Art History, B.A.

Through Saint Louis University’s undergraduate program in art history, students learn the essential skills of critical analysis, research and communication by examining the social context in which art was historically — and continues to be — created. SLU's art history faculty members offer a broad field of study that ranges from the earliest civilizations, the Western canon of art and the art of world cultures to the beginnings of modernity and the most current movements in contemporary art.

Art history is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates essential skills from various humanities disciplines such as history, philosophy, theology and economics, and students analyze artworks and the societies that have affected the disciplines.

Additional highlights include:

• In the Jesuit tradition, art history faculty at SLU educate the whole person about humanistic values as expressed through the history of art.
• At SLU, art history courses offer intimate class sizes with individualized attention from faculty.
• SLU art history students engage with arts and cultural institutions locally and nationally through class visits, field trips, internships and employment.

Curriculum Overview

A Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Saint Louis University provides students with an in-depth study of the art world. A curriculum that covers a wide range of art offers students the opportunity to delve deeper into their specific periods of interest. The art history major and minor are offered at the St. Louis and Madrid campuses.

Each student receives a strong, balanced foundation in studying global traditions in art history through a series of core courses. Faculty have fashioned this curriculum to develop essential art historical methodologies such as critical analysis, social history and semiotics.

To earn a B.A. in Art History at SLU, students must complete 37 credits of required coursework. Eighteen of the 37 credits must be from the 3000- and 4000-level courses.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

SLU's art history students are not limited to the classroom. They take advantage of the active arts community at the University and in the surrounding St. Louis area. In addition to the Saint Louis University Museum of Art, resources such as the Historic Samuel Cupples House and Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art are located on the Saint Louis University campus, offering students a hands-on chance to experience the artists and periods they discover in the classroom. The Saint Louis Art Museum and numerous other galleries are all within a 5-mile radius of campus. Grand Center, the cultural hub of St. Louis, which includes the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and the Sheldon Art Galleries, is within walking distance.

The benefits of SLU's art history program also include several unique internship and career opportunities, both in the St. Louis region and nationally. On campus, the Samuel Cupples House and the Saint Louis University Museum of Art regularly hire interns. The Missouri Historical Society and the Saint Louis Art Museum are just two of many local institutions that work with students. SLU students have also held internships in Washington, D.C., at the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian. Additionally, research opportunities exist at major libraries and archives.

Scholarships are offered each year to new and continuing students that are administered by the art history program. For more information, contact the program coordinator for art history.

Careers

Many SLU graduates work in art-related institutions such as galleries, auction houses and museums, as well as in marketing, advertising, law, journalism and other fields that require an understanding of the visually based culture and the ability to express intelligent, well-researched opinions. Others have continued their studies in internationally recognized graduate programs. All have developed critical thinking and communication skills that aid them in pursuing the career of their choice.

Admission Requirements

Begin Your Application

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.

Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be able to contextualize artwork.
2. Graduates will be able to conduct research and critically analyze source materials.
3. Graduates will be able to apply the principal methodologies of art history to analyze a work of art, an artist, a patron, a place or a text.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate the importance of observing art in person.

Art history students must complete a minimum total of 37 credits for the major.

AP and Transfer Policies

No more than 18 credits of transfer credit may be applied to fulfill specific courses or elective courses towards the completion of the 37 credits required for the major in art history.

Advanced Placement credit, with a score of 4 or 5, will take the place of 3 credits for the Introductory courseARTH 1010 Art and its Histories (3 cr)

Continuation Standards

A student must maintain a C average in major courses.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
• Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
• Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
• Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
• Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
• Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
• Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Note: SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis program requirements vary slightly by campus.

Art history allows you to examine the significance of art across cultures and throughout history, keeping a critical eye on the contexts in which it was created. As a student of art history at SLU-Madrid, you will explore the cultural, historical and social contexts of art, which help us interpret the world around us. Through close examination of prominent periods and creators, you'll develop the skills ― critical analysis, research and communication ― necessary for success in careers in the arts and other professional fields.

Curriculum Overview

If you major or minor in art history at SLU-Madrid, you can complete all your courses in Spain or choose to study for one semester in St. Louis, Missouri. You can also design your own program. We transfer pre-approved coursework completed at universities in other European art capitals ― Paris, London, or Rome, for example ― or anywhere in the world.

Art history majors whose research interests focus on European or Western art may complete coursework at other approved art history programs in Europe (an AAICU institution or another European university). Similarly, art history majors whose research interests focus on non-Western art may complete coursework at approved art history programs outside of Europe, including Kansai Gaidai University in Japan, Sogang University in South Korea and the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Fieldwork, Internships and Careers

Our courses enrich your experience in Europe, allowing you to appreciate the art and architecture you see during your travels. We also organize visits to private collections that are inaccessible to the general public. The size of our program allows us close contact and mentorship with our students, as well as internship opportunities in museums both in Spain and the United States.

When you study art history at SLU-Madrid, you can apply for internships at cultural centers and artistic institutions in Madrid, including the offices of Sotheby's and Christie's auction houses. Students may also apply for an internship in the United States through our partnership with museums in St. Louis, Missouri. To apply, students must be registered for the art history major or minor and meet all SLU-Madrid internship requirements.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the major, you must have at least a 2.00 cumulative average and complete a declaration of major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be assigned a departmental advisor.

Tuition and Fees

SLU-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu. 

• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships and Financial Aid

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

• Art History, B.A. (STLCC 2+SLU)