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THE MAJOR
Art History is a major offered by the School of Art & Art History, a program within the College
of Visual and Performing Arts.
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSARTH.shtml
Description
of Major:
Art History students become acquainted with the art history of all cultures, identify work within major style periods and cultures, and describe, analyze and interpret the form and content of individual works of art in relation to the cultures from which they originate. Students will also understand at least three major historical periods of art in detail, become familiar with art history theory and methods of analysis and criticism, and research and write about significant artists, artistic events, periods and artistic concepts. The School discerns five distinct goals for the teaching of art at JMU: 1) to prepare future professional artists and designers; 2) to educate future art historians and museum specialists with a global perspective on the visual arts; 3) to develop and license future elementary and secondary art teachers; 4) to enrich the general education of non-art majors; 5) to supply professional instruction in the visual arts for students who wish to enrich their education by studying art as a second major or minor. Students intending to major in Art History are not required to submit a portfolio or additional material for review. A student may also declare a minor in art history.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
The Art History area offers all students the opportunity to study the history of the visual arts in their cultural and social context. Courses in Western art (Western Europe and America) from Ancient to Modern times, as well as African Art and other selected non-Western fields, are regularly offered. Students will learn to describe, analyze, and interpret the form and content of works of art. They will become familiar with art history theory, methods of analysis and art criticism. In addition, they will gain valuable experience in writing and researching in the field of art history. It is also the mission of the art history program to educate students with a global perspective. Art History students are encouraged to take advantage of the year-round JMU Studies Abroad programs. The program also advocates interdisciplinary study in other humanistic disciplines and actively supports students who double major with other related fields.
Tell
me more about common career paths in this field.
Although there are a multitude of career paths art history
graduates can pursue, common careers of interest include
art historians, museum curators, conservators, collections officers, registrars, educators, docents,
development officers and membership officers. Art historians seek to understand the world through the history of its art and the social and cultural context of artists and their work. Museum
curators care for and interpret all objects in the museum
and for research on the collections. They recommend
the acquisitions and removals of art works from the
collection. Conservators scientifically analyze museum
objects to prevent deterioration and repair these objects
as needed. They also keep objects in the collection
at the proper temperature, humidity and protect objects
from pollution, insects and harmful light exposure.
Collection officers supervise, number, catalog, and
stores museum objects within each section of the museum.
Registrars
are in charge of cataloging each object in the collection
and maintaining proper documents such as insurance and
the copyright and reproduction rights for art pieces.
Educators develop, implement, and oversee the formal
and informal teaching programs of the museum with the
goal of increasing the public’s understanding of
the art collection. Docents serve as tour guides to
visitors who provide rich descriptions of art objects
and the history of each piece. Docents are usually trained
by educators and they in turn may train volunteer docents.
Development officers raise funds to finance the museum
through the solicitation of individuals and corporations
for donations of money. This person would plan, coordinate,
and implement all fundraising programs. Membership officers
have the responsibility of attracting new members, retaining
existing membership in the museum, and organizing special
events and programs for the members.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
There are no common combinations but some examples may
include: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Art, Asian Studies, Biology, Communication Studies,
Creative Writing, Cultural Communication, Educational Media, English, Historical Archaeology, History, Media
Arts and Design, Psychology, and Theater & Dance.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Students who show an inherent interest in various forms
of art, have strong interpersonal skills, excellent
oral and writing skills, are able to think analytically
and posses a healthy curiosity, do well in art history
coursework.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated
with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated
careers that utilize skills and experiences developed
during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some
fields will require graduate study or further training.
The listing below offers examples of possible career
paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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