Art History, Minor - COLA, UNH

Undergraduate

Art History

Study everything from ancient masterpieces to contemporary works while developing critical skills in research, interpretation and cultural analysis.
Degree
Minor
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
5
Credit
20 hrs.
Full-time
- -
Part-time
- -
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Professor help students in art class

Art & Art History

The Art History minor at UNH offers a rich exploration of visual culture and artistic expression across centuries and civilizations. Here you'll be able to study everything from ancient masterpieces to contemporary works while developing critical skills in research, interpretation and cultural analysis. 

In this interdisciplinary program, you'll engage with Western and non-Western artistic traditions, visit renowned museums throughout New England and learn alongside dedicated faculty in small, collaborative classes. Whether you're pairing this minor with studio art, history, classics or humanities, you'll gain valuable perspectives that can enhance careers in architecture, business, law and beyond.

Department of Art & Art History

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Ivo Van der Graaff
Associate Professor
Ivo.VanderGraaff@unh.edu
Paul Creative Arts Center, Durham, NH 03824

What is art history?

How do we define and value beauty? What is the role of the visual in the human experience? Art history is the study of art through the ages, and in this interdisciplinary minor you’ll learn to research, interpret and analyze art within broader cultural and historical perspectives. You’ll be introduced to the study of Western art from the ancient world to the present and will be exposed to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. Combine this minor with a major in studio art, history, the classics or the humanities to prepare for careers or further study in fields such as architecture, business or law.

Why study art history at UNH?

You will find a small and friendly group of faculty and students, combined with the resources of a large university.Our campus is located within easy visiting distance of the culturally rich community of Portsmouth, as well as museums (the Currier in Manchester, the Peabody-Essex in Salem, the Portland Museum of Art, the MFA and Gardner in Boston, and the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, among others).

Potential career areas

  • Academia
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Art criticism
  • Art teaching
  • Museum curation
  • Publishing
  • Tourism
  • Writing

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
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The art history minor offers those majoring in other fields (including studio art) the chance to gain a serious knowledge of aspects of the history and meanings of Western art from antiquity to the modern world. Particularly for those working in history and the humanities, a minor in art history will provide new interdisciplinary perspectives on their major fields.

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Requirements for the Program
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Requirements

One 400-level art history (ARTH 480 Introduction to Art History or ARTH 474 Introduction to Architectural History recommended but not required)4
Select two additional art history courses at the 500-level or above8
Select two additional art history courses at the 600-level or above8
Total Credits20

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