Art history

The Art History program at Northwestern University offers students a comprehensive and rigorous exploration of the visual arts from diverse historical periods, geographic regions, and cultural contexts. Through a combination of coursework, research, and hands-on experiences, students develop critical skills in analyzing artworks, understanding historical significance, and engaging with contemporary dialogues in the field. The curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including Ancient and Medieval Art, Renaissance and Early Modern Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Asian, African, Indigenous, and Latin American visual cultures, among others. Students are encouraged to explore different methodologies, such as formal analysis, iconography, social history, and theory, to deepen their understanding and foster innovative perspectives.

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary study, allowing students to integrate art history with other fields such as archaeology, anthropology, history, and museum studies. Northwestern’s distinguished faculty are actively involved in research and curatorial projects, providing students with mentorship opportunities and real-world engagement through internships, exhibitions, and conferences. The department’s facilities include state-of-the-art galleries and collections, offering students practical experience in collection management, curation, and conservation. Graduates of the Art History program at Northwestern are well-equipped for careers in academia, museum and gallery work, arts administration, cultural heritage preservation, and related fields. They also gain the analytical and communication skills essential for pursuing advanced studies or positions that require cultural literacy and visual literacy. The university’s vibrant intellectual community and extensive resources foster an environment where students can critically examine visual culture and its role in shaping societies throughout history and into the present day.

Fall 2017

• First-Year Seminar
• Introduction to Ancient Art
• Introduction to Modernism
• Medieval Art III: Gothic
• Global Early Modern Art and Architecture
• 19th-Century Art I
• Media Theory
• New Media Art
• Materiality of Art and Archeology

Winter 2017

• First Year Seminar: Wall of Respect and Chicago’s Mural Movement
• Introduction to Asian Art
• 19th Century Art II
• Studies in Middle East and North Africa: History and Fantasy in Islamic Painting
• Undergraduate Seminar: Expanding Medieval: West Africa’s Age of Empires and the Trans-Saharan Trade
• Undergraduate Methods Seminar
• Undergraduate Seminar: Archaeology and Nationalism

Spring 2017 (tentative)

• Introduction to Latin American Art
• Introduction to European Art
• East Asian Architecture
• Destroying the Past
• Special Topics in American Art: Remembering the Civil War
• Undergraduate Seminar: Art, Ecology, and Politics
• Undergraduate Seminar: Picasso

Requirements

• Common Application or Coalition Application*
• Official secondary school transcript and school report
• Counselor recommendation
• At least one teacher recommendation
• Official SAT or ACT scores†
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (ONLY international applicants whose first language is not English or whose schooling has not been in English)
• Recommended: two SAT subject tests
• Nonrefundable application fee of $75 or fee waiver
• Early Decision Agreement (ONLY Early Decision applicants)
• Midyear transcript (ONLY Regular Decision applicants)
• Music audition (ONLY School of Music applicants)
• Required for home-schooled applicants: 3 SAT subject tests 

Scholarships

• Northwestern University Scholarship
• No-Loan Arch Scholarship
• No-Loan Pledge Scholarship
• Debt Cap Scholarship
• National Merit Scholarship
• Founders Scholarship
• Karr Achievement Scholarship

The Art History program at Northwestern University offers students a comprehensive study of the development of art and visual culture across different time periods, regions, and cultures. The curriculum is designed to cultivate critical analysis, interpretative skills, and historical understanding of artworks, artists, and the cultural contexts in which they were produced. Students have the opportunity to explore diverse topics including ancient art, medieval art, Renaissance and Baroque periods, modern and contemporary art, as well as various global art traditions.

The program emphasizes both theoretical and practical approaches, encouraging students to engage with original sources, attend exhibitions, and participate in internships and research projects. Faculty members are renowned scholars with expertise spanning various areas of art history, providing mentorship and guidance to students aiming for careers in museums, galleries, academia, conservation, or arts administration.

Northwestern University’s Art History program also promotes interdisciplinary learning, integrating perspectives from history, anthropology, literature, and critical theory to deepen students’ understanding of visual culture. The program typically offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, including Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History and Master of Arts (MA) in Art History, with specialized tracks or concentrations available in areas such as Medieval Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Asian Art, and more.

Students benefit from Northwestern's excellent resources, including the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, which provides access to significant collections and exhibitions, enriching the academic experience. Field trips, study abroad programs, and collaborative projects further enhance students’ educational opportunities. Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue careers in museum curation, arts administration, education, research, and doctoral studies.

Overall, the Northwestern University Art History program aims to develop well-rounded scholars equipped with both cultural knowledge and analytical skills, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the understanding and preservation of visual culture worldwide.