The minor in Art History aims to provide skills in analyzing and interpreting art in relation to its historical and cultural contexts. Students will have the opportunity to learn how art acquires and conveys meaning by exploring the interactions among artists, objects, patrons, and society-at-large across a broad spectrum of media, cultures, and periods. The curriculum at Columbia College Chicago specializes in global, modern, and contemporary art, theory, and visual culture. These areas provide exciting perspectives on our visual and cultural environment and reflect the inclusive and interdisciplinary nature of art and art history today. The art history minor complements a wide range of majors, including fine arts, photography, visual arts management, and creative writing.

As a result of successfully completing program requirements, students should be able to:

• describe, analyze, and interpret artworks and other cultural objects;
• practice effective research skills, including evaluating research sources, using electronic databases and primary source archives;
• create projects that engage with art history and visual culture through innovative formats that involve collaborative and interdisciplinary processes; and
• relate the minor field of study to the student’s major discipline and future professional fields.