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Home—Academics—Colleges—Humanities and Fine Arts—Degree Programs—Art History

Art History

What is a work of art? In a world culture dominated by images, understanding the history of visual culture is more important than ever.

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Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts

College

Humanities

Focus Areas

Photography

Asian Studies

Virtual Heritage

Accreditations

National Association for Schools of Art & Design (NASAD)

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Home—Academics—Colleges—Humanities and Fine Arts—Degree Programs—Art History

Contact Info

Logan Woodle

Chair, Visual Art

EHFA 270

843-349-2630

mwoodle@coastal.edu

Did You Know?

Art History students are supported in their development as professionals in the field through workshops and field trips.

Why CCU for Art History?

With a low student-faculty ratio, our program focuses on students by creating community, hosting career workshops, and providing travel opportunities to see works of art in person. Students can explore subjects as diverse as History of Photography, Arts of Japan, Digital Heritage: Virtual Landscapes, as well as more traditional art history.

Art history’s emphasis on careful observation, research, and writing makes it a good preparation for any profession. Arts-related careers include museum work (registrars, archivists, curators, museum educators), art director, estate appraisers, art investment advising, working with auction houses). Analytical and synthetic skills developed in art history also provide strong foundations for a variety of careers, including law, business, and education, among others.

 

Program Highlights

The Art History program supports interdisciplinary, hands-on experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Average Completion Time
4 years
Degree Credit Hours
120

Major Requirements

As an Art History major, you can take classes in the art and archaeology of ancient Greece and Rome, or a hands-on class in digital historical reconstruction. Maybe you want to explore points farther afield? We offer classes in the arts of China, Japan, and the Islamic world. If you’re interested in something more current, consider taking classes on Modern and Contemporary Art, the history of Photography, or a class on Art Crime. All of these are possible.

Major Requirements

Minor Requirements

The skills acquired with an art history minor can augment and customize the knowledge from many majors, such as art studio, history, graphic design, political science, management, and more. This combination can lead you to a variety of careers such as museum work, collections management, exhibit design, and even art crime and insurance investigation.

Minor Requirements

Arts of China and Art Crime

This course serves as an introduction to the visual and intellectual richness of Chinese art and architecture from the Neolithic period to the present. Some topics covered will include Shang and Zhou ritual bronze vessels, the Terracotta Army, Buddhism in China, Landscape Painting, the Forbidden City, Porcelain Production, and Chinese Contemporary.

Research Centers

The Art History program allows for multiple hands-on experiences across the curriculum in one of the Edwards College's many experiential learning centers. Check out the Center for Inclusive Excellence, the Baruch Center for South Carolina Studies, and The Athenaeum Press, where majors have thrived and gotten hands-on experiences.

Where Art History Can Take You

Working in a Museum

“It’s not just looking at a painting, it’s the history behind it, the story. Putting it in context is a really useful skill that can be applied to a ton of different jobs. I love the art history department at coastal, I love that it’s smaller because you really get to connect with your professors and other students."

- Jayme Carlson, B.A. Art History
Education Coordinator, Burroughs and Chapin Museum of Art

A Doctoral Program

“One of the best things about Coastal’s Art History program is the faculty. These are professors who have not only taught me skills that are necessary in my field, but who I’ve also established relationships with. The Art History department at Coastal has helped me reach the goals I’ve set for myself."

- Quentin Clark, B.A. Art History
Ph.D Candidate in Art History at Florida State University

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