Humboldt State’s Art History program gives students an opportunity to study the visual culture of the world, from prehistoric cave art to works being produced by artists active today. Majors learn about works of art and about the different geographies, histories, social and political contexts and cultural traditions that informed their making. Our program is particularly strong in the areas of art of the European Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Latin American, United States, 20th Century and Contemporary periods.
The art history curriculum focuses on the analysis and interpretation of art, with a particular emphasis on developing critical thinking and writing skills. Lower division courses take broad views of particular movements and periods while upper division classes examine issues and themes in greater depth. The capstone class for the major, the Seminar in Art History, provides students with a forum to conduct advanced art historical research and craft a scholarly research paper.
Art History majors also take classes in studio art in order to learn about the creation of art. They study the history and theory of museums as well as the function of museums within contemporary culture, and gain hands-on experience in museum practices. They also study a language to better understand how language and culture influence the creative act.