Department ofArt History
Programs as broad as history
The Department of Art History offers B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees, as well as minors in art history and architectural history and a museum studies certificate. Students have the opportunity to hold internships or assistantships at Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art, known particularly for its strong holdings in Baroque, American, and contemporary art. The department’s faculty are internationally recognized scholars known for sharing and instilling their enthusiasm for the discipline with their students.
Degrees +
Certificates
B.A. in Art History
The B.A. in Art History offers an opportunity for students to explore and examine art while developing a deep understanding of how and why it brings the world closer.
M.A. in Art History
The M.A. degree in Art History transforms a passion for the arts and cultural history into a career path. Through the completion of a master’s paper or thesis, foreign language...
Ph.D. in Art History (+Dual Ph.D.)
Advanced study of visual arts spanning periods, cultures, and geographies. The Art History Ph.D. program – with Asian Studies or Visual Studies dual-title options – can deepen your expertise and advance your Art History career.
Art History Minor
Explore art from ancient to contemporary times, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. This minor relates visual images to the big questions of humanity.
Architectural History Minor
The Architectural History minor teaches exceptional visual acuity and analysis. You will better understand space, design processes, and construction practice within historical periods.
Museum Studies Certificate
Learn the fundamentals of museum studies. Explore the history, theory, and practice of institutional collecting and conservation. Engage in a technical investigation of art.
Faculty Spotlight
Amara Solari
Associate Professor of Art History
Amara Solari teaches courses in Latin American art from the pre-Columbian through the colonial period. Her research focuses on processes of cultural, visual, and theological interchange between indigenous groups and Spanish settlers of New Spain. She recently received a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of her research project, “Maya Christian Murals of Yucatán: Indigenous Catholicism in Early Modern New Spain,” which focuses on fragile religious murals painted by Christianized Maya artists in Yucatán, Mexico, between 1550 and 1750.
Our Facilities
Our broad program offerings are supported by rich research, archive, and display spaces.
See All Our Facilities
Visual Resources Centre
The Visual Resources Centre (VRC) manages a continuously growing digital collection of images of works of art, architecture, and other visual materials from prehistoric Learn More
Palmer Museum of Art
The Palmer Museum of Art, a dramatic structure designed by Charles W. Moore, is the most prominent visual arts facility on the University Park Learn More
Borland Project Space
The Borland Project Space (BPS) illuminates the vibrant research culture of the College of Arts & Architecture. With this initiative we move beyond traditional Learn More
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight
Kimberly Henrikson
B.A. in Art HistoryKimberly Henrikson is executive director at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking (Norwalk, CT) and president of the Print Club of New York. She is newsletter editor for the International Print Club Societies organization, and held a senior position at Artstor, where she managed training and support services for digital image licensing in higher ed and museum communities around the world.
Aug 7
Virtual Mus. Theatre Voice Ped Workshop
Music Academic CalendarThe Penn State Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy Workshop 2020 has been moved to online. It will be held August 7 & 8, 2020 and prices
Events
Go. Explore.Virtual Mus. Theatre Voice Ped Work
Music Academic Calendar
SOM - Bach's Lunch
CSED All Faith ChapelNews from A&A
SOVA alumna’s artwork featured in virtual exhibition responding to pandemic
Penn State School of Visual Arts alumna and Southwest Philadelphia artist D’nae Harrison, 2014 bachelor of fine arts, has been named as a winner of the 2020 MOZAIK Future Art Award
Penn State School of Visual Arts alumna and Southwest Philadelphia artist D’nae Harrison, 2014 bachelor of fine arts, has been named as a winner of the 2020 MOZAIK Future Art Awards.
Creativity and the coronavirus: Interns make the most of challenging situation
Students in the College of Arts and Architecture internship program adjusted their work in creative ways during the challenging spring semester. Read More
Recreating masterpieces with a COVID-19 theme
As the spring 2020 semester was winding down, art history faculty member, Heather McCune Bruhn, challenged her students to recreate famous works of art with a COVID-19 theme. Read More