History of Art and Architecture
About History of Art and Architecture
Our Program and Courses
By the time you graduate, you will:
- Have acquired skills to both analyze works of art and place them in larger cultural contexts
- Have gained a thorough understanding of the role that scholarship plays in shaping our perception of the past鈥揵oth what we know and what we don鈥檛 know
- Have developed a critical perspective on ever changing views of cultural artifacts past and present
Learning Outside the Classroom
Research Opportunities
As you travel back in time exploring History of Art and Architecture, you may find yourself wanting to further explore a particular piece, artifact, art period, or something else entirely. If this is the case, you won鈥檛 have to wait until graduate school to launch your investigation. F&M History of Art and Architecture students are actively engaged in hands-on learning and have extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led research.Sophomores who declare a major in History of Art and Architecture or studio art also may apply for the Sophomore Summer Foreign Travel Award in Studio or Art History. This award, established by the late Dean of the College, Bradley R. Dewey, offers funding for students to spend a summer researching or taking a course outside of the U.S.
Explore research at F&M
Off-Campus Study
Do you want to visit Italy to immerse yourself in Renaissance art? Or maybe you want to spend a semester in Amsterdam to dive into Vincent van Gogh鈥檚 influence on modern art? F&M鈥檚 rich off-campus study program offers invaluable opportunities to broaden your academic horizons. Many students pursue programs in art history with European and British universities. History of Art and Architecture students have also studied architecture through Columbia University, a program that brings them to Paris for half of the year.Explore off-campus study at F&M
The Phillips Museum of Art
Located right on campus in F&M鈥檚 Steinman College Center, the Phillips Museum of Art fosters an understanding and appreciation of the arts, including contemporary, historical and multicultural materials. The museum partners with academic departments 鈥 including History of Art and Architecture 鈥 to offer opportunities for faculty and staff to extend the walls of their classrooms and engage students in curatorial practices, object-based learning, and research opportunities that draw from the museum鈥檚 permanent collection, changing exhibitions, and visiting artists.A History of Art and Architecture student also can turn to the museum to study curatorial practices or even curate an exhibition working with F&M鈥檚 collection of art and objects under the direction of College faculty and museum staff.
Explore the Phillips Museum of Art
Field Trips
F&M鈥檚 location provides the perfect landscape for studying History of Art and Architecture. Our home city of Lancaster is regarded as a region of exceptional historical significance, and the city鈥檚 convenient location allows for trips to museums and galleries in Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.Our Facilities and Resources
Winter Visual Arts Center
The Susan and Benjamin Winter Visual Arts Center (WVAC) provides a magnificent environment for the making and study of visual arts. The WVAC is the home of History of Art and Architecture, studio art, and Film and Media Arts, as well as several art studios, a digital lab, an art gallery, a cinema, and more. This building is unlike any other on campus. It earned The Architect鈥檚 Newspaper 2020 Best of Design Award in the institutional / higher education category.The Laura Ensler 鈥77 Art History Seminar Room
The Art History Seminar Room in the WVAC is a dedicated classroom space for the study of the visual arts. It is one of the main teaching spaces used for instruction.The DesChamps Art History Reference Library & Student Workspace
Overlooking one of the WVAC鈥檚 many art studios, the DesChamps Art History Reference Library & Student Workspace features a small, non-circulating collection of art history books and serves as a space for students to study and research. The Art History Reference Library & Student Workspace also offers a welcoming and an informal social space, where students and professors can gather over coffee or tea.Success Beyond F&M
Graduate School
Many History of Art and Architecture majors go on to study in graduate programs in the U.S. and abroad. Graduates have pursued advanced degrees in art and art history, visual arts, the history of art and archaeology, architectural preservation, museum studies, and more. They enrolled at institutions such as:- Harvard University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Columbia University
- Princeton University
- College of William & Mary
- New York University
- School of Visual Arts
- University of Chicago
Career Paths
History of Art and Architecture graduates are prepared for a wide array of careers. They hold positions such as:- Architect
- Art Historian
- Assistant Conservator
- Art Director
- Art History Teacher
- Fine Arts Assistant Appraiser
- Librarian
- Museum Curator
- Museum Director
- Museum Educator
- Professor of Art History
Immerse yourself in a rich artistic and intellectual tradition. By studying Classics
at F&M, you鈥檒l gain a deep understanding of the ancient Mediterranean while building
an appreciation of its lasting legacies, empowering you to become a productive and
thoughtful citizen in today鈥檚 rapidly changing world. Humans find meaning in many forms, and one of the most widespread and varied of those
is religion. As a religious studies student at F&M, you will have the opportunity
to study numerous belief systems, including American religions, Buddhism, Christianity,
Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam, while challenging your own perceptions and those of
the world around you. Develop your natural artistic talent and hone your technical skill in an intellectually
captivating liberal arts environment. By studying studio art at F&M, you鈥檒l explore
a vast range of artistic media, create art in a diverse range of spaces, and uncover
how art inextricably links individuals around the world.Alumni Spotlight
鈥淢ajoring in art history opened up my academic horizons.鈥
At F&M, Keats Dai 鈥23 felt empowered to explore all her interests. 鈥淢y experiences
at the College trained me to think, to pursue, and to gain a better understanding
of myself. All of those equipped me with the bravery to dive into the unknown to explore,鈥
she said. After taking two courses in art history, Dai found her niche. 鈥淚 think these
two classes really showed me that I had the passion and talent to study art,鈥 she
said. 鈥淢ajoring in art history opened up my academic horizons, allowing me to be creative
and research with discipline at the same time.鈥 Dai continues to blend creativity
with research as a curatorial assistant at Shanghai Arts and Design Company. 鈥淚 think
being a curatorial assistant is a continuous process of learning,鈥 she said. 鈥淭o get
myself ready to curate, I have to gather information from all resources 鈥 it鈥檚 very
similar to doing a research project.鈥
Read More 禄Winter Visual Arts Center Crosses Boundaries
The Susan and Benjamin Winter Visual Arts Center (WVAC) provides a magnificent environment
for the making and study of visual arts. The WVAC is the home of History of Art and
Architecture, studio art, and Film and Media Arts, as well as several art studios,
a digital lab, an art gallery, a cinema, and more. "As a collective, these spaces
and the creativity they spark touch every aspect of F&M's mission and reinforce our
commitment to providing a world-class liberal arts education," said F&M President
Barbara Altmann.
Read More 禄Related Fields of Study
Classics
Religious Studies
Studio Art
November 25, 2024 At F&M, Keats Dai 鈥23 felt empowered to explore all her interests. After finding her niche in art history, she is now a curatorial assistant at Shanghai Arts and Design Company. 鈥淢y experiences equipped me with the bravery to dive into the unknown to explore,鈥 she said. September 17, 2024 Stroll through the Phillips Museum of Art this fall, and you might just stumble upon a writing workshop, music performance, academic class or yoga and meditation session. February 13, 2024 Meet the student artists behind 鈥淪pectra: Exploring Neurodiverse Art in 顶级国产视频 & Marshall College.鈥 The exhibition celebrates the artwork of students on campus who identify as neurodivergent. Our Students in the Spotlight
A Passion for Art of the Past Inspires a Future
More than a Museum: Phillips Art Exhibits Promote Inquiry & Unity
Meet the Students of F&M鈥檚 First Neurodivergent Art Exhibit