Art History
Deepen Your Understanding as an Art History Major at UNC Asheville
Founded on small class sizes, hands-on experiences, and a holistic curriculum, the Art History Program at UNC Asheville offers transformative education that prepares you for a meaningful career. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and perspective to thrive in the art world and beyond.
A Well-Rounded Curriculum
Our art history program immerses students in the world of art. From ancient civilizations to contemporary masterpieces, our courses challenge students to see art from different perspectives and engage with diverse artistic traditions. Students explore art movements, styles, and cultural contexts as they build a deep understanding of visual analysis and interpretation of both art and architecture.
Career Paths
A Bachelor of Arts in Art History from UNC Asheville empowers students to pursue a range of exciting career paths. Strong communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills, along with a deep understanding of art, culture, and societal forces, make our students excellent candidates for work in galleries, museums, research, academia, and more.
Art History Internships
Internships in Art History at UNC Asheville provide students with hands-on experience that complements their academic studies. By applying skills such as research, writing, and visual analysis in professional settings, students gain practical insight into potential career paths. Internship opportunities are available with museums, galleries, cultural organizations, and nonprofits locally, nationally, and internationally.
Exploring the Past Through Art:
Encounter, experiment, and engage with art in meaningful ways in UNC Asheville’s tight-knit, supportive art history bachelor’s degree program.
Take the time to immerse yourself in each new media and you’ll find that the concentration chooses the artist. Also, don’t skip studio classes.”
Exploring the Past Through Art
At UNC Asheville, Art History students bring their studies to life through immersive, hands-on experiences both in and beyond the classroom. Whether curating exhibitions in campus galleries, conducting original research alongside faculty mentors, or interning at museums and cultural institutions across the region, students actively engage with the art world in meaningful ways. These opportunities cultivate skills in visual literacy, critical analysis, and cultural interpretation—essential tools for careers in museums, education, preservation, and beyond.
Beyond Four Walls: Hazel Freeman
Art Major Hazel Freeman discusses her senior exhibition entitled Memory at Play, for which she created 11 paintings depicting nostalgic memories from her childhood.
Beyond Four Walls - Margaret Priest
Margaret Priest is the collections intern at the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center in downtown Asheville. She is proud to learn new skills like art handling, photography, and collections management, while contributing her efforts to preserving Black Mountain College’s legacy in modern art.
Original Minds: Brianna Miller
During her time as an art student, Brianna Miller utilized the printmaker's stone to explore her artwork, introversion, and the intriguing intersection of the two.
Paint it Gold
Lydia Ham, a painting major, was named a finalist for the 2023 AXA Art Prize, one of the nation's leading student art competitions.
Study Art History Abroad
Study Art History Abroad
Students in Art and Art History have numerous opportunities for study abroad experiences, from full year to semester to summer programs. Through our study abroad office, programs tailored to art and art history are available at many universities throughout the world. Many of these programs are equivalent in cost to attending UNC Asheville and some offer partial or full scholarships. In recent years, our students have studied in Paris, Rome, Florence, Japan, and London. Faculty-led summer programs also provide students with opportunities for short-term experiences such as travel to Greece or working on an archaeological dig in Italy.
Outside the Classroom
Outside the Classroom
Lecture Series
Each semester, UNC Asheville’s Art & Art History Department welcomes renowned visiting artists to campus to share their expertise and creative process. Through hands-on workshops and meaningful interactions, students gain fresh perspectives, sharpen their skills, and expand their artistic horizons.
Meet the Faculty
Meet the Faculty
Our Art and Art History Department faculty are passionate about the work they create and the subjects they study, bringing their wealth of knowledge to the classroom, the studio, and beyond. With small class sizes, you build meaningful connections with professors dedicated to your academic and artistic growth.
Related Programs
Complement Your Major with Arts & Markets
Complement Your Major with Arts & Markets
Designed to ignite your passion for the arts while equipping you with the practical skills to navigate the dynamic landscape of arts and markets, the Arts & Markets minor at UNC Asheville offers an interdisciplinary approach that bridges creativity and business. Students explore the economic, managerial, and promotional aspects of the arts while developing their own creative vision. Through this minor, you’ll gain the tools to launch and manage artistic projects, understand audience engagement, and prepare to lead in the ever-evolving arts industry.
Ready for What's Next?
In the Bachelor of Arts in Art History program, experience a transformative and immersive education that prepares you for a meaningful career in the art world. Small class sizes, hands-on learning, and a holistic curriculum enrich your time at UNC Asheville and empower you to reach your full potential.