Why Major in Art History?
Pursuing a B.A. degree in Art History within the Watkins College of Art at Belmont is an opportunity to learn about the histories of art by positioning art objects and practices within virtually every aspect of human experience. You will explore various ways of understanding the world and the societies in which those objects were created.
Art history as a program of study combines a broad education with a vast array of transferrable skills. Employers value many of the core skills students learn from the study of art history including creative expression, attention to detail, flexible thinking, problem-solving, openness to new ideas, cultural awareness and human relations. These skills are further honed through engagement with local art-related activities, options for internships at the Frist Museum of Art in Nashville, semester-away opportunities through the Belmont USA program as well as global experiences available in a rotating schedule of Maymester and summer courses with travel to Japan, the United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Italy and other destinations.
Some areas of study in the curriculum include global art and culture, contemporary art, American art, African-American art, Asian art and architecture, history of photography and women in art.
What You'll Learn
- Demonstrate knowledge of art works and practices from a broad range of time periods and diverse cultures.
- Learn about what it means to be an art historian in practice through a range of professional activities and gain experience that will prepare you to pursue a career in the contemporary art world.
- Learn to write and present your original ideas through peer group presentations about study abroad or related experiential learning, public gallery or museum talks, arts-in-community projects, etc.
- Acquire skills in using presentation technologies and formats, pursuing database and archival research, and developing web-based content for curatorial projects and interactive components for art exhibitions.
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze works with the intellectual tools and frames of reference common within contemporary art history (iconography, semiotics, formalism, social history) and apply these skills in pursuing academic research and teaching as well as curating and education in art museums and galleries.
Program Details
Curious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.
- Study abroad (Semester, Maymester, or Summer). Art History has led trips to Greece, Germany Italy, United Kingdom, France and Japan.
- Study away for a semester in alternate markets through Belmont USA (N.Y.C., L.A., Washington D.C.).
- Internships- Our relationship to Nashville’s professional creative community is personal and rich. We will assist you with internship placement to ensure the experience is a good fit.
- Four campus gallery spaces to professionally exhibit your work.
- Opportunities to present at campus-wide research symposiums and professional conferences.
- Kappa Pi, an international honorary art fraternity.
In addition to Belmont University's Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation, the Watkins College of Art is a fully accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Watkins College of Art has significant scholarship opportunities for students. Last year, the college offered more than 55 scholarships to incoming students valued over $380,000.
Applicants who intend to pursue a degree in the Watkins College of Art and wish to be considered for the merit-based scholarship must submit an additional essay. Students must have their Belmont application and essay submitted by December 1 to be eligible for the scholarships.
Please visit the Portfolio and Essay Guidelines page for more specific details.
Need-based scholarships will be determined from a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is the official form that families use to apply for college financial assistance from the federal government.
Art has served a unique role in every society from the beginning of time to the present. Visual art and architecture defines human history and communicates the essential truths of every culture and society.
This minor provides students an opportunity to explore focused topics in Art History by means of the two standard survey courses, four seminars in specialized topics such as Greek and Roman art.
Coursework may be completed entirely at Belmont or in combination with a Study Abroad Program.
Career Possibilities
- Curatorial Career
- Museum Education
- Museum & Gallery Exhibition Installation
- Virtual Art History & Digital Technologies
- Art Law
- Art Consultant, Management & Representation
- Art & Estate Appraisals Auction Houses
- Art Conservation & Restoration
- Virtual Exhibition Development
Hands On Projects
Belmont students transformed one spring semester into a real-world curatorial experience, bringing the vibrant works of Nashville native Red Grooms to campus.
This project, born from the college's first museum studies class, enriched the students' academic journey and brought a slice of Nashville's artistic heritage to the public.
Bailey Tichenor
Art History
Co-Founder & Director of Artistoric
“Belmont gave me a firm foundation for my career and fostered my appreciation of art and material culture. There was a real community of fellow students who were invested and interested in each other’s research. Some of my favorite memories were my during study abroad programs (Greece, London, Paris). Nothing compares to learning about a painting or historic site while standing right in front of it!”
Gwyneth Cunningham
Art History
"Through the Art History program, I have developed a sense of purpose and belonging which has helped me to feel empowered in my studies. Art History provided me with critical tools that apply and translate to every subject, giving me a new perspective on how to engage with the world both academically and socially."
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Ellie Aldrich
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.6772
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