Art History
If you want to understand culture and history, start with art. As an art history student, you'll dive into the visual arts—from paintings and photographs to architecture and digital media—to discover extraordinary insights about people and society. You'll learn how to be a detective, a historian, an explorer and a decoder of the world around us. In an increasingly visual world, you will become a trusted guide, equipped with the skills to see how we reveal ourselves through art.
What will I learn?
Think of yourself as a time traveler, exploring the history and meaning of art across time. Guided by our expert faculty, you’ll learn how to analyze and decode visual arts in the context of politics, race, gender, sexuality, disability and other cultural factors. You’ll visit local museums and galleries to study priceless paintings, sculptures and other artwork in person. And through our Art Research Library, you’ll have easy access to a huge collection of historic images.
What can I do with an art history degree?
As an art history student, you’ll be accustomed to looking at things with a critical eye—including your job opportunities. This degree is designed to help you succeed, whether you choose a career in the arts or any field that requires deep knowledge of our visual world.
At UB, a vast majority of our art department graduates pursue a career in art and design—a testament to the quality of our education. You'll find our alumni working in galleries, museums, auction houses, government agencies, schools and universities worldwide. Some of the career paths include:
- Art administration.
- Art historian.
- Art installer.
- Art librarian.
- Arts editor.
- Conservator.
- Curator.
- Director.
- Gallery assistant.
- Professor.
- Teacher.
- Writer.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,340.00 | N/A | |
| Archivists | $68,130.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Curators | $46,680.00 | $22.44 | Rapid Growth |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $41,450.00 | $19.93 | Rapid Growth |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.