MICA offers both an undergraduate major in art history, theory, and criticism and a minor in art history. The major offers a unique opportunity to pursue a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree in art history within the context of one of the nation's top colleges of art and design. Central to the work of the art historian is the study of the history of creativity. At MICA, a student majoring in art history is immersed in studio practice and is a member of a dynamic community of artists and designers. MICA's offerings in art history are of a quality and expansiveness unmatched even by many top liberal arts colleges. MICA graduates with a particular interest in the field have gone on to graduate study and to successful careers in art history, museum studies, curatorial practice, and other related fields.
MICA's curriculum in art history balances academic coursework and independent research with a significant studio component. Almost half of the total credits required for the major are in studio coursework, and art history majors are strongly encouraged to use their studio electives to pursue a concentration in a studio discipline. In the four-year program, students complete a total of 39 credits in art history, 27 credits in other liberal arts disciplines, and 60 credits in studio coursework – approximately half of their coursework in academics and half in the studio. The intensive studio practice integral to the BFA in art history, theory, and criticism at MICA strengthens students' own art-making and informs their studies and research in art history with a deeper understanding of the art-making process.
The breadth of art history course offerings at MICA, combined with the opportunity to study at other area institutions such as the Johns Hopkins University, allows art history students to pursue more in-depth areas of art history. In addition, MICA's faculty has an unusual diversity of research specialties – publishing in such areas as Medieval art, photography, Japanese art and music, Greek and Roman art, Islamic art, folk art and folklore, modern and contemporary art, and African American art. MICA has had a long commitment to developing a full-time art history faculty of distinguished scholar and teachers.
In the foundation year, students planning to major in art history pursue MICA's renowned foundation studio program, which emphasizes building strong skills and conceptual abilities for ongoing investigation in the studio and classroom. MICA's foundation program integrates critical thinking, reading, writing, and the methods and processes of art history through two required liberal arts courses – Critical Inquiry and Art Matters.
In the sophomore and junior years, majors gain an overview of art history theories, areas, and concepts through three required survey courses, and begin to build a focus and to explore specific areas of inquiry through electives. Art history electives may be used to pursue an area of focus in art history, to gain hands-on curatorial or real-world experience, and to explore an area of research interest through independent study. Academic course-work is balanced by studio courses during these two years. All majors are required to pursue studio coursework in drawing, photography, sculptural studies, and electronic arts, and a generous number of studio electives allows art history majors to pursue a studio concentration – animation, book arts, environmental design, fashion, graphic design, interactive media, photography, printmaking – or undertake intensive studio work in an area of special interest, such as painting or sculptural studies.
In the senior year, majors focus almost entirely on exploring an area of inquiry in the field of art history through upper-level electives and independent study, internships, and other hands-on opportunities to explore career options in the field.
Maps & Directions