and international scholars.
_U of A art history graduate in the spring of 2012. Adams went on to complete the M.A. program in art history at the University of Utah with a master thesis on Antonio Henrique Amaral’s Battlefield Paintings (1973-1974) and the Brazilian Military Dictatorship.
Robin Atkinson
_U of A art history graduate in the spring of 2011. Atkinson is a Project Archivist for the Senator John Heinz History Center Thomas & Katherine Detre Library & Archives in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Michael Hartman
_U of A art history graduate in the spring of 2014. Hartman completed an internship at the Dallas Museum of Art before enrolling in the M.A. art history at Williams College, and will be entering a Ph.D. program next year.
Dylan Turk
_U of A art history graduate in the spring of 2014. Turk is an assistant curator at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art.