Art History & Visual Studies

Can you believe your eyes? 

Visual perception is essential to success in many careers. The ability to accurately observe the visual world and articulate its meaning are valuable skills in a broad range of fields including law, medicine, information technology, education, and museum work. Art History & Visual Studies (AVHS) majors are trained to develop astute observational tools that help them better analyze our image-rich world.

"My AHVS professors encouraged my intellectual and professional growth. They challenged me to reach for opportunities that helped me toward an informed and conscientious understanding of arts organizations, big and small, in both Kentucky and New York."

-Emma Friedman-Buchanan, BA in Art History '18, Gallery Director, Institute 193, New York City

Opportunities

  • Gallery & Museum Internships 
  • Travel Abroad  
  • National & International Conferences 
  • Grants, Fellowships & Awards 
  • Publication Opportunities 
  • Community Arts 

Beyond the Classroom

Field trips to museums and festivals enliven our classes. Most of our students have been interns at the University of Kentucky Art Museum and local arts organizations. They also study abroad. In addition to the opportunities provided by our own faculty to study in France, Germany, Ireland and Italy, our students have received course credit for programs in Australia, Africa, and Asia. 

University Scholars Program

Students admitted to the University Scholars Program may apply up to 12 credit hours of coursework for the BA degree in AH&VS toward the MA degree – and may be able to complete an MA in Art History & Visual Studies in one year rather than two.

Admission Requirements

  1. 3.5 GPA in Art History and Visual Studies major and 3.2 GPA overall
  2. Completed 90 hours of coursework
  3. Completed all Core Curriculum requirements

Application Process

  1. Identify a faculty sponsor in Art History and Visual Studies
  2. Complete University Scholars application form in consultation with the faculty sponsor.
  3. Submit with letter of intent addressed to Art History and Visual Studies graduate advisor

This form should be returned along with the standard Graduate School application form.

Tuition

Tuition and financial aid during the first year of the program (the University Scholar's fourth year at UK) is still covered by previously awarded undergraduate funding, at the cost of undergraduate credit hours. University Scholars are eligible to apply for assistantships their second and final year in the program.

Deadlines

Spring Admission - November 15
Summer II Admission - April 15
Fall Admission - April 15

Art History & Visual Studies BA

BA

The ability to accurately observe the visual world and articulate its meaning are valuable skills in a broad range of fields including law, medicine, information technology, education, and museum work.

Art History & Visual Studies MA

MA

The curriculum is structured to provide breadth and depth of inquiry through a variety of approaches to art history and, more broadly, visual studies.

Art History Minor

Minor

Art History is a particularly good minor for students majoring in other fields in the the humanities or the arts.

Students from any college may choose to minor in Art History.

Visual Studies Minor

Minor

Workplaces today are visually saturated environments, our dominant pastimes are visual media (films, television, video, the Internet, etc.); and information is commonly communicated visually.

Created 07/16/2021
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Last Updated 07/15/2024