What Can You Do With Your Degree in Art History?
Master's Degree
Recent graduates have gone on to PhD programs at institutions such as
- New York University (Institute of Fine Arts)
- Columbia
- Princeton
- Bryn Mawr
- City University of New York Graduate Center
- Indiana University
- University of Maryland
- University of Minnesota
- University of Virginia
Our graduates hold positions in museums and agencies such as
- National Gallery of Art (Heads of Loans and Curatorial Records Departments)
- Smithsonian American Art Museum (Editorial Assistant, American Art)
- Phillips Collection (Director of Education)
- Historical American Buildings Survey (Chief)
- Corcoran School of Art
- Library of Congress
- Getty Art Information Program (Director)
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
Our graduates have taught at
- Smith College
- George Mason University
- Newcomb College (Tulane University)
- University of Maryland
- Corcoran School of Art
Other graduates are in the forefront of visual resources information and technology. These include Kathe Albrecht, who is a nationally recognized project coordinator for the Museum Educational Site Licensing Project, and a spokesperson for the Visual Resources Association; and Eleanor Fink, Director of the Getty Art History Information Program.
The master's degree in art history is the appropriate preparation for a wide range of professional careers. Many positions in museums and other art institutions require an MA (not a PhD) in art history. The MA is also suitable for such specialized areas as visual resources, art libraries (in conjunction with a library science degree), conservation, and historic preservation. The master's degree also provides a solid foundation for those who decide to continue graduate study toward the doctorate.
Bachelor's Degree
Graduates with a BA in art history are equipped for a wide range of professional careers — in museums, galleries, auction houses, or publishing (although advanced study is usually necessary for professional progress in these fields). An art history major is not only a sound preparation for any professional field, it may also provide a distinct advantage for entry into those fields, given the increasing preference of law, medical, and professional schools for students with a broad intellectual background.
Our graduates have held positions at:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- Phillips Collection
Graduates have been accepted into the following Art History MA and PhD programs:
- Courtauld Institute
- CUNY Graduate Center
- Hunter College
- Sotheby's Institute
- University of Virginia
- University of Maryland