Expand your knowledge of the history of art from antiquity to the present, including specialized thematic and period studies. Emphasis is on a contextual approach combining information from the fields of art, history, cultural and material studies, philosophy and literature.
If you are interested in working in art museums and cultural institutions or pursuing graduate school in the art history field, you will want to consider the art history major. In addition to courses in the history of art, the department offers many courses in museum studies.
The program includes a common core of 15 credits. After completing the two introductory survey courses, students select one of two concentrations: Research or Research/Studio. Most students who plan to attend graduate school in art history choose the Research concentration, while students planning on a career in the gallery, exhibition design, or conservation field often choose the Research/Studio concentration. Both options require a two-course capstone experiences, and each concentration provides you with knowledge of discipline-based technology necessary for research and presentations. View degree requirements and course descriptions for Research and degree requirements and course descriptions for Research/Studio in the Undergraduate Catalog.
In addition to the options of the University’s Honors College program and earning Latin Honors, Art history majors can complete a departmental honors project. The optional honors thesis allows you to pursue an individual research project with a faculty adviser. The thesis experience helps you strengthen your research and writing skills and train for careers in art history as well as for graduate school in art history.
Visit the Visual Resource Center, Center for the Arts, Room 2028, a study and research lab where students enrolled in art history courses have access to computers and computer setups for laptops and scanning equipment. In addition, the center holds Art History reference materials for individual courses, including books, art journals and films. The VRC is staffed by art history librarian, Venetia Zachary.
Art history students can participate in the College Art Association, the American Alliance of Museums and Towson University’s Art History Club.
Self-guided tours are available any weekday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Stop by the Art Office, CA 3103, and ask for a self- guiding tour map.
Undergraduate guided tours of the department are offered by appointment. Contact the Art Office, artdepartment AT_TOWSON to schedule a tour.
MFA graduate tours are available by appointment with the director, Prof. Tonia Matthews.
