Explore the ways art has shaped culture around the world and how our perception of art has changed over time.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts
Major, Minor
124
4 Years
Salem
Joanna Gold ’22, an art history major, spent the summer restoring the mural with a Portland conservator. She heard about the project through her internship at HFMA, which is available to students of any major.
Joanna Gold was a museum work study student when she was first introduced to Nina Olsson, who was open to offering her a conservation internship. Gold said discovering the project was serendipitous — she’s considering paper conservation as a career, and the internship is relevant experience for future graduate programs.
Curious where this major can take you? These are the real internships, graduate opportunities, and careers our Art History students have gone on to.
Our alumni have pursued graduate studies at Harvard, the University of California, and the University of Oregon. They’ve also worked at the Denver Art Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Learn what career paths our art history students have explored.
Michelle Atherton ‘15 leveraged her internships at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art on campus and the National Trust of Scotland. During her time at the Trust, Atherton was instrumental in photographing and cataloging castle valuables.
Christian Oldham ‘14 was honored as one of only 18 fellows in the Luce Scholar program, which offers students a deep dive into Asian cultures. Through the program, Oldham studied ikebana, the revered Japanese art of flower arranging.
Under the guidance of our expert faculty, art history students learn to apply a range of critical lenses to their study. Our faculty members work alongside students on research and hands-on learning. Tackle research, ideas, or new concepts directly with art historians.
Dr. Abigail Susik specializes in modern and contemporary Art History with a focus on international surrealism and its intersection with anti-authoritarian protest cultures. She encourages students to engage with visual culture.
Dr. Ricardo De Mambro Santos is deeply committed to student success, integrating his rich research and curatorial experience into the classroom.
Dr. Ann M. Nicgorski, an expert in Greek and Roman Art History, has extensive field archaeology experience and has curated numerous exhibitions. She co-founded the Salem Society of the Archaeological Institute of America.
Choose from a wide-range of course options to explore specific aspects of Art History. Through the senior seminar, students will demonstrate their knowledge through a final thesis. Participate in lectures, field trips, and hands-on activities throughout the art history program.
Explore how museums shape the understanding of art, history, and society. You’ll study accessibility, authenticity, and museum ethics. The course includes field trips, hands-on activities, and a final exhibition project.
Learn about key figures and themes in Japanese art and architecture from prehistory to the present. You’ll study artistic traditions such as Shinto and Buddhist architecture, narrative handscroll painting, sculpture, Ukiyo-e, and Nihonga.
Our Art History major requires 40 semester hours to complete the major, with a total of 124 credit hours required to complete the degree. Core courses make up 20 semester hours. Each student pursuing a major will be required to complete 4 semester hours in Early or Asian Art History, Early Modern Art History, and Modern and Contemporary Art History.
Students pursuing an Art History minor will need to complete 20 semester hours in art history with no more than 12 semester hours at the 100-level.
Our Art History program is open to first-year students, transfer students, and international students. Learn more about Willamette’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.
All admitted Art History undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships starting at $28,000 per year. Through generous financial aid opportunities, students can make a Willamette University education affordable.
Willamette University offers plenty of exclusive Art History scholarship opportunities on top of a generous financial aid package. Students can be awarded merit scholarships, competitive scholarships, and even scholarships for current students.
Willamette University
Ford Hall
900 State Street
Salem
Oregon
97301
U.S.A.