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Undergraduate

Art History

Learn how society shapes art and how art, in turn, affects society. Analyze and understand diverse styles and movements and come to appreciate their context

Art history is available as a minor at Assumption University.  When you study art history you will learn to understand and enjoy works of art, and to reflect on their relationship to the societies that produce them.  You will pursue your studies in the context of a broad-based liberal arts education that develops your critical thinking and communication skills.  You will emerge not just with knowledge of the subject, but also with the ability to look attentively and perceptively at the world around you and to articulate clearly what you see.  These are the skills that enable Assumption graduates to succeed in their professions and their lives.

Students who minor in art history complete 6 courses. A minor in Art History provides students with a lively introduction to the discipline that can be applied in professional positions from museum work to publishing to landscape architecture.

Program Contact

Toby Norris, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Art History
508-767-7417 Founders Hall - Room 025

An Ideal Place To Learn

100%
All classes taught by professors, none by teaching assistants
Students from 29 states and 21 countries
11:1
Student/Faculty ratio

Program Curriculum

  • Art History Minors take 6 Courses (18 credits)

    ART 101: Drawing I or ARD 115: Graphic Design I
    ARH 125: Art History or ARH 160 Art Ancient and Modern

    Three other courses from among Art History offerings, of which one must be at the 300 level

    ARH 400: Senior Art History Seminar

    Electives for Art History Minor (students choose 3)
    ARH 140 (R) Art in Rome
    ARH 223 (R) Renaissance Art and Architecture
    ARH 224 (R) Baroque Art and Architecture
    ARH 225 Nineteenth Century Art
    ARH 227 The Meaning of Modern Art
    ART 229 Art Since 1945
    ARH 235 Women and Art
    ARH 299, 399 or 499 Independent Study in the Visual Arts
    ARH 300 Internship in the Visual Arts
    ARH 350 Special Topics in Art History

    Course Descriptions

Faculty

Toby Norris, Ph.D.
Department Chair, Art, Music and Theatre Associate Professor of Art History
Elissa Chase, J.D.
Adjunct Faculty
Heidi Gearhart, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Art History

Experiential Learning

Assumption's Rome Campus

At Assumption's campus in Rome, Italy, the city and the country become your classroom through daily and weekend-long excursions throughout "the eternal city" and the Italian countryside. This unique study abroad experience will enrich your academic and cultural pursuits as you walk in the footsteps of emperors and gladiators then enjoy delectable Italian cuisine or perhaps a cappuccino after class in a local cafe. (Did you know that your financial aid follows you to Rome?)

Explore the Rome Campus

Learn the Skills Employers Seek

Faculty/Student Research

The Assumption curriculum encourages scholarly and real-world experience. With hands-on research conducted alongside faculty mentors, students gain a depth of knowledge and skills that lead to professional success and personal fulfillment.

Study Abroad

At Assumption University, the world is your classroom. Students can study and explore abroad in over 50 places from Vienna to England, South Africa, and even our own campus in historic, yet modern, Rome, Italy. Assumption’s study abroad program offers culture, history, and a living classroom for all.

Internships

Assumption starts planning for your future the day you arrive on campus. Our Career Development and Internship Center helps students secure exciting and fulfilling internships where you’ll apply knowledge obtained in the classroom in a professional setting, preparing for a future career or additional study. Assumption connects students to internship opportunities in corporations, government agencies, research hospitals, non-profit organizations, and more.


Career Paths

Our graduates pursue personally and professionally rewarding careers.

Davis Publications

Museum Action Corps

Preservation Worcester

Worcester Art Museum

First-rate Academics in a Catholic University Setting

Assumption University awakens in students a sense of wonder, discovery, and purpose, forming graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good. Students are provided an education that shapes their souls, forms them intellectually, and prepares them for meaningful careers. Enlivened by the harmony of faith and reason, here, students’ minds and hearts are transformed.


Assumption is dedicated to providing a clear understanding of what your education will cost

We’ll help cut through the complexity of financing your education, ensuring you understand what you need, how to apply for aid, and what’s expected of you. You will be assigned a personal financial aid advisor who will guide you through the process and answer all of your financial aid-related questions.

A Living Classroom


Observe and study original masterpieces, in Rome, Italy

At Assumption, you won't just read about art or view slides of historic works. Here, you can spend a semester in Rome viewing original works of art where the artists created these masterpieces.

Programs Related to Art History

Graphic Design

Undergraduate

Music

Undergraduate

Studio Art

Undergraduate