Boston University’s Department of History of Art & Architecture has a national and international reputation in the field of art historical scholarship. The faculty and staff comprise a group of professional historians and educators who are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the education of students. We are convinced that the study of past works of art and architecture not only prepares students for understanding the present but also enables them to acquire valuable skills that are applicable to many careers, whether in the academy, the museum, the architect’s studio, or elsewhere.

Our faculty are concerned with the many-faceted historical implications (personal, social, political, economic, and aesthetic) of imagery and objects (buildings, paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, films, and decorative arts). They study the makers, critics, patrons, and users of these objects and images. Investigations reveal changing views of humanity and the world that develop a student’s own critical perspective. The art history and architecture faculty represent diverse approaches to the arts of a wide range of historical periods and places. Boston’s excellent museums and gallery collections and its range of more than 300 years of architecture bring students into intimate and productive association with major examples of visual culture throughout history.

The undergraduate history of art and architecture concentration provides interdisciplinary preparation for graduate work in the humanities or social sciences. We also offer programs leading to the MA and PhD degrees, as well as a departmental certificate in Museum Studies. Graduates of the MA program work in museums and other cultural institutions or teach art history at the high school or junior college level. Doctoral program graduates teach at colleges, universities, and art schools throughout the country or hold curatorial positions at major museums. Our students come from across North America and around the world, which allows us to foster a diverse and inclusive community of scholars.

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