Students gain a dynamic understanding of formal and contextual approaches to the study of art from past and present and learn how to use these criteria as the basis for critical thought. Major course work within the concentration includes the history, theory, and methods of art, supplemented by courses in general education and studio art. Students have the opportunity to pursue research and expand their education in the exceptional archives, galleries, and museums that stretch across the region from Austin to San Antonio, and they can participate in our Study Abroad program in Florence, Italy.

Recent graduates have pursued a wide range of art-related opportunities, including museum and gallery professions, work as educators, jobs in publishing and image acquisition, and more. Their graduates find graduate school admissions across the country, and employment or internship opportunities with major museums and arts organizations including the Austin Museum of Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, Houston Center for Photography, Kimbell Museum of Art, and the Trammel Crow Collection of Asian Art. Yet the skills of critical thinking, visual literacy, and clear communication that Art History emphasizes can lead to success in areas well outside the arts.