Freshman
Course Selection
- 2000-level courses introduce students to visual analysis and impart basic information in the discipline: the major monuments, artists, styles, issues, methods and theories associated with the history of art.
Ask for Assistance
- Be sure that you start your time at Auburn well by regularly meeting with your academic advisors in the college
- Individual planning and advisor guidance can ensure you are off to a strong start
Gain Experience
- Use Handshake to explore employers actively hiring in your field and search part-time jobs that can add experience to your résumé.
- Art History students often pursue internships, whether locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally. Talk to your College of Liberal Arts advisor and the Department of Art and Art History internship coordinators for more information.
Get Involved
- Join Studio 5, a student organization hold pre-exam study sessions, proofread each others’ papers, workshop resumes, personal statements, and cover letters, and go on field trips to area museums together.
Sophomore
Course Selection
- Art History majors also complete studio art courses (12 hours).
Ask for Assistance
- Every semester you should meet with your College of Liberal Arts advisor and your registration is blocked until you do so.
- Your advisor can also help you to meet the distribution requirements and consider internship, study abroad, and career opportunities.
- Take advantage of Study Partners, SI sessions, and the academic coaching in the Office of Academic Support.
- The Miller Writing Center can help with your writing assignments and all other writing assistance you may need.
Gain Experience
- Participate in a study-abroad trip (current opportunities through the department include Paris, Rome, and Wales).
Get Involved
- Look for more opportunities on campus to engage by utilizing AUInvolve to identify organizations you’re interested in joining.
Junior
Course Selection
- Coursework becomes more specialized at the 3000-level and above.
- These courses require higher level readings of primary and secondary sources, the development of research skills and a greater amount of critical discussion and writing
Ask for Assistance
- Begin to think about whether you want to apply to graduate school as most art history professions require graduate training.
- Meet with someone in the University Career Center (UCC) to explore career options and receive individualized assistance
Gain Experience
- Use LinkedIn to identify past graduates in your major and set up informational interviews and shadowing opportunities to gain further understanding of your major in the world of work.
- Participate in an internship.
Get Involved
- Attend conferences including the South East College Art Conference (SECAC) and “Kalamazoo,” the interdisciplinary medieval conference at Western Michigan University
- CAA (The College Art Association) is the professional organization for the field of art and art history, which hosts conferences where scholars present their research and interview for academic jobs.
Senior
Course Selection
- There is a required capstone seminar in Art History, which you take during your final year of study. You will consider a range of methods in art history and undertake an in-depth research project, which you present orally and in writing.
Ask for Assistance
- If pursuing graduate school, start early on your personal statement—count on doing many drafts of this before you send it off. Work with you Art History advisor and professors on this, and allow plenty of time to hone your ideas and sharpen your writing.
- If you ask professors for letters of recommendation, give them at least a month’s notice, and provide them with your resume/CV, a draft of your personal statement and cover letter, copies of papers you have written, and a note outlining your coursework in the field.
Gain Experience
- Archaeological field training is another great option: a number of opportunities are open to undergraduates to excavate both within the United States and abroad.
Get Involved
- Connect with AU alumni and stakeholders to enhance professional opportunities
- Join area specific organizations, such as Sixteenth-century Studies, Eighteenth-century Studies, Nineteenth-century Studies, Renaissance Society of America, Archaeological Institute of America, American Oriental Society, American Research Center in Egypt, and Society for American Archaeology.
General Information
This is a field with a heavy emphasis on advanced education. Pursue multiple internships and research opportunities to be competitive. You will also need to maintain a high GPA and perform well on the GRE to qualify for admission.
Some Career Options
Compare to Assessment Results
Career assessments are a great way to learn more about who you are in order to find a career and/or major that will be a good fit.
To learn more about assessments or find out how to get started, start here.
Interests
Holland's Code: IRE
- Investigative
- Realistic
- Enterprising
Personality
Most common* Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality types found in this major, in no particular order:
- ESTP
- ENFP
*Every MBTI type is found in every major, these are the most highly concentrated
Values
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
Skills
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Job and Internship Opportunities
Meet your Career Contacts
University Career Center Liaison
Tasheila Williams-Townsend, EdS
College of Liberal Arts Contact
Last modified: September 30, 2021