Art History, BA, Online BA
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s online Bachelor of Arts in Art History degree isn’t just about appreciating beautiful works — it’s a gateway to a wide array of career paths.
Whether you envision yourself curating exhibits in museums, preserving culture in archives or using applicable skills in a different industry, this program equips you to succeed.
You’ll practice visual literacy, research methods and creative problem-solving to uncover the relationship between human ideas and how they’re expressed. From ancient civilizations to contemporary masterpieces, you’ll explore the rich history of art, architecture, film and more across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas in the Art History courses.
Learn more about Letters & Science undergraduate online education.
Start Dates: Fall, Spring or Summer
Cost per Credit: $395 (Total Cost: $47,400*)
Credit Hours: 120 (30 Credits in Major)
*Total cost will vary based on the number of credits transferred into UWM.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
Online
Why Study Art History at UWM?
- Learn from the same expert faculty who teach in-person courses.
- Participate in a virtual internship with UWM’s Mathis Gallery. You can also gain hands-on experience through an internship or part-time job at a museum, gallery or non-profit organization in your local area.
- Benefit from a distinct online learning format. UWM offers one of the country’s only online art history bachelor’s degrees.
Financial Aid
Various financial aid options are available to support your educational journey. UWM’s Student Financial Services team will guide you through the financial aid process, helping you identify and apply for the best options to fund your bachelor’s degree.
Scholarships
UWM’s scholarships encompass a wide variety of awards, including academic excellence and need-based opportunities. Scholarship opportunities may increase with academic standing. Explore the Panther Scholarship Portal regularly as you make progress on your degree.
Admissions
Applicants must meet UWM’s general admission requirements to be considered for admission.
The connection between art, culture and society as a whole is a core part of our online art history degree. You’ll take required courses and electives and have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. You can complete the program as slow or as fast as you want.
Just like in the in-person program, you’ll have access to courses that explore human expression through visual and material culture in different art periods and geographic locations. Your professors are experts in art history and have international reputations for research and publication.
Art History Major Requirements
The major in art history consists of 30 credits in the department. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all ARTHIST courses attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Fifteen credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at UWM.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ARTHIST 101 | Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 102 | Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 104 | African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| or ARTHIST 105 | Asian Art and Architecture | |
| L&S research requirement | ||
| ARTHIST 501 | Colloquium in Method and Theory 1 | 3 |
| Distribution | ||
| 3 credits at the 300-level or above in each of the 4 Art Historical distribution areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century; Modern/Contemporary; African, Asian, or Latin American. (See list below.) | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits. At least 3 of the elective credits must be at the 200 level or above. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Taken during their junior or senior year with permission from the instructor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art Historical Distribution Areas | ||
| Ancient/Medieval | ||
| ARTHIST 210 | The Art and Architecture of the First Cities: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| ARTHIST 220 | Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 312 | Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 313 | Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 314 | Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 |
| ARTHIST 315 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTHIST 316 | Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 324 | Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 325 | Early Medieval Art in the West | 3 |
| ARTHIST 326 | Chivalry and Spirituality: French Gothic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 327 | Caliphs, Emirs, & Kings: Art & Architecture of Medieval Spain | 3 |
| ARTHIST 328 | Frankish Art of the Crusader Period in the Levant | 3 |
| ARTHIST 329 | Late Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 412 | Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| ARTHIST 413 | Greek Sculpture | 3 |
| Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century | ||
| ARTHIST 237 | Northern Renaissance Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 240 | Introduction to Prints and Printmaking: History and Techniques | 3 |
| ARTHIST 241 | Introduction to Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 250 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 255 | Survey of Italian Renaissance Painting and Sculpture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 323 | Age of Apocalypse: Western European Art after the First Millennium | 3 |
| ARTHIST 333 | High Renaissance Art in Italy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 342 | Art and Society in Renaissance Florence | 3 |
| ARTHIST 343 | Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 353 | American Art: Colonial Period - 1870 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 357 | Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 431 | Renaissance Architecture in Italy | 3 |
| Modern/Contemporary | ||
| ARTHIST 111 | Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet | 3 |
| ARTHIST 205 | History of Film I: Development of an Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 206 | History of Film II: Development of an Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 261 | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 307 | Film Directors: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 308 | Film Styles: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 349 | American Postmodernism 1960-2000 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 354 | American Art: 1870 - Present | 3 |
| ARTHIST 355 | American Folk Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 358 | Realism to Post-Impressionism: European Art, 1850-1900 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 364 | Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 365 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTHIST 366 | German Painting, 1800-1933 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367 | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 368 | History of Modern Design | 3 |
| ARTHIST 369 | Introduction to Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 370 | Trends in Contemporary Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 376 | History and Theory of New Media Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 447 | Topics in Early Modern Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 458 | A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 462 | Frank Lloyd Wright | 3 |
| ARTHIST 463 | Cubism and its Inheritance | 3 |
| ARTHIST 465 | Dada and Surrealist Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 469 | American Artists Revealed: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 470 | Topics in American Art: | 3 |
| Asian, African, or Latin American | ||
| ARTHIST 105 | Asian Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 251 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 270 | Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 281 | Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367 | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 371 | African Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 372 | Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 |
| ARTHIST 373 | Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 375 | Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 |
| ARTHIST 380 | Chinese Painting | 3 |
| ARTHIST 382 | Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 383 | Japanese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 384 | Art and Immortality in Ancient China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 386 | Art, Ritual, and Ethnicity of China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 387 | Buddhist Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 474 | Maya Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 481 | Topics in Chinese Art: | 1-3 |
| ARTHIST 482 | Topics in Non-Western Art: | 3 |
The major is intended for students who are interested in obtaining a well-balanced approach to the study of art history. It provides an introduction to most major areas of inquiry in art history and to different scholarly approaches to study in this field. It is recommended especially for students who wish to continue into graduate studies in art history and to pursue careers in college teaching or museum or gallery work.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
As an art history major, you’ll be prepared to pursue careers in a variety of organizations. You may choose jobs in museums, libraries or art administration where you can apply your knowledge of art directly. Or, you can implement your skills in research and presentation, writing and editing, communications and problem-solving for success in different environments. You may even want to enroll in a graduate program like UWM’s Master of Arts in Art History degree.
Graduates with an art history bachelor’s degree have secured the following positions:
- Visitor Assistant, Royal Museums Greenwich
- Admissions Counselor, Columbia University
- Art Appraisal Researcher, David Barnett Gallery
- Brewer, Third Space Brewing
- Collections Manager, Blackwater Museum
- Community Relations Manager, National Women’s Hall of Fame
- Digital Archivist, College of the Holy Cross
- Director, Mansfield, Callihan, & Melville Fine Framing
- Facilities Manager, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
- Librarian, St. Francis Public Library
- Marketing Coordinator, Auer Steel
- Production Manager, Kohl’s