Art History, BA, Online BA
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in Art History degree isn’t just about appreciating beautiful works — it’s a gateway to a wide array of career paths.
Whether you envision yourself curating exhibits in museums, preserving culture in archives or using applicable skills in a different industry, this program equips you to succeed.
You’ll practice visual literacy, research methods and creative problem-solving to uncover the relationship between human ideas and how they’re expressed. From ancient civilizations to contemporary masterpieces, you’ll explore the rich history of art, architecture, film and more across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas in the Art History courses.
Learn more about Letters & Science undergraduate online education.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total Cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120 (30 Credits in Major)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into 51ÁÔÆæ.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
Online
Why Study Art History at 51ÁÔÆæ?
- Learn from the same expert faculty who teach in-person courses.
- Participate in a virtual internship with 51ÁÔÆæ’s Mathis Gallery. You can also gain hands-on experience through an internship or part-time job at a museum, gallery or non-profit organization in your local area.
- Benefit from a distinct online learning format. 51ÁÔÆæ offers one of the country’s only online art history bachelor’s degrees.
Financial Aid
Various financial aid options are available to support your educational journey. 51ÁÔÆæ’s Student Financial Services team will guide you through the financial aid process, helping you identify and apply for the best options to fund your bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
51ÁÔÆæ’s scholarships encompass a wide variety of awards, including academic excellence and need-based opportunities. Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing.  regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Admissions
Applicants must meet 51ÁÔÆæ’s general admission requirements to be considered for admission.
The connection between art, culture and society as a whole is a core part of our online art history degree. You’ll take required courses and electives and have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. You can complete the program as slow or as fast as you want.
Just like in the in-person program, you’ll have access to courses that explore human expression through visual and material culture in different art periods and geographic locations. Your professors are experts in art history and have international reputations for research and publication.
Art History Major Requirements
The major in art history consists of 30 credits in the department. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all ARTHIST courses attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Fifteen credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý | Asian Art and Architecture | |
| L&S research requirement | ||
| Colloquium in Method and Theory 1 | 3 | |
| Distribution | ||
| 3 credits at the 300-level or above in each of the 4 Art Historical distribution areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century; Modern/Contemporary; African, Asian, or Latin American. (See list below.) | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits. At least 3 of the elective credits must be at the 200 level or above. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Taken during their junior or senior year with permission from the instructor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art Historical Distribution Areas | ||
| Ancient/Medieval | ||
| The Art and Architecture of the First Cities: A Global Perspective | 3 | |
| Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 | |
| Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 | |
| Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Early Medieval Art in the West | 3 | |
| Chivalry and Spirituality: French Gothic Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Caliphs, Emirs, & Kings: Art & Architecture of Medieval Spain | 3 | |
| Frankish Art of the Crusader Period in the Levant | 3 | |
| Late Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 | |
| Greek Sculpture | 3 | |
| Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century | ||
| Northern Renaissance Art | 3 | |
| Introduction to Prints and Printmaking: History and Techniques | 3 | |
| Introduction to Baroque Art | 3 | |
| Introduction to American Art | 3 | |
| Survey of Italian Renaissance Painting and Sculpture | 3 | |
| Age of Apocalypse: Western European Art after the First Millennium | 3 | |
| High Renaissance Art in Italy | 3 | |
| Art and Society in Renaissance Florence | 3 | |
| Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 | |
| American Art: Colonial Period - 1870 | 3 | |
| Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | 3 | |
| Renaissance Architecture in Italy | 3 | |
| Modern/Contemporary | ||
| Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet | 3 | |
| History of Film I: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| History of Film II: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| Modern Art | 3 | |
| Film Directors: | 3 | |
| Film Styles: | 3 | |
| American Postmodernism 1960-2000 | 3 | |
| American Art: 1870 - Present | 3 | |
| American Folk Art | 3 | |
| Realism to Post-Impressionism: European Art, 1850-1900 | 3 | |
| Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | 3 | |
| History of Photography | 3 | |
| German Painting, 1800-1933 | 3 | |
| Latin American Modernisms | 3 | |
| History of Modern Design | 3 | |
| Introduction to Contemporary Art | 3 | |
| Trends in Contemporary Architecture | 3 | |
| History and Theory of New Media Art | 3 | |
| Topics in Early Modern Art: | 3 | |
| A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism: | 3 | |
| Frank Lloyd Wright | 3 | |
| Cubism and its Inheritance | 3 | |
| Dada and Surrealist Art | 3 | |
| American Artists Revealed: | 3 | |
| Topics in American Art: | 3 | |
| Asian, African, or Latin American | ||
| Asian Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 | |
| Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 | |
| Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art | 3 | |
| Latin American Modernisms | 3 | |
| African Art | 3 | |
| Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 | |
| Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 | |
| Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 | |
| Chinese Painting | 3 | |
| Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Japanese Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Art and Immortality in Ancient China | 3 | |
| Art, Ritual, and Ethnicity of China | 3 | |
| Buddhist Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Maya Art | 3 | |
| Topics in Chinese Art: | 1-3 | |
| Topics in Non-Western Art: | 3 | |
The major is intended for students who are interested in obtaining a well-balanced approach to the study of art history. It provides an introduction to most major areas of inquiry in art history and to different scholarly approaches to study in this field. It is recommended especially for students who wish to continue into graduate studies in art history and to pursue careers in college teaching or museum or gallery work.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at 51ÁÔÆæ, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.Â
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.Â
Currently enrolled students should use the  to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
As an art history major, you’ll be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of organizations. You may choose jobs in museums, libraries or art administration where you can apply your knowledge of art directly. Or, you can implement your skills in research and presentation, writing and editing, communications and problem-solving for success in different environments. You may even want to enroll in a graduate program like 51ÁÔÆæ’s Master of Arts in Art History degree.
Graduates with an art history bachelor’s degree have secured the following positions:
- Visitor Assistant, Royal Museums Greenwich
- Admissions Counselor, Columbia University
- Art Appraisal Researcher, David Barnett Gallery
- Brewer, Third Space Brewing
- Collections Manager, Blackwater Museum
- Community Relations Manager, National Women’s Hall of Fame
- Digital Archivist, College of the Holy Cross
- Director, Mansfield, Callihan, & Melville Fine Framing
- Facilities Manager, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
- Librarian, St. Francis Public Library
- Marketing Coordinator, Auer Steel
- Production Manager, Kohl’s