Top 5 Art History Undergraduate Programs

Your Art Education 

by guest blogger @lindsayleboyer, Lindsay LeBoyer

Applying for college can be a stressful process. Deciding on a major can be tricky, and picking the school of your dreams is even harder. If you already know you want to study art history, the process just got a little easier. Here are five art history undergraduate programs that consistently rank among the top.

On view at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
The Art History program at Bowdoin College explores art in many contexts, from social and religious to historical and philosophical. Students examine how art reflects culture. In addition to classroom lectures, classes visit the Bowdoin Museum of Art, which is regarded as one of the finest collegiate art collections in the country. If you plan on visiting Bowdoin, be sure you catch the Edward Hopper exhibition fall 2011.

Dartmouth College, Baker Library

Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
In the Dartmouth Art History program, students study the history of visual culture at the highest level. The courses aim to prepare them for graduate study in Art History as well as careers in the field. Students hone skills such as analysis, reasoning, reading, and writing, as well as foreign languages which are critical to the study of international art. Art students at Dartmouth benefit from the visiting artists program who critique their work on a professional level. In addition, students benefit from extensive opportunities to study art and language abroad.

Washington Square Park

New York University, Greenwich Village, New York City
At NYU's Art History program, students will start off at the introductory level learning the basics of critical and historical vocabulary which are used to understand and appreciate the history of visual arts. The elite faculty of NYU's Art History courses are internationally recognized, and will give students a great foundation and great connections for a career in the arts. The program was named "the best undergraduate department of art history in the country" by John Russel, former New York Times art critic. Students benefit from studying in one of the art capitals of the world with world famous art museums at their fingertips.

The University of Chicago

University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 

The University of Chicago's Art History program is among the top in the country for an outstanding faculty and range of topics studied. Students will learn about many different types of art, from physical art, to modern cinema, and ancient civilizations. Chicago's museums rank among the best in the world and is home to top art galleries in the nation. Visitors to this university should also check out the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and The Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Williams College

Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts 

The Art History program at Williams College boasts a number of accomplished alumni and a diverse faculty. In addition to the core curriculum, advanced courses in Greek art, Chinese calligraphy, painting, video art, and architectural design are also offered. The Art History program is one of the biggest and most popular departments in the entire college. Students learn in classroom, seminar, tutorial, and lecture style settings, and will benefit from critiques, exhibitions, and travel. Proximity to the Clark Art institute in Williamstown, Museum of Contemporary Art in nearby North Adams and William College's own art museum all enhance the art history curriculum.