Art History, B.A.

Saint Louis University’s undergraduate program in art history teaches students the essential skills of critical analysis, research and communication by examining the social context in which art has historically — and continues to be — created. SLU's art history faculty members offer a broad field of study that ranges from the earliest civilizations, the Western canon of art and the art of world cultures to the beginnings of modernity and the most current movements in contemporary art.

Art history is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates essential skills from various humanities disciplines such as history, philosophy, theology and economics, and students analyze artworks and the societies that have affected the disciplines.

Additional highlights include:

• In the Jesuit tradition, art history faculty at SLU educate the whole person about humanistic values as expressed through the history of art.
• At SLU, art history courses offer intimate class sizes with individualized attention from faculty.
• SLU art history students engage with arts and cultural institutions locally and nationally through class visits, field trips, internships and employment.

Curriculum Overview

A Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Saint Louis University gives students an in-depth study of the art world. A curriculum that covers a wide range of art allows students to delve deeper into their specific periods of interest. The art history major and minor are offered at Saint Louis University and Saint Louis University-Madrid.

Each student receives a strong, balanced foundation in studying global traditions in art history through a series of core courses. Faculty have fashioned this curriculum to develop essential art historical methodologies such as critical analysis, social history and semiotics.

To earn a B.A. in art history at SLU, students must complete 37 credits of required coursework. Eighteen of the 37 credits must be from 3000- and 4000-level courses.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

SLU's art history students are not limited to the classroom. They take advantage of the active arts community at the University and in the surrounding St. Louis area. In addition to the Saint Louis University Museum of Art, resources such as the historic Samuel Cupples House and Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art are located on the SLU campus, offering students a hands-on chance to experience the artists and periods they discover in the classroom. The Saint Louis Art Museum and numerous other galleries are all within a five-mile radius of campus. Grand Center, the cultural hub of St. Louis, which includes the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and the Sheldon Art Galleries, is within walking distance.

The benefits of SLU's art history program also include several unique internship and career opportunities, both in the St. Louis region and nationally. On campus, the Cupples House and the SLU Museum of Art regularly hire interns. The Missouri Historical Society and the Saint Louis Art Museum are just two of many local institutions that work with students. SLU students have also held internships in Washington, D.C., at the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian. Additionally, research opportunities exist at major libraries and archives.

Scholarships are offered each year to new and continuing students administered by the art history program. For more information, contact the program coordinator for art history.

Careers

Many SLU graduates work in art-related institutions such as galleries, auction houses and museums, as well as in marketing, advertising, law, journalism and other fields that require an understanding of the visually based culture and the ability to express intelligent, well-researched opinions. Others have continued their studies in internationally recognized graduate programs. All have developed critical thinking and communication skills that aid them in pursuing the career of their choice.

Admission Requirements

Begin Your Application

Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.

To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. 

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.

Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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Information on Tuition and Fees

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Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.

For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be able to contextualize artwork.
2. Graduates will be able to conduct research and critically analyze source materials.
3. Graduates will be able to apply the principal methodologies of art history to analyze a work of art, an artist, a patron, a place or a text.
4. Graduates will be able to articulate the importance of observing art in person.

Note: Many undergraduate courses at SLU fulfill requirements of multiple programs simultaneously. For details, click here. 

Art history students must complete a minimum total of 37 credits for the major.  Eighteen of the 37 credits must be from the 3000 and 4000 level courses.

AP and Transfer Policies

No more than 18 credits of transfer credit may be applied to fulfill specific courses or elective courses towards the completion of the 37 credits required for the major in art history.

Advanced Placement credit, with a score of 4 or 5, will take the place of 3 credits for the Introductory courseARTH 1010 Art and its Histories (3 cr)

Continuation Standards

Students must have a minimum of a 2.00 average GPA in their major-related courses. Students who fall below a 2.00 average in major-related courses will be placed on probation. If the student fails to obtain at least a 2.00 average GPA in major-related courses after two consecutive semesters on probation the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
• Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
• Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
• Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
• Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
• Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
• Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Note: SLU-Madrid and SLU-St. Louis program requirements vary slightly by campus.

Students can complete all or part of the art history major at Saint Louis University-Madrid.

Learn More About SLU-Madrid

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution. 

• Art History, B.A. (STLCC 2+SLU)

For additional information about this program, please contact arts@slu.edu or call 314-977-2410.