History of Art and Architecture

Creating works of art and architecture is one way that people have explored their world and themselves. The history of art and architecture as a discipline investigates the relationship between visual and architectural forms and the people who produce them.

This is a creative and interpretive field, grounded in the humanities and connected to history, the visual arts, literature, anthropology, archaeology, psychology, and philosophy. To go into this field, you should be interested in how ideas are expressed visually, in cultures other than your own, in historical forces, and how people cope with evolving cultural circumstances.

Distinctive Features at Miami

Practicum work: Art and architectural history majors have the opportunity to attend national conferences and work on publications that prepare you for professional expectations.

Broad exposure: Miami's art department, accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, brings together students of varied interests and talents: students who are studying to be practicing artists, students who are preparing to be art teachers, and students who are concentrating on art history. Often, art classes are composed of students from each of these three areas. This enriches and broadens exposure to different points of view.

Student research: Art majors are encouraged to get involved in activities that prepare for real-world expectations. You'll have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Scholars Program that brings together students and faculty in common research endeavors.

Your Program of Study

The Bachelor of Arts is the degree granted to graduates of the art and architectural history program. This is a multidisciplinary degree offered with the Departments of Art, Architecture and Interior Design, and Classics.

This major provides an introduction to the history of visual arts in all major periods for Western and Asian cultures. You also have the opportunity to do specialized study in an area of your interest.

Like all Miami undergraduates, art majors receive the benefits of a liberal arts education by completing the Miami Plan for Liberal Education. This well-rounded course of study gives you a foundation for life in a rapidly changing world, and it's not something you would get in a specialized art school or in some other universities.

Study Abroad

Although study abroad is valuable to any student,history of art and architecture students can benefit especially from this rich experience. Through our Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg, you have the opportunity to study abroad, earn regular Miami credit, and live in the heart of Western Europe. A wide variety of courses is offered, all designed to take advantage of the European location. Because travel is part of the program, you have many opportunities to see the great museums of Europe and to experience the ancient artistic traditions of the continent.

Going abroad in the summer is another way to experience other cultures. In the summer of each year, Miami offers more than 20 overseas study programs in a variety of fields. All of these programs allow time for additional travel.

Miami also offers opportunities to enroll in foreign institutions for one semester or an academic year with options to study at one of the more than 120 universities in 30 countries under the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) or at institutions with which we have exchange agreements in Denmark, Japan, Mexico, and Scotland.

Facilities

The Department of Art is primarily housed in two buildings on the Miami University campus: Hiestand Hall and the Art Building. Relatively new or recently renovated, these buildings contain large lecture halls, small lecture rooms, and studios designed for the needs of students and instructors. The two buildings also contain several galleries for studio shows, traveling shows, visiting-artist shows, and faculty and student shows.

The Wertz Art and Architecture Library, one of four university libraries, contains more than 40,000 books and 250 current periodical titles in applied art, art history, art education, architecture, urban planning, environmental design, and landscape architecture.

The Art Museum, designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Chicago, is a dramatic limestone and glass structure that houses the university's art collection of more than 16,000 art objects ranging from antiquities to contemporary and representing most world cultures. An active student volunteer group, independent studies and internships for course credit, and student assistant positions offer a wide variety of experience for students.

The museum is the only institution of its kind at a state-assisted university in Ohio to hold accreditation from the American Association of Museums. Each year, the museum displays an average of 12 rotating exhibitions in its five galleries, drawing from the permanent collection and national traveling shows. It also sponsors free public lectures, films, panel discussions, and performances.

Careers

Graduates are prepared for careers as museum curators, gallery directors, art critics, preservationists, visual resources librarians, and corporate curators, among others. You may need additional training for some of these careers. Miami faculty will helps students locate schools that offer master's and doctoral programs.

For More Information

For general information about Miami University, please contact:

Office of Admission
301 S. Campus Ave.
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056-3434
513-529-2531 (v/t)
www.muohio.edu/requestinfo

For specific information on the History of Art and Architecture major, please contact:

Department of Art
Art Building
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2900
www.muohio.edu/art