What Will I Learn in an Art History Degree Program?

In this degree program, students will learn to appreciate art as well as the history and meaning behind some of the world's most famous works. To begin their course work, students will take survey classes that cover many periods and cultures. Additionally, most degree programs will require courses on specific time periods such as the Baroque, Renaissance and modern, as well as those that address work from such places as China, Africa and South America. Students will be able to take a wide variety of courses or hone in on one area of the field that particularly piques their interest. Graduates will emerge with acute knowledge of the world of art as well as the ability to write well about it.

What Can I Do With an Art History Degree?

Like many other liberal arts degrees, an art history one can be challenging to rely on directly to get work. However, there are jobs out there for those who know where to look. Galleries and art museums need employees who know extensively about art and artists to help hang work, guide guests and design exhibits. Although many graduates go into this kind of work, others choose to pursue more commercial ventures with publishers and magazines, buying art and researching photos. Additional education at the master's or doctoral level can lead to work in research and academia.

What Is the Career Outlook for Art History Degree Students?

For art history degree holders, finding a job in the art world can often mean a great deal of competition, as there are many more graduates than there are jobs that require an art history degree. Many students end up working in fields that are tangentially related to art history, improving their prospects. Pay and job opportunities depend largely on the type of work and the amount of education art history students choose to pursue. Those with higher level degrees will be able to take on work at museums as curators and in colleges as professors, while those with undergraduate degrees might have to be a little more creative in how they use their education.