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.
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!
UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA
ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
At the University of West Georgia, the online Bachelor in Art History degree coursework emphasizes the interrelationship between historical cultural influences and works of art. Students are immersed in a wide-reaching curriculum that gives them the freedom to design their own approach. The tuition rate at this online school is one of the most competitive in the nation, and perhaps the most affordable on this ranking, at approximately $145.74 per credit hour.
Campus Location: Carrollton, GA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Retention Rate: 72%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants to the University of West Georgia are required to submit a completed online application with the $40 nonrefundable application fee, official high school transcripts, and SAT or ACT scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- 18th/19th Century Art
- Italian Renaissance/Baroque Art
- American Art
Degree Outcomes:
The overarching goal of this excellent distance education program in the history of art is to develop students understanding of art, art history, and design, as well as technical and communication skills in art studios and galleries. Graduates have a fundamental understanding of design and visual art and are prepared to enter into challenging master’s programs or applicable positions of employment.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA’S ONLINE BACHELOR IN ART HISTORY
PRESCOTT COLLEGE
ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Program Standouts:
Prescott College is an excellent online school that provides a unique approach to the art history discipline. Students major in an online Bachelor of Arts and Humanities, which combines several artistic mediums so that students have a broad and comprehensive understanding of the history of art. Students are free to choose from a wide array of upper and lower division coursework that orients their degree toward individual goals.
Campus Location: Prescott, AZ
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 72%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application, the nonrefundable application fee, official high school transcript representing an exemplary GPA, official college transcripts (if applicable), an academic focus essay, an academic reference, and SAT or ACT scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Photographic Tactics for the Environment
- Opening the Creative Person: An Applied Approach
- Film and Literature: Elements of Desire
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates from Prescott are very well-prepared to enter into prominent master’s degree programs in art history or a related field of interest. Having gone through such a rigorous and challenging program, alumni have a solid understanding of the discipline and have finely tuned skills in communication, presentation, and persuasion.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PRESCOTT COLLEGE’S ONLINE BACHELOR OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
BACHELOR OF GENERAL STUDIES IN ARTS, MEDIA, AND ENTERTAINMENT
Program Standouts:
The goal of the University of Arizona’s online Bachelor in Arts, Media, and Entertainment is to introduce distance education students to archetypal areas in art history, and does not only focus on visual art mediums. At this online school, students engage in topics that cover film, music, literature, and the history behind them all. Student work closely with faculty advisors who help point their degree in the right direction, while maintaining a focus in media and entertainment.
Campus Location: Tuscon, AZ
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Retention Rate: 81%
Admission Requirements:
Those who are applying to the University of Arizona must submit a completed online application with the nonrefundable application fee ($50 in-state, $80 out-of-state), official high school transcripts, official college/university transcripts (if applicable), SAT and/or ACT scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Jazz History
- Literature and Film
- Rock and American Popular Music
- Hop-Hop Cinema
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates from this fine institution of higher education often go on to work in areas such as print media, theater, film and television, outreach, public relations, and marketing. It is a much more versatile degree program compared to many other Art History degrees. UoA alumni are well-prepared to take on positions of employment in numerous areas in the art, media, and entertainment industries.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA’S ONLINE BACHELOR IN ARTS, MEDIA, AND ENTERTAINMENT
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
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
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
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
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
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!