<p>Hey everyone!</p>
<p>I'm considering majoring in Art History. Does anyone have any suggestions about schools with strong Art History programs? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>If you're looking at Ivies+ elites, check out Princeton and Columbia.</p>
<p>Anything further, look at Rugg's Recommendations-- it's a great book that lists colleges by strength in major and groups them by relative selectivity (it's not a ranked list).</p>
<p>Pony, Most large publics have solid art history departments, for example University of Michigan, UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>Among LACs, Williams is, in my opinion, the best. Others that are very good are Wesleyan, Skidmore, Vassar, Hamilton, Kenyon, Oberlin, Smith.</p>
<p>For the ivy league and mid-sized universities Brown, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Melon. </p>
<p>My advice is to concentrate first on the type of school that fits you -- size, location, character -- then research the art history departments among schools that fall into that category.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins has one of the highest rated History of Art programs in the USA. In fact, it has the Baltimore Museum of Art * on campus *. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.jhu.edu/arthist/%5B/url%5D">http://www.jhu.edu/arthist/</a></p>
<p>Select Courses:</p>
<p>Introduction to the History of European</p>
<p>Ancient Art of the Americas</p>
<p>*Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael *
An examination of the three most celebrated artists of
the Italian Renaissance, focusing on the relation between
their achievements in architecture, sculpture, and painting,
and the historical conditions in which the works were
produced. Through these figures, Renaissance and modern
myths of artistic independence and individuality will
be subjected to a critical scrutiny. Lectures will deal with
the interpretation of the works themselves, and with the
artist’s careers, their interactions and rivalries, their relation
to patrons and other artists.</p>
<p>*Renaissance Art in Florence *
The city of Florence, Italy, is the classroom for this intensive
study of the art, architecture, and culture of the Renaissance.
Students will analyze individual works of art and be
expected to present their findings to others. There will be
side trips to other cities. Otherwise, the course takes the form of a rigorous
three-week walk through the city. Selection of students
is based on preparation in the History of Art, and seniority.
For information about prerequisites, travel, and accommodation
costs, see the undergraduate coordinator.
* offered in intersession *</p>
<p>Art of the First Millennium
Complicated interactions among pagans, Jews, and Christians
provide the historical context for tracing the emergence
of a distinctive Christian art before A.D. 1000.
*Picturing the Bible *
The course examines the ways in which theology, politics,
and other cultural interests were mapped onto biblical
narratives in manuscripts, murals, and small objects during
the Middle Ages. Research paper and final exam.</p>
<p>Rome: Art and Culture in the Eternal City
The course traces the urban and artistic history from the
earliest period until the present day. Special emphasis is
given to urban planning and political patronage.</p>
<p>*The Making of Renaissance Rome 1300–1600 *
The multiple identities of the ancient city as these are understood
and represented through the work of artists such as
Giotto, Filarete, Raphael, Bramante, and Caravaggio; the
writings of Petrarch, Pius II, Alberti, and Montaigne; the
statecraft and patronage of the Renaissance popes.</p>
<p>*Problems in Ancient American Art *
Selected topics which may include art of the ancient scribe
and visual communication (Maya, Aztec, Mixtec, Inka),
imperial art and architecture (Aztec, Moche, Inka), sacred
media and indigenous aesthetics (Mesoamerica, Andes).</p>
<p>*Ancient Latin American Visual Expressions *
This course addresses the social, cultural and historical
contexts of ancient Latin American art.</p>
<p>Italian High Renaissance and Mannerist Art
The development of humanist and anti-humanist art in
the 15th and 16th centuries, with special emphasis on
the works of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo,
Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, and their followers in central
and north Italy.</p>
<p>Renaissance Florence
Transformations in the visual arts in Florence, Italy, during
the Renaissance, with an emphasis on the social context
and function of key works of art.</p>
<p>*The Court Artist in Renaissance Italy 1330–1530 *
The course will examine the careers of several artists who
became the imagemakers to the makers of states who
inspired Machiavellis The Prince: Pisanello, Piero della
Francesca, Andrea Mantegna, Cosm</p>
<p>connecticut college is also quite good- there is an art museum on campus, excellent study abroad opportunities, and you have an option to get a certificate in museum studies.</p>
<p>Also consider Northwestern, which is ususally considered top 10.</p>
<p>Last I checked, Northwestern's art history is rated one of the top-10.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone!! I was already looking into UMich, UC Berkeley, and the like. Both Columbia and Princeton are way too close to home for me.</p>
<p>I mean, I've got reasonably good grades (93 unweighted, 95 weighted), great ec's (editor in chief of both the literary magazine and the yearbook, honor society, community service), tolerable SATs (which will be going waaaaay up at the next available opportunity...
But, sadly, I'm from Long Island...So, every other kid's application looks just like that.
So, the question now becomes -- Can I get in to any of these places??</p>
<p>Dartmouth and Williams have great programs for LACs.</p>
<p>"Thanks so much, everyone!! I was already looking into UMich, UC Berkeley, and the like. Both Columbia and Princeton are way too close to home for me.</p>
<p>I mean, I've got reasonably good grades (93 unweighted, 95 weighted), great ec's (editor in chief of both the literary magazine and the yearbook, honor society, community service), tolerable SATs (which will be going waaaaay up at the next available opportunity..."</p>
<p>Momrath got it on target. By reputation (and future job opportunities), Williams has it over all the others. But all the women's colleges, and former women's colleges are excellent in art history. Vassar's former Pres. was Frances Ferguson, one of the nation's leading art historians. Smith's Brown's Fine Arts Center and Library rivals any (with the exception of Williams). Mount Holyoke is also superb - and both combine resources in the Five College Consortium. You are likely competitive for any of these three. </p>
<p>If you are serious about art history graduate study, make sure to check out the language departments carefully. The single most common reason Americans drop out of Ph.D. programs is inability to pass the language exams. In the best art history programs (for western art), you can figure on three: German, French, and Italian. Williams otherwise spectacular program is hampered by mediocre at best Romance language departments. These are places where the larger places (like JHU or Yale) are going to be stronger, as are the current or former women's colleges.</p>
<p>UChicago has an interesting program, and a mkuseum of Asian art on campus. I would say Barnard with resources of Col.'s program & NYC, but you've said it's too close.</p>
<p>About chances: Vassar is a really tough sell for young women from L.I. The only girls I know who were accepted to Vassar from here were Ivy level: read Val., NMF. You can try at Vassar, but Barnard, Smith and Mt. Holyoke are all more welcoming to L.I. girls.</p>
<p>I've heard a lot about JHU's program. I hope I can get in there! I'm not planning on doing Art History though.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your help, everyone!</p>
<p>Berkeley comes to mind for art history, though the fact that you're OOS will make it much more difficult. It seems you'd have a shot, though.</p>
<p>Definitely visit Hopkins and stop by the department and the Baltimore Museum of Art as it's on the campus.</p>