Art History Curriculum
An education in art history that is all about your future
The art history curriculum is designed to prepare you for careers inside and beyond the art world. Graduates work at galleries, auction houses, art publishers, and museums, and many go on to graduate school in art history. Others pursue careers in business and law.
- Learn skills of formal analysis
- Learn to relate works of art and architecture to the political, social, and economic conditions in which they were created and used
- Hone writing and research skills
Classes are small. You will receive personal attention from professors and work closely with other students:
- Introduction to Art History courses are capped at 35 students.
- Specialized upper-level electives are capped at 35 students.
- Seminars are capped at 19 students.
Classes are dynamic. Even if you are studying art created a thousand years ago, there are new ideas to explore:
- You will discuss and debate topics in the classroom.
- You will be asked for your opinions on artworks and readings.
- You will challenge your professors and peers as you come to new insights.
A diverse curriculum, as you would expect from the Jesuit University of New York
In New York City, you have the world at your doorstep, and at Fordham you have a global range of topics to study starting with your very first course.
In addition to considering art from a global perspective, the curriculum covers eras of art history from the ancient to the present.
- Ancient
- Medieval
- Renaissance
- Baroque
- Modern
- Contemporary
- Global
Art history beyond the classroom.
Special trips and assignments will take you out of the classroom and through some of the greatest art institutions in the world. As an art history student, you will become familiar with the city’s leading museums and galleries, and you will meet with curators, gallery owners, and other professionals in the New York art community. As a student in the art history program, you will have a level of access to the city’s arts community that most people only dream about.
Student mentorship is one of the most valuable components of the program.
- As a faculty, we have broad contacts within the New York art world.
- We are eager to offer students guidance on internships at museums, galleries, and other arts organizations.
- We have developed special programs through which students learn about career opportunities in the arts.
- We encourage you to check out these links about various careers that build on skills gained in art history courses: Looking Ahead, Career Options for Art History Majors.