Art History

Art History at Seattle University explores visual culture and the material environment within social and historical contexts, across a broad range of periods and societies. Students learn how to look at and write about art, especially in survey and foundational courses, and how to understand and interpret visual culture using a variety of disciplinary and inter-disciplinary methods.

The B.A. in Art History offered by the Department of Fine Arts, with its focus on active looking, critical writing, research and experience, is an excellent preparation for a variety of careers or graduate programs in the arts, but also nurtures the types of skills essential for a richer encounter with our own visual and material culture. Courses for both majors and non-majors are frequently designed in conjunction with museum exhibitions, gallery events and performances; whenever possible students experience works of art at first hand and participate in partnerships with local arts organizations, including internship opportunities. Most recently, students have held internships at Open Satellite, Seattle Art Museum, and the Frye Art Museum, among others.

The Fine Arts department is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Frye Art Museum, offering innovative ongoing internship opportunities for Art History students. Through the gallery guide program, students gain invaluable work experience, develop research and presentation skills, and meet artists and Museum staff, all while earning academic credit. Read more about it in the Frye's spring bulletin 2008.


Art History Faculty:

Ken Allan, PhD

Naomi Hume, PhD

Curriculum:

Degree Programs in the Arts (PDF)