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All Majors & Minors

Art History & Visual Culture

Degree

Minor

School/College

College of Arts & Sciences
Art History & Visual Culture students molding the head of man with a long beard.

The arts contribute over $700 billion to the US economy and form a vital component of communities from small towns to large cities. Studying art history and visual culture develops the mind and vital skills—such as visual literacy, critical thinking, writing, and speaking—that prepare students to thrive in a wide spectrum of careers.

 

What You'll Learn and Do

Get practical experience through Fairfield’s resources.

Among the many outstanding resources available to students are internships at the Fairfield University Art Museum's Bellarmine Hall Galleries and Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery, special visits to major museums in New York and Connecticut, internships at New York and regional museums and cultural organizations, and research using the Fairfield University Arts Museum's collection and the historic Plaster Cast Collection.

Enrich your education and abroad.

Many art history and visual culture majors enrich their experi­ence further by spending a semester or year studying abroad, including our specially-designed programs in Florence, Italy and Aix-en-Provence, France.

Explore a variety of possible career paths.

Art history and visual culture alumni readily find employment and build careers in museums, galleries, and auction houses around the world, as well as in social media, law, the nonprofit sector, marketing, public relations, development and fundraising, education, publishing, and nearly every occupation that requires observation, analysis, and communication.

Choose the best curriculum for you.

Fairfield’s program in art history and visual culture offers a curriculum that covers African, American, Asian, and European art, as well as museum studies. Students explore contemporary developments in art and art history within our global society and may choose a traditional art history and visual culture major, or an art history and visual culture major with a concentration in visual arts administration.

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Course Requirements

Art History & Visual Culture Major

30 credits

Art History & Visual Culture Major with a Concentration in Visual Arts Administration

30 credits

Art History & Visual Culture Minor

18 credits

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admission
admis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4100

Resources for Student Success

As students proceed through their academic journey, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Office of Career and Professional Development offers advising, counseling, programming, and experiential opportunities to help students discover their strengths, explore career paths, and build essential skills needed to succeed in their professional career.

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Fairfield supports the scholarly success and intellectual growth of our students by providing various resources on campus including the Science Center, Writing Center, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, and more.

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Interns play critical roles in the day-to-day operations of museums, galleries, businesses, and nonprofits. Through internships, students gain meaningful, hands-on experience, preparing them to evaluate their career goals after graduation and enhancing their options in an increasingly competitive job market.

  • Fairfield art history majors and minors have recently held internships at:
  • Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield CT
  • MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Westport CT
  • Barnum Museum, Bridgeport CT
  • Brant Foundation, Greenwich, CT
  • Pequot Library, Southport CT
  • Fairfield University Art Museum

Interns at the Fairfield University Art Museum can expect to engage in several of the following professional activities:

  • Researching objects in the permanent collection
  • Researching loan objects slated for special exhibitions
  • Creating educational programs for elementary, secondary, and University students as well as life-long learners in the wider community
  • Leading educational tours
  • Assisting with marketing and public relations efforts
  • Conducting research related to grant-writing and other fund-raising avenues
  • Museum collections management

Student Learning Outcomes

Art History & Visual Culture students will graduate from the program with the ability to perform and execute the following:

Analyze

Recognize and analyze paradigm monuments and monuments related to them.

Implement

Use historical art vocabulary correctly.

Connect

Make meaningful connections between artworks and other examples of human expression within their historical contexts.

Evaluate

Find, evaluate, and use sources to answer questions and present findings in appropriate written form.

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Get Started at Fairfield

Get In Touch

  • 1073 North Benson Road
    Fairfield, CT 06824

  • (203) 254-4000

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