Program Overview

Learn how to look closely, think critically and conduct research into the context of artmaking through the Bachelor of Arts in Art History in Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. In this 123-credit undergraduate program, you will build an understanding of art and visual culture from an inclusive, global perspective by encouraging awareness of human creativity as a fundamental form of expression in a world where visual literacy is paramount.

As an art history major, you will learn from a large, accomplished faculty with specializations ranging from the ancient to the contemporary who represent a diverse array of global cultures—including arts of Africa and the African diaspora, the Islamic World, Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and the Americas. The Art History bachelor's program’s small class sizes facilitate individual mentorship and strong faculty support while facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration with studio art faculty and majors. The program also offers the possibility of exploring professional paths such as arts administration and curatorial studies, along with the latest scholarly methods such as Digital Humanities—a data and technology driven cultural history with tremendous potential for careers in the arts.

Art History majors at Tyler have access to the outstanding resources of a tier-one public research university, and opportunities for studio practice in world-class facilities. As a vibrant center of art, culture, history and the humanities, Philadelphia becomes an extended classroom offering a rich array of galleries, museums and public art, as well as easy access to thriving arts centers in New York and Washington, D.C. The Art History program’s flexible degree requirements easily supports double majors as well as studying abroad at Temple’s Japan or Rome campuses, giving students an opportunity to investigate visual arts amid different cultural landscapes.

In today’s image-driven media culture, the aptitudes developed through art history support an array of professional applications. Graduates with a BA in Art History embark upon successful careers in auction houses, cultural organizations, galleries and museums or launch futures in advertising, business, community leadership, environmental activism and publishing. They also earn placement in the most competitive graduate programs.