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Art History Schools and Programs in The United States

105 schools in The United States teach Art History.

  • Stetson University

    University DeLand, The United States In an official register

    Stetson University is an independent institution of higher learning, established in 1883, operating four colleges and schools across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. The Center for International…

Art History Studies in The United States

Art history is the study of works of art, architecture and other visual objects in their historical setting. Northwestern University describes it as a subject that explores the world's art and architecture from antiquity to the present and traces its influence on societies over time and across geographies. In the United States it is a humanities subject, taught in university departments of art history or history of art and in some schools of art and design.

Students learn to look closely, to research and to write. The University of Washington states that art history teaches students to read, interpret and synthesize a wide range of evidence, from textual documents to the visual and material features of objects, images and buildings.

How the degree is organised

The first degree is the Bachelor of Arts (BA), which EducationUSA says is usually completed in four years of full-time study. US undergraduates take classes in a wide variety of subjects in addition to their major, so art history fills only part of the timetable. At Binghamton University, for example, the art history track requires 40 credits in the major, including introductory courses, courses on art before and after 1800 and a final seminar or honors thesis. Binghamton also has a second track in architecture and urban studies. The University of Pittsburgh offers a BA in the History of Art and Architecture and a separate BA in Museum Studies.

Graduate study has two levels. Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture offers a Master of Arts in Art History with a research track and an arts management track, and a PhD. At the University of Washington, students must have completed a master's degree in art history before entering the PhD. They then do two years of coursework, demonstrate proficiency in two languages and pass general examinations in three fields before writing the dissertation; the university gives the time to completion as a minimum of five years and an average of eight.

Admission and language

EducationUSA states that undergraduate applicants in general must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old, and that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. The search for a programme should begin 12 to 18 months before the academic year. Teaching is in English.

Other languages matter as well. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) states that its art history major requires foreign language training beyond the general college requirement, and doctoral programmes such as the one at the University of Washington examine two research languages. To study on an F student visa, students must first be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study art history in the United States

Most of the schools on this page are universities, and they are spread across the country. New York has the largest group on the list, including Columbia University, followed by Miami (the University of Miami and Florida International University), Boston (Suffolk University) and Los Angeles (the University of Southern California and UCLA). Elsewhere, examples include Yale University in New Haven, The University of Chicago, Northwestern University in Evanston, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Washington in Seattle and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Museums are part of the choice. Departments use local collections for teaching and internships: courses at the University of Florida regularly visit the university's Harn Museum, and the University of Washington names the Henry Art Gallery and the Seattle Art Museum among the organisations where its graduate students train. Community colleges on the list, such as Broward College in Fort Lauderdale and Century College in White Bear Lake, cover the first two years of a bachelor's degree; EducationUSA calls this the "2+2" route.

Recognition

There is no licence for art historians and no official ranking. What counts is the accreditation of the university: EducationUSA notes that the recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation.

Careers

Binghamton University lists curatorial practice, museum administration, museum education, art conservation, commercial galleries, auction houses, archives and historic preservation among the fields its graduates have entered. A bachelor's degree is often not enough for the museum professions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), curators typically need a master's degree in art history, history, archaeology or museum studies, while museum technicians typically need a bachelor's degree; experience from an internship or volunteering is helpful.

The field is small. Archivists, curators and museum workers held about 38,500 jobs in 2025, of which 14,200 were curators, and employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to the BLS. University teaching and research normally require the PhD.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an art history degree take in the United States?

A BA usually takes four years of full-time study. EducationUSA describes the master's as a two-year degree; a PhD takes from five to about eight years at the University of Washington.

Do I need other languages to study art history?

For a BA it depends on the university; UCLA, for example, requires foreign language training for the major. Doctoral programmes commonly test reading languages, two at the University of Washington.

Can I work in a museum with a bachelor's degree in art history?

For some jobs, yes: the BLS states that museum technicians typically need a bachelor's degree. Curators typically need a master's degree.