Art history can be a very interesting college major. If you enjoy art, history, and culture, then this can really be a great major choice for you. Why exactly would one choose to major in art history, however? What can you do with this degree? Here are some of the things that you should know about majoring in art history.
What Will You Study as an Art History Major?
If you enjoy the arts, then it is likely that you will really enjoy studying as an art history major. Art, history, and culture will all be combined when you make the decision to pursue this field. Some of the different art movements that you will study as an art history major include Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, and Contemporary. It is likely that you will study American, European, and Asian art. Generally, you will also be recommended to take quite a few art classes as well. Keep in mind that art history programs will vary according to college or university, however. What may be taught at one may not necessarily be taught at another.
What are Some Career Choices For Art History Majors?
If you are thinking about majoring in art history, it is important to keep in mind that there are a number of different career options which are available for you to choose from. It is ultimately going to depend on the degree level that you pursue. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in art history leaves many doors open for you in terms of finding a career. Some of the career choices that will be available to you with an art history major include teaching at a college or university, museum or gallery work, art investment, arts administration, and historic preservation. Many people with art history majors also make the decision to branch into other fields related to the liberal arts, such as journalism, advertising, communications, painting, photography and even fashion design.
How Much Money Will an Art History Degree Earn You?
Keep in mind that the amount of money that you may earn with a job that you pursue with an art history degree will really depend on the specific field that you decide on. It may range anywhere from $35,000 to $150,000 or more or less. It is also worth noting that the area that you live in will probably determine the amount of money that you may earn with an art history degree. In larger metropolitan areas where there are very well known museums and a greater demand for fashion or photography, you are likely to earn more money.
For the right person, a degree in art history can really be a wonderful choice. Whether you are interested in working at a museum or if you want to teach art history to other college students, it is likely that you will enjoy pursuing this degree. Anyone who has an eye for art and a love for learning about culture throughout the ages will be sure to benefit from a degree in art history.
An Art History major is like reading for pleasure: no one fully appreciates either one until they’re done going to school. Reading for pleasure is something that I enjoy because it allows me to learn about all sorts of things that I’d never learn about during the course of a workday. I can learn about different people, different times in history, and different cultures.
Ironically, the very things that make me enjoy my reading for pleasure are the reasons why someone would want to be an Art History major. The artwork in an Art History class is somewhat incidental—it’s really a window into different times and different cultures. Understanding these times and cultures can help a young student understand our culture today. Art History prepares a person for life. It helps make for a better society, thus improving our overall well being and enhancing culture.
The continued health of our culture—or any culture, for that matter—is dependent on young people understanding our culture’s origins. Art History majors can trace the history of a culture because they study the art that is a reflection of the culture rather than the facts about rulers and the like. They study how people expressed themselves—and expression is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the world today.
Comment by Ivan W. Burwell — July 16, 2009 @ 12:33 pm