Program Details
Program Details
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Bachelor of Arts
University of Mary Washington
Program Details
BA in Art History
Bachelor of ArtsBA in Art History
University of Mary Washington
Drawn to how people have depicted beauty throughout history? Need to know more of the story behind it? Major in art history at the University of Mary Washington and you'll explore humanity through artistic wonders, from prehistoric cave paintings to the works of Warhol. You'll investigate styles, periods, and movements of Western art; masters and masterpieces of Italy, Egypt, and beyond; and the rich resources of Washington, Richmond, Baltimore, and New York. Course offerings include History of Western Art, Topics in Non-Western and Non-Eurocentric Art, Egyptian and Near Eastern Art and Archaeology, Greek Art, Roman Art, Art Museum Studies, Romanesque and Gothic Art, High Renaissance and Mannerism, Post-Impressionism to Abstract American Art, and Pop Art to the Present.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Art History majors develop the ability to think, speak and write effecrtively about art and art history while learning the skills and methods used to conduct art historical analysis and research. Students have the opportunity to apply for internships with the UMW Galleries and for Undergraduate Research projects with specific faculty members. A vibrant visiting scholars program features lectures from distinguished guests, and the UMW Galleries brings 8-10 exhibitions of contemporary and historical art work to campus every year. |
| Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes A minimum of 120 credits are required; all general education, intensives, and major requirements must be met. Thirty-one of the 120 credits must be completed at UMW. Fifteen of your last 21 credits must be earned on campus. You must have an overall and major GPA of 2.00. The restrictions below apply to the BA/BS degrees:
*Only 8 cr in debate/comm consulting practicum *Only 8 credits in THEA 390 will count *Only 12 credits of private music will count *Only 10 credits of ensemble music will count *One 100-level BIOL sequence will count
*BLST/PORT classes do not count toward the degree *Only 9 credits of overlap allowed between double majors This Degree Evaluation is an advising tool to be used in consultation with your major advisor and staff in the Offices of the Registrar and Academic Services. It is not the final approval for degree completion. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
There are 100 level requirements fo rthe Art History major (ARTH 114A, 115A, and 118), so if you have not completed those courses, that is the best place to start. ARTH 303: Methods of Art History, is a course designed for newer majors, so that should be a priority as well. After that, majors are required to take a variety of upper level courses in multiple areas. Upper level courses do not have prerequisites, except for ARTH 303 and ARTH 460/470, which require 100 level coursework.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | The Art History degree is flexible and only requires 36 credits, making it easy to pair with another major or minor, including the Pre-Conservation Minor and the Museum Studies Minor. Many Art History majors complete an Individual Study project during their senior year to research specific topics in the field. These guided research experiences culminate with public presentations of the work during UMW’s “Research and Creativity Day” event at the end of the academic year. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | The Art History major provides a foundation for any type of career that requires a strong and developed ability to read and write, identify and solve problems, and think critically. Proximity to Washington, D.C., Richmond, Baltimore, and New York City, gives students first-hand experiences of art works. Visiting scholars and artists offer students important networking opportunities, as well as lectures on recent developments in the field. In addition, UMW Galleries bring exciting exhibitions and events to campus while advancing the educational goals of the University through the collection, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. Students may intern with UMW Galleries as well as the University’s Belmont, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, and the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library to gain experience as catalogers, researchers, administrative assistants, and exhibition installers. Internships allow our students to gain valuable experience and career contacts by working in museums and art institutions not only in Fredericksburg, but in Washington, D.C., Richmond, and beyond. Many of our students have gone on for graduate study in Art History at major institutions and are now employed by museums, galleries, cultural centers, and universities. Others have gone into library science, law, art therapy, publishing, retail design, and business. |
Program Credit Requirements
Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between University of Mary Washington and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completing the appropriate transfer degree through VCCS allows students to enter the university as a junior with nearly all general education requirements satisfied. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students earning an associate degree while in high school are not eligible for guaranteed admission programs and must complete 3 college specific general education courses. All courses are evaluated and transferred as applicable to your degree. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | UMW accepts AP, IB and CLEP results for college credit if the scores earned meets college expectations. Enter your test scores into the portal to see if scores will earn credit. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
Number of Transfer Students
482
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
71% of transfer applicants were admitted across three programs. Avg GPA for admitted transfers was 3.1027.
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | UMW is a perfectly sized university of 3,700 undergraduates that blends opportunity with community. Set in Fredericksburg, our park-like campus for both residential and commuter students is located fifty miles south of Washington, DC and fifty miles north of Richmond, VA. Fredericksburg is one of the most southern final stops on the Virginia Rail Express (VRE) which has allowed convenient commuter access to DC for internship experiences while studying at UMW. Founded more than 100 years ago, UMW currently offers 80 majors, minors, and programs through our College of Business, Colleges of Education, and College of Arts and Sciences. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Declare intent to transfer to UMW by completing the “GAA Student Letter of Intent form” available at the Office of Admissions website after a minimum of 15 credits towards the transfer associate degree is completed at the community college and before applying for graduation from the community college |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollins University | BA in Art History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Brightpoint Community College | Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Visual Arts | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Art degree in Liberal Arts: Fine Arts Major | Associate | Associate of Art | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Liberal Arts: Art History Specialization, A.A. | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Liberal Arts: English Specialization, A.A. | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Visual Art, A.F.A. | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Fine Arts in Visual Arts | Associate | Associate of Fine Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Arts - Studio Arts | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Arts - Studio Arts (Photographic Media Arts) | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Arts - Studio Arts (Glass) | Associate | Associate of Applied Arts | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Arts Degree in Fine Arts | Associate | Associate of Arts | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| James Madison University | Bachelor of Arts, Major in Art History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Roanoke College | Bachelor of Arts in Art History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| George Mason University | Art History, BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | Art History-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Old Dominion University | Studio Art-BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph College | Bachelor of Arts in Art History | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Art History, Bachelor of Arts | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Arts Management - Art (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Arts Management - Music (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Arts Management - Theater (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Studio Art (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Arts Management - Film (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Art History (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-2022.00 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. May also appraise land. | Business and Financial Operations Occupations |
| 25-4011.00 | Archivists | Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-1121.00 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-4012.00 | Curators | Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 25-4013.00 | Museum Technicians and Conservators | Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
Cost To Complete