Articles :: Liberal Arts School Articles :: Art, Literature, and Language :: Why Major in Art History?
Why Major in Art History?
by Robyn Tellefsen
Studying the relationship between a culture and its art can reveal the important ideas, institutions, and values of that culture and their effect on individuals and society. Art history examines the development of this relationship across cultures, as well as the elements of style and the aesthetic ideas behind them. Art historians apply the principle that a culture's nature is best revealed by its art when comparing past eras in Western history or when relating Western forms of thought and feeling with those of other cultures.
What will I learn in an art history degree program?
Art history degree programs offer the means of immersing yourself in cultural and aesthetic issues. As part of a broad-based curriculum, an art history major offers a range of courses in American and European painting, architecture, and sculpture from past to present. An art history major provides a broad humanistic education, stressing aesthetic evaluation, critical thinking, and cultural analysis.
What can I do with an art history major?
Some art history grads pursue careers as museum and gallery curators or archivists. Others use art history to hone their intellectual abilities for careers in advertising, design, fashion, media, or publishing. Another path for art historians is art therapy, which utilizes art media, images, the creative art process, and patient/client responses to the created art productions as reflections of an individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts.
Many art history majors attend graduate school in the field. Others go to graduate school in related areas such as American studies, architecture, arts administration, historic preservation, and museum training.
How is the job market for art history degree holders?
The employment outlook for art history graduates is competitive, but jobs are available in architectural survey work, art galleries, art journalism, art publishing, libraries, public art councils, and with companies specializing in furniture and architectural restoration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of archivists, curators, and museum technicians is expected to increase 18 percent over the 2006-2016 decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Median annual earnings of museum technicians and conservators in May 2006 were $34,340; the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,270. Median annual earnings of archivists were $40,730; the highest 10 percent earned more than $73,060. Median annual earnings of curators were $46,300; the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,030.
Design your future with a degree in art history.
What will I learn in an art history degree program?
Art history degree programs offer the means of immersing yourself in cultural and aesthetic issues. As part of a broad-based curriculum, an art history major offers a range of courses in American and European painting, architecture, and sculpture from past to present. An art history major provides a broad humanistic education, stressing aesthetic evaluation, critical thinking, and cultural analysis.
What can I do with an art history major?
Some art history grads pursue careers as museum and gallery curators or archivists. Others use art history to hone their intellectual abilities for careers in advertising, design, fashion, media, or publishing. Another path for art historians is art therapy, which utilizes art media, images, the creative art process, and patient/client responses to the created art productions as reflections of an individual's development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns, and conflicts.
Many art history majors attend graduate school in the field. Others go to graduate school in related areas such as American studies, architecture, arts administration, historic preservation, and museum training.
How is the job market for art history degree holders?
The employment outlook for art history graduates is competitive, but jobs are available in architectural survey work, art galleries, art journalism, art publishing, libraries, public art councils, and with companies specializing in furniture and architectural restoration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of archivists, curators, and museum technicians is expected to increase 18 percent over the 2006-2016 decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Median annual earnings of museum technicians and conservators in May 2006 were $34,340; the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,270. Median annual earnings of archivists were $40,730; the highest 10 percent earned more than $73,060. Median annual earnings of curators were $46,300; the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,030.
Design your future with a degree in art history.
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