Art History is a well-respected field of study that is often the precursor to careers in education, law, and other such prestigious areas. Students in this degree learn the myriad of ways that history and culture have been influenced by artistic expression. This coursework gives individuals a unique lens into the nature of the human spirit, from prehistoric eras to modern day pieces of work. Students study mediums of all kinds and learn to finely identify artists and works of art.
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Methodology:
These below institutions of higher education represent some of the finest schools and faculty members in the nation, giving students the most outstanding opportunities in art history available.
Research was performed specifically from each school’s website to obtain degree-specific facts and tips. In addition, information was gathered from various, highly reputable, publicly available sources ranking similar degree programs. The voices of the students attending schools offering this degree have been weighed and retrieved from various and viable sources from the web. Our picks for the Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Art History degree programs have been listed in random order, so you may choose a program that is best for you based on the following:
- Regionally Accredited programs to ensure ease of credit transfers & preparations for graduate school,
- Exceptional Faculty experienced in the field of Art History; the same scholars who instruct traditional brick and mortar counterparts,
- 100% Online or Hybrid learning formats, offering instructional videos, seminars with industry leaders, livestreams, digital documentations and slideshows, as well as, Student Support Services and innovative, yet easy-to-use Learning Management Systems,
- Prepares students for a variety of career choices; comprehensive education in a strong foundation of Arts and the Humanities; often focused on careers in Law, Politics, Education, or other Humanitarian Services, to name a few,
- Builds strong written and oral communication skills, in addition to, analytical and problem-solving skills,
- Financial Aid opportunities,
- Enhances artistic abilities, as well as, imagination and philosophical viewpoints,
- Offers degree concentrations related to the field of Art History,
- Degree may be awarded as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Professional Studies in Art History.
See our Methodology page which details the plethora of criteria we use in order to develop the most accurate and up-to-date rankings on the web!
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ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Arizona State University is one of the strongest and most popular online schools in the country and offers a Bachelor in Art History through the renowned Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. It is one of a few programs of this kind available. The program provides high-quality coursework that prepares individuals for lifelong careers in the field of Art History.
Campus Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 81%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, the nonrefundable application fee, official high school or GED transcripts representing an exemplary GPA/score, SAT and/or ACT scores, and financial aid documentation.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art from the Prehistory Through Middle Ages
- Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- History of Photography
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates of ASU have gone on to fill numerous different positions within the field, such as: archivist, instructor, curator, museum technician and conservator, agent and manager! Alumni are also well-prepared for continuing education programs as well, with a strong and supportive network and alma mater such as this one.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
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MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
The Mansfield University of Pennsylvania online Bachelor in Art History program is one of the most popular of its kind and has received a great deal of attention from journalistic resources. This degree completion program develops an awareness of the cultural traditions in the visual arts worldwide.
Campus Location: Mansfield, PA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Retention Rate: 76%
Admission Requirements:
All applicants must submit high school transcripts and/or GED testing scores as well as SAT/ACT test scores. An art portfolio is not required for consideration for this program. Students must have a solid and consistent GPA level and must maintain said academic performance within the program.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Introduction to Art
- Visual Studies in Aesthetic Experience
- Special Problems in Art
Degree Outcomes:
As it is well-worded in this program’s vision, students learn to “celebrate artistic and cultural creativity by interpreting objects of art and culture in ways that increase knowledge, enrich the spirit, engage the mind, and stimulate the senses.” Graduates have vastly increased levels of critical and academic thinking and go on to fill numerous positions of employment across all areas.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA’S ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
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ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY
ONLINE BACHELOR DEGREE IN ART HISTORY PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Merging the study of Western Art with the “skills and practice of fine arts education,” students receive a very well-rounded curriculum in which they are educated and trained in identifying and discussing art and art history using relevant and modern tools, and they have a broad-based, general education to assist with other important skills.
Campus Location: San Francisco, CA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: unavailable
Retention Rate: 76%
Admission Requirements:
Students must submit relevant and necessary documentation for admission consideration—transcripts from all high school institutions or GED test scores; an art portfolio is not required but is highly encouraged.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art of the Dutch Golden Age
- 20th Century Art
- Italian Renaissance Art
Degree Outcomes:
The Academy of Art University sets students up with a prestigious diploma and glowing references and networking connections. Graduates go on to fill various impressive positions of employment in the field of art history and are armed with the knowledge and skill to continue their education in master’s programs.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE BACHELOR DEGREE IN ART HISTORY PROGRAM
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UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN LIBERAL ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
The University of Massachusetts Lowell has an online Bachelor in Art History that is designed to create visually literate students with a fundamental understanding of the historical development of art in societies and culture from prehistoric eras to present day works.
Campus Location: Lowell, MA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Retention Rate: 86%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, the nonrefundable application fee, and official high school transcripts.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Art Appreciation
- Comparative Arts
- Studies in World Art
Degree Outcomes:
Throughout this online coursework, students develop the ability to conduct in-depth research, utilize critical thinking skills, and to organize their perceptions and thoughts about artwork to proved well-informed analyses honoring historical and cultural contexts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL’S ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN LIBERAL ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM
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SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE
ONLINE BACHELOR’S OF THE ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
This online school offers a Bachelor in the Arts degree program that provides a concentration in art history while deepening students’ understanding of historical and cultural contexts, theoretical and philosophical issues, and current developments and perspectives related to art.
Campus Location: Sarasota Springs, NY
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: unavailable
Retention Rate: 50%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, the nonrefundable application fee, official high school transcripts, and an application essay.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Word Art History
- Study in Art History
- Issues in Contemporary Art
Degree Outcomes:
This curriculum develops a wide array of transferrable and applicable skills. Graduates have gone on to teach, work in museums or galleries or media, or become an art therapist. Students have the opportunity to create an interdisciplinary major that allows them to traverse numerous areas of interest while honing knowledge in art history.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE’S ONLINE BACHELOR’S OF THE ARTS DEGREE PROGRAM
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LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY
ONLINE BACHELOR’S IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Lindenwood University’s online Bachelor in Art History gives students a broad foundation and critical understanding of visual culture in the context of art. Through a wide range of coursework, individuals deeply delve into the methods and objectives of art history.
Campus Location: St. Charles, MO
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 55.4%
Retention Rate: 66%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, the nonrefundable application fee, official high school transcripts representing AP credits, and financial aid documentation.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Classical Myth
- Early Modern Gender Studies
- Nineteenth-Century Art
Degree Outcomes:
Throughout this online curriculum, students develop an appreciation for the innate desire to create through various platforms and the effect that has had on civilizations and societies across a lifetime. Some students graduate in three years through the fast track option!