BA in Art History

Art History

If you are fascinated by art from other times and places and want to understand its impact in society, you will find the Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Theory, and Criticism program a comprehensive, inclusive, and inspiring curriculum. The program emphasizes the study of diverse visual traditions and their social, historical, and critical contexts. Here you will find courses in a wide variety of topics and formats ranging from ancient to contemporary, Western to non-Western, and lecture-based classes to small seminars.

Our faculty is committed to introducing students to the most current theoretical approaches and helping them develop skills in visual analysis, critical thinking, and effective writing. You can enhance your experience by taking part in study-abroad programs in Italy, Spain, England, or Latin America. As a liberal arts degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Theory, and Criticism prepares students for a variety of careers in and outside of arts-related fields as well as potential graduate study.

As a major in Art History, Theory, and Criticism, you will begin your studies by taking the foundation courses that are common to all majors in the Department of Art. From there, you will take a course devoted to developing your writing and critical reading skills, ARTH 2600 Reading and Writing Visual Culture. Additional beginning-level studio classes will provide you with an appreciation for the practice of making art and engaging in the critique process. After taking a variety of upper-level art history electives in topics such as Art of the Ancient Maya, Renaissance Bodies, Art and Culture of the Spanish Golden Age, or Art of the 1960s, you will finish with a seminar in Art Theory and Criticism and your Senior Experience. In the Senior Experience, you complete a thesis on a topic of your choice and present it in a professional setting at the Student Symposium in Art History, Theory, and Criticism. Art history students also take foreign language courses to prepare them for future graduate studies and travel to other countries.

At MSU Denver you will find an abundance of opportunities to gain experience and prepare for a possible career in the arts and graduate study. You may choose to join the Art History Club or the Art Guild to network with other students and plan events such as the annual juried student show which takes place in Emmanuel Gallery on campus. Or you may serve an internship in one of the many local galleries, museums, and nonprofit organizations devoted to the arts. The Center for Visual Art, MSU Denver's off-campus gallery, and the Auraria Digital Resources Center, our digital image collection, also provide work-study employment opportunities.

Auraria Digital Resources Center (ADRC):

Who We Are:The Auraria Digital Resources Center (ADRC) is part of the University of Colorado Digital Image Collaborative-- a cross-campus digital media consortium among academic departments and colleges at the University of Colorado and the institutions of the Auraria Higher Education Center, including Metropolitan State University of Denver. The ADRC serves the art and art history faculty, students, and staff on Auraria Campus and is dedicated to providing access to digital content that supports research and curriculum.  The Auraria Digital Resources Collection is a digital media database of historical and contemporary fine art and cultural objects, which currently hosts over 25,000 digital images, digital audio files, and full streaming digital video.

Services We Provide:Current faculty have access to all of the collections found within the Digital Image Collaborative and LUNA Imaging shared network. Faculty can access this collection from campus or from a remote location, after making an appointment with ADRC staff to set-up an account. Staff members are happy to provide training on accessing and utilizing the digital collection as well as ARTstor (a subscription based image collection) with an appointment. Faculty are encouraged to place orders for digitization services for content that supports research and curriculum.  The Digital Resources Center has faculty browsing and scanning computer stations available 24/7. We are also excited to host in-class demonstrations and workshops for students on accessing these important educational resources.

Website: From our website, users can access the LUNA database and ARTstor, place media orders with our electronic media order form, read updates about recent acquisitions, find links to other media resources, and learn about student employment and internship opportunities.http://adrc.auraria.edu/

Contact Us:   Manager: Hannah Wilson Hannah.Wilson@ucdenver.edu