About Us

Art History courses stress developing visual literacy, the skills of discussing and writing about art, and interpreting art for the public. Our curriculum combines traditional classroom courses with experiential, object-centered learning.  Many of our students hold internships or graduate research assistantships at museums in Missouri and nationally. Students have also conducted research across North America and abroad through Fulbright, Smithsonian, and Kress Foundation fellowships. Art-historical studies are further supported by outstanding resources on the MU campus. The Museum of Art and Archaeology, the Center for Missouri Studies, and Ellis Library have substantial collections of art and visual media, all of which is available to students to research. Our students likewise engage with world-class art collections in the state, notably the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City. 

Our programs prepare students for a variety of employment and study opportunities in arts-related fields. Recent graduates have found work in major museums, art galleries, businesses, government agencies, research institutions, colleges, and universities across the country. The B.A. or M.A. degree typically prepares students for entry- or mid-level positions in museums or art galleries. This may include opportunities in museum education, public interpretation, programming, marketing, or outreach. The Ph.D. prepares students for future academic research, for teaching at the university level, and for curatorial research in museums.