The University of Toledo

Art History

What is Art History?

Study of the history of art stimulates an intensive awareness of creative achievements in the fields of art and architecture. As students explore and analyze artistic style, social context, and meaning in both Western and non-Western cultures, they gain insight into the richness of both personal and cultural expression.

Why Art History at UT?
The University of Toledo offers students a unique opportunity to explore the history of art and architecture at UT’s award-winning Center for the Visual Arts housed at the world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art. The Museum’s holdings include a world-famous glass collection, a medieval cloister, art of the ancient Mediterranean world, arts from Africa and Asia, European paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, prints, drawings, and photographs from the Renaissance to the contemporary, and American art from the Colonial era to the present.

The close relationship between these two institutions enables students to make full use of outstanding research facilities, art library, exhibitions and art collections. Advanced students are encouraged to participate in special undergraduate research projects. The concentration in Art Museum Practices offers further opportunities to study art history while gaining practical experience in the museum setting (see program description below).

Employment Opportunities
Many art history graduates find directly related positions as professors; museum curators, administrators, educators or registrars; librarians; architectural preservationists; fine arts photographers; or art dealers. Others find the flexibility, understanding, and critical skills they have acquired in their undergraduate studies rewarded in non-related fields such as architecture, law, journalism, business, and communications.

New Program!

BACHELOR of ARTS in ART HISTORY with an optional
CONCENTRATION in
ART MUSEUM PRACTICES (AMP)

This program, with a new concentration, provides a foundation in the history of art and architecture through introductory course work in the styles, subjects and social history of Western and non-Western art and architecture, and through advanced course work and optional directed study in art, architecture, theory and criticism. The program makes extensive use of the collections and research facilities of the Toledo Museum of Art. Internships for credit may be arranged with the Toledo Museum of Art and with other local arts organizations. The optional concentration in Art Museum Practices (AMP) emphasizes professional standards, practices and procedures used in contemporary museums of art. In this unique program, students can work with UT faculty and the Toledo Museum of Art staff professionals and curators to design and install exhibitions of works from the permanent collection at least once a year in the Hitchcock Gallery.