Areas of Study:
Art History
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The Art History Division, which has approximately 670 students per semester, and nationally and internationally recognized faculty, offers courses in the history of art and architecture, from pre-history to the present. Although the focus has traditionally been on art of the West, several courses deal with art history of non-Western cultures, and the recent hire of a new faculty member with expertise in Asian art promises greatly to expand the latter offerings in our curriculum. Upon completion of the major, Art History majors are required to have (1) a general knowledge of the monuments and principal artists of all major historical periods, (2) one or more advanced areas of concentration (e.g. Renaissance, Contemporary, or Non-Western) within the history of art, (3) a solid foundation in art historical theory, analysis, and criticism, and (4) a functional knowledge of the creative process gained through participation in one or more studio courses. Majors are expected to remain actively engaged in research and analytical writing throughout the course of their studies and to achieve adequate mastery of at least one foreign language in order to perform research using primary sources. This rigorous program of study provides strong academic preparation for further study at the graduate level.
Studio arts majors are also encouraged to take courses in Art History, in order to recognize the interrelationships of form, content, and context as they have evolved through the millennia. They are also encouraged to view their own art work as part of this continuum and within the context in which they will function as professionals.
UTA is fortunate to be located in the heart of the DFW metroplex, which is home to several prominent and internationally recognized museums. The Kimbell Art Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, The Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, the Nasher Sculpture Garden, and the Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art are all in close proximity. The convenience of such important museums, in terms of both their respective permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, makes original works of art accessible to the student, which is invaluable for any student interested in art and its history.
In recent years, and despite the competition from other area graduate level programs, UTA art history undergraduate majors have secured internships at almost all of the aforementioned museums. Several majors have taken internships at national museums, including the Houston Museum of Art, the Montgomery Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art. Majors are actively involved in the UTA student organization known as the Art History Student Union, which organizes professional and social activities. Increasing numbers of UTA art history majors pursue graduate work in art history both locally (e.g., Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University) and elsewhere (e.g., Tufts University-Boston; the Courtauld Institute of the University of London; University of Kansas-Lawrence), often times with full or partial scholarship funding.
Below is a list of current faculty members with some of their recent achievements.
Faculty
Dr. Mary Vaccaro, Associate Professor
Dr. Beth S. Wright, Professor of Art History and Dean of College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Ingrid Furniss, Assistant Professor
Stacey Schultz - Visiting Assistant Professor
Kelly Ingleright-Telgenhoff - Visiting Assitant Professor
Debbie Gibney, Adjunct Professor
Rita Lasater, Director, Visual Resource Commons
DEGREE PLAN
Download the Art History degree plan here.