Bachelor of Arts in Art History

Our students become adept writers, thinkers and cultural leaders, uniquely equipped to enter a society and job market that value these skills.  

The undergraduate degree in art history emphasizes knowledge and awareness of the major artistic traditions of the world in a historical and theoretical context. Students explore varied methodologies, as well as artistic media and techniques. Our students become adept writers, thinkers and cultural leaders, uniquely equipped to enter a society and job market that value these skills.

  • Think and write critically about art in its cultural contexts
  • Interpret historical significance and critical information about works of art, artists and related issues
  • Know the methods by which art can be evaluated to conduct scholarly research on art history topics

Classes are taught in the 170,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Visual Arts Complex located at the heart of the CU campus, which includes the CU Art Museum​

Further your education through graduate seminars, teaching opportunities, museum internships and scholarly fieldwork­­ 

Gain internship experience with work in art­-related agencies, venues and museums

Be successful.

Art history strategically equips students with tools needed to succeed in, and contribute to, today’s culturally pluralistic society and job market.  

 
$52,600

Median salary of CU Boulder art history students 1–5 years after graduation, which is more than the nationwide average of comparable majors as reported by PayScale

 

Art historian, archivist, curator, museum support staff and educator are some common jobs of our graduates; museums, philanthropic institutions, government and educational institutions also employ our students

 

A degree in arts and sciences helps develop critical thinking and writing abilities, skills that more than 90% of employers value

(The Association of American Colleges & Universities)

Academic Plan & Requirements

The BA degree allows students to complete various artistic coursework, including:

  • Studio Art
  • History of World Art
  • Global Art and Visual Culture
  • U.S. Art Across Cultures

Courses cover artistic production from a wide range of cultures and periods:

  • European art and architecture—ancient, medieval, early modern (Renaissance, Baroque), modern and contemporary
  • Art and architecture of Asia and the Americas (Pre-Columbian, colonial Latin American, Native North American)

A minimum of 39 credits are required for the major, 24 of which must be upper-division. In their fourth year, students complete a capstone class in art history. The Department of Art and Art History also offers a minor in art history for undergraduate students, regardless of college or school, who are interested in the field but cannot undertake the major.

Additional degree options for art history students include: 

  • Bachelor’s-accelerated master's: A combined bachelor's (BA) and master's (MA) degree is offered for highly motivated undergraduate students. The BA/MA program allows students to take advanced courses at an accelerated pace, engage in an independent research project and obtain both degrees in five years.

Community & Involvement

We offer students many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies, and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.  

Be inspired.

The Department of Art and Art History has an extensive list of alumni working and performing in a variety of fields across the globe.

Some alumni of the program include:

Steve Ells

(BA'88)
Founder and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill

Molly Hatch

(MFA ceramics, '08)
Artist designer for Hatch Designs LLC who has sold her work to Anthropologie, Galison, Chronicle Books, Quarry, Graphique de France and more

Ben Jackel

(BFA'00)
A sculptor living in Los Angeles who has had solo exhibitions at L.A. Louver and other galleries; in 2014 he was artist-in-residence at Fullerton College, Fullerton, California

Willis Pyle

('37)
An animator with Walt Disney Animation Studios who worked on such films as Pinocchio, Fantasia and Bambi

Dexter Williams

(MA'80)
Director of fixed income markets at Capital Group Companies in Los Angeles

News & Stories

College of Arts & Sciences magazine cover