COURSE CURRICULUM

The Art History program at University of North Texas offers students a globally focused and research-driven education that prepares them for careers in museums, galleries, education, publishing, and advanced academic study. The program encourages students to engage with art and visual culture through international perspectives, critical research, and practical experiences. Faculty-led study abroad opportunities are regularly available, and students are encouraged to participate in international learning experiences even through non-CVAD programs to expand their cultural and academic understanding. Students also gain hands-on professional experience through internships and volunteer work at museums and galleries, many of which can count toward academic credit. Under faculty mentorship, students participate in conferences that attract international audiences, and many students have presented research papers and published scholarly work while still completing their undergraduate studies. Faculty members represent a wide range of specializations, including ancient Mediterranean, Near Eastern, South Asian, Islamic, Middle Eastern, European, Latin American, Modern, and Contemporary art, as well as architecture, design, and material culture studies. The program also offers a graduate track pathway that allows selected students to begin graduate-level coursework during their final undergraduate year, providing advanced preparation for future academic study. Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History may pursue careers as art researchers, gallery professionals, museum staff members, university educators, writers, or editors for art publications, while many continue toward master’s or doctoral degrees in the field. Coursework exposes students to diverse artistic traditions and research methods through classes such as Topics in Asian Art, which explores artistic traditions across Asia including Indian and Buddhist art; Topics in Latin American Art, covering artistic developments from the 16th century to the present; and History of Communication Design, which examines the social, technological, and political development of visual communication. Additional courses such as Art of Ancient Rome and Topics in Islamic and/or Middle Eastern Cultures provide historical and cultural perspectives on global art traditions, while Methodologies in the History of Art and Visual Culture develops advanced research and analytical skills essential for professional work in art history and related disciplines.