Art History | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Art History

Theory and Practice,
Past and Present

MCAD Art History minors use art as the lens to make sense of the past and present. This illuminating program covers all art mediums, including the study of objects of fine art, design, and decorative arts, as well as materials and visual cultural histories. Topics range from ritual and iconography to stylistic shifts, the art market, and artists’ roles and responsibilities in the exhibition venue. Students’ analytical and critical thinking skills are transferable to a wide variety of creative and scholarly practices.

Student reading books in the library

Hear about the student experience

As an Art History minor, you will:

  • Learn about global art traditions while refining and challenging ideas about what constitutes art.
  • Read and write about art as a scholarly subject, and how it reveals political, cultural, social, and economic significance of the time.
  • Discuss and analyze artistic movements in both historical and contemporary contexts.
  • Use various theoretical and methodological frameworks to write and speak about art and design.
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Class Highlights

This minor emphasizes a collaborative process of working on teams with students from all MCAD majors.

Minor requirements can be fulfilled with classes that include:

  • Introduction to Art and Design History
  • Readings in Contemporary Art
  • Native American Art
  • Gender, Art, and Society
  • Photography, the Moving Image, and Digital Culture
  • Art History Seminar

After MCAD

There are many paths to explore with a minor in Art History.

Potential careers include:

  • Curator
  • Art Writer
  • Museum Administrator
  • Art Instructor

“I liked pushing myself to work on a liberal arts minor while also focusing on my artistic goals each semester. It balanced me out a bit and reminded me to look at my work in a larger historical context.”  –Kali Western ’15