WELCOME
The discipline of history of art is by definition interdisciplinary, and students are encouraged to develop both visual and cultural literacy by extensive study of works of art and the historical contexts in which they were created. More subtle and ambiguous than written language, images offer us a narrative parallel to texts that are both complementary and contradictory. Developing the ability to see, interpret, and evaluate visual images of all types is an increasingly important skill set in our increasingly visual world. From cave painting to computer-generated virtual realities, history of art engages the visual legacy of the past while preparing its students to function in the realm of the non-textual.
The Department of History of Art offers a major and a minor (including one in the history of architecture) in the discipline, and encourages students to take courses in cognate disciplines such as studio art, classics, history, psychology, English, and foreign language literatures. Courses are offered at all levels and in most major subfields of the discipline. Students who major in history of art are required to take at least two advanced seminars that are closely related to the faculty's areas of research and publication. These courses offer an important opportunity to interact closely with professors while pursuing a focused research topic.
The Old Gym, built in 1880 and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, houses department and faculty offices, classrooms, the visual resources collection, and the Fine Arts Gallery.
The visual resources collection of images includes almost 200,000 slides and a rapidly expanding collection of digital images. The collection is available for advanced undergraduate research. The Fine Arts Gallery features six exhibitions per year and maintains a permanent collection of more than 5,500 works that are exhibited for students and the general public on a rotating basis.
RECENTLY OFFERED COURSES
The Department offers courses at several levels, including broad survey courses in the history of western art that are offered every semester as well as more advanced period surveys offered annually. In addition, more specialist lecture courses and advanced seminars enhance the curriculum by allowing students to engage in research related to their own interests.
Recent courses include a seminar offered in conjunction with the Judy Chicago/Donald Woodman Discovery Project that was the major feature of the Chancellor’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence program. The history of modern architecture, Film Studies, Early Italian Renaissance art, the art of ancient Rome and Baroque art are among the Department’s most recently offered courses.
HONORS PROGRAM
The departmental honors program allows exceptional undergraduate majors to undertake independent research projects in consultation with appropriate faculty members. Requirements for the program include two independent research courses beyond the major requirements and an Honors Thesis. There is also funding available for student travel to collections, libraries or exhibitions related to their thesis project, awarded on a highly competitive basis. Students completing the honors program will receive a Vanderbilt diploma that records Honors or High Honors in History of Art.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
History of art majors may earn pass/fail academic credit for internships, which the Department greatly encourages. These internships may either be in museums or galleries, historic houses or other cultural institutions and, with departmental approval, may lead to an independent research course or may help to develop a project for an Honors Thesis. Majors and minors are encouraged to join VISION, a student organization that sponsors a series of events each year, including an Alumni Roundtable Discussion that features former students presenting ideas on how to find satisfying careers based on skills and interests they gained while studying in the Department. We also offer students the opportunity to participate in a Pre-Architecture program for those who may be interested in graduate studies in architecture or history of architecture.
AFTER VANDERBILT
Majors in history of art have no difficulties in being accepted into competitive graduate programs in the discipline or in professional schools such as law, medicine, business, social work, public policy and many others. Our discipline teaches students how to think critically and write with clarity. Analytical skills, both visual and textual, as well as sophisticated research methodology and the ability to present information coordinated with visual images uniquely position our graduates for a wide variety of post-graduate studies and careers.
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