Art History

College of Arts and Sciences

Art History is the study of art and visual culture as instruments of knowledge and methods of human expression that operate in many arenas of history, tradition and the contemporary environment. Art history students have the opportunity to study a broad geographical, temporal and ethnic range of cultures to explore the variety of ways in which visual artifacts are used to express and convey the diverse values of society. Graduates with this degree pursue careers in fields such as business, media and communication, nonprofit, education, museum curation and technology.

 

Major category: Minimum requirements

Minor available

Topic: Arts

website   Degree requirements

Applicant type

Freshman

Freshmen can apply to the UW to begin autumn quarter or winter quarter (U.S. applicants only)

Read more about applying to the UW as a freshman, including details for programs that provide high school students with college credit (like Running Start).


Transfer

Quarters of general admission to UW: autumn / winter (U.S. applicants only) / spring

Preparation for the major is a factor in transfer admission.

  • Use the information below to help you prepare for this degree
  • Visit MyPlan to run a degree audit.
  • Use the UW Equivalency Guide to find out how courses taken at a Washington state community or technical college will transfer to the UW.
  • UW college and school graduation requirements

Department admission information

  • Departmental application deadline:
  • You must enroll at the UW before applying to this major. Please contact the department for additional details.

This is a minimum requirements major. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher is required for admission.

Entering transfer students may declare an Art History major by scheduling an appointment with the Art History adviser on or after their orientation/registration date.

Prior to transfer, students may email questions to uaskart@uw.edu

Read more about applying to the UW as a transfer student.

Courses required for the major:

  • ART H 201
  • ART H 202
  • ART H 203
  • ART H 205
  • ART H 206
  • Courses in history, literature, anthropology, classics
  • Courses to enhance writing skills
  • Courses in foreign languages

Entering transfer information:

Total undergraduates: 49
Total from Washington community colleges: 11

Entering transfer GPA (from WA community colleges):

3.75 – 4.00: 4
3.50 – 3.74: 2
3.25 – 3.49: 1
3.00 – 3.24: 3
2.75 – 2.99: 0
2.50 – 2.74: 0
2.49 and below: 1


Career outcomes