Art History


Art History examines a broad range of visual, cultural, and critical studies providing valuable insight into history, philosophy, and the humanities in general.

Overview

Art History examines a broad range of visual, cultural, and critical studies providing valuable insight into history, philosophy, and the humanities in general.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, Art History is integral to the study of art and visual culture.

At a Glance

Degree options
Bachelor of Arts (BA), major
Minor

Curriculum

At Mount Allison, art history courses range from an introduction to art and its contexts to more focused examinations of specific time periods, movements, and issues surrounding the visual arts.

You will be able to explore:

  • Canadian and Indigenous art
  • museum and curatorial studies
  • contemporary art
  • women and gender in art
  • specialist courses in 19th and 20th century art

Upper year advanced seminars offer you the opportunity to take a more focused and critical approach to topics like:

  • modern to postmodernism
  • feminism and gender
  • museum studies
  • museums and education
  • collections and collecting
  • curating and critical writing
  • arts and archives
  • independent studies in specialized subjects
  • museum and gallery practicums

If you choose to major in Art History, you'll be encouraged to do an independent study essay on a specific area of interest as part of your degree.

Art History is available as:

  • BA major (60 credits)
  • Minor in any degree (24 credits)

Not sure about the difference between a major, a minor, an honours, and a certificate?

Other related programs:


The new Pierre Lassonde School of Fine Arts at Mount Allison builds on the Fine Arts program's long-standing history of arts education and artistic practice.

The Lassonde School complements new learning, scholarship, and arts initiatives designed to enrich the student experience, including scholarships for students in Art History.

Careers

Whether you're entering the job market or continuing your education, your Mount Allison degree will stand out.

Mount Allison has been recognized by Maclean's as the top primarily undergraduate university in Canada more times than any other university.

With experiential learning and career development opportunities available in every degree, you'll also graduate with hands-on learning and real-world experience.

Our graduates also boast extraordinarily high acceptance rates to top graduate programs and professional schools such as law and medicine.

Popular career paths for Art History graduates include:

  • museum or gallery curator
  • art historian
  • visual artist
  • conservator/restorer
  • professor/academic
  • arts administrator
  • museum art director
  • art dealer/appraiser
  • art therapist
  • exhibition designer
  • librarian
  • archivist
  • editor
  • tourism/cultural industry administrator

Alumni Spotlight

Mireille Eagan ('04)
Bachelor of Arts, Art History
Curator of Contemporary Art, The Rooms

» Award-winning curator Mireille Eagan ('04) brings Atlantic art to the forefront

Testimonials

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Majoring in Art History at Mount Allison provided me not only with a solid knowledge in the conventional history of art, but also in modern practices of museum and curatorial studies. Being able to learn these modern practices in the actual art world within a small program is very rare and I appreciate the fact that the Art History program is diverse in its curriculum.


Runa
Nishiyama
'19
Art History and Classical Studies, minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies
Tokyo, Japan
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Overlapping credits with the Classics, English, History, and Philosophy departments encourages an interdisciplinary approach within your degree. The strong connection with the Fine Arts department and Owens Art Gallery was a particular draw to me as an Art History major and Fine Arts minor.


Grace
McLean
'19
Art History, minor in Fine Arts
Fredericton, NB

Extras

Owens Art Gallery

Opened to the public in 1895, Mount Allison’s Owens Art Gallery is the oldest university art gallery in Canada and is an invaluable resource to students.

The gallery’s collection contains 3,200 works of art, including paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and multi-media work by established Canadian and international artists.

One of the featured permanent exhibitions is devoted to the work of renowned Canadian artist — and Fine Arts alumnus — Alex Colville ('42).

At the Owens Art Gallery students work at the front desk, assist with family programing and undertake placements in the Art Conservation Lab.

Art Conservation Lab

The Art Conservation Lab at Mount Allison is a significant resource within the Owens Art Gallery — it provides facilities and equipment for the documentation, preservation and treatment of artwork from the Gallery's collection.

It also offers important mentoring opportunities for Mount Allison students who wish to work with the gallery's Art Conservator. This is the only paintings conservation lab in New Brunswick.

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Bachelor of Arts

Admission Requirements

Our admissions decisions are based on your academic record, leadership skills, a high level of commitment, and the potential for personal growth. The drop down menu below will help you find information on what pre-requisites are recommended for a Bachelor of Arts.

Academic Awards

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Mount A is #2 in student awards


Maclean’s ranks Mount Allison second in student and faculty awards in its latest University Rankings. To date, 56 Mount Allison students have become Rhodes Scholars — one of the best per capita records in Canada.

Next Steps

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