Earn your BA in Art History

Enrich your life–study art history!

We're excited that you are an art history major–or are considering becoming one. A major in art history prepares you for a wide range of professional careers as well as competitive placement in graduate schools across the country.

As you progress through the program, you will study the historical relationships between societies and their works of art, consider the creative processes of making art objects, and learn methods for understanding the original contexts and interpreting the multiple meanings of paintings, sculptures, buildings, prints, ceramics, and other types of art.

Throughout your studies, you will be developing your research abilities as well as strengthening your critical thinking and writing skills.

Art history offers two specialized tracks within the major:

  • The Iowa Idea Track, which continues our century-long tradition of combining the study of art history with hands-on creation of art in studio art courses
  • The new Global and Interdisciplinary Connections Track, which enables you to pursue your interests across academic departments by combining art history courses with those of another humanistic discipline

Create your academic path

You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.

Current course list

The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.

Art history faculty

Björn Anderson

Björn Anderson

Title/Position
Associate Professor
headshot image of Rob Bork

Robert Bork

Title/Position
Professor
Director of Graduate Studies, Art History
Amy Huang is Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies Art History in the School of Art and Art History.

Amy Huang

Title/Position
Assistant Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Art History
Anna Isbell in Italy

Anna Isbell

Title/Position
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Dorothy Johnson is the Roy J. Carver Professor of Art History in the School of Art and Art History.

Dorothy Johnson

Title/Position
Roy J. Carver Professor of Art History
Portrait of Brenda Longfellow

Brenda Longfellow

Title/Position
Roger A. Hornsby Associate Professor in the Classics
Division Head, Art History