Art History
Study abroad can help Art History students:
- Expand cross-cultural communication and problem-solving skills
- Develop an awareness of the major discipline from a different scholarly tradition
- Develop a global perspective
- Gain research skills from field studies or encounters with primary sources
How does a semester or year of study abroad help students in Art History prepare for graduate school or various career opportunities?
- By taking alternative courses not offered at Whitman, students are able to enhance their academic experience and to widen their interests.
- Language skills are essential for graduate school in art history and for other career opportunities.
- Credit-bearing internships through study abroad can aid students in trying an art history-related career and in networking.
As a general rule of thumb, the Art History department recommends the following for students who wish to study study abroad:
- To be best prepared for study abroad in the fall or spring of the third year, students are encouraged to take one 100-level ARTH course, ARTH 203 and one 200-level ARTH course in their first or second year.
- ARTH majors may opt to study abroad in either the fall or the spring semester.
- Students going abroad should be aware that the senior assessment in Art History is based only on courses completed at Whitman and not based on study abroad courses.
Which requirements can Art History majors fulfill while studying abroad?
- Elective major credit
- General Studies distribution credit
- General degree credit
Major Credit Limitations
- The maximum number of courses that can be applied to the Art History major from off-campus studies (including credits from other U.S. institutions) is two courses with the approval of your Major Advisor.
Minor Credit Limitations
- No more than one study abroad class (4 credits) can be counted toward the Art History minor.
What are the types of study abroad programs recommended by the Art History Department?
- Study Center abroad for U.S. students
- Direct enrollment in a foreign university with local students
- Field study programs with opportunities to engage in research with the local community
Which partner programs are recommended by the Art History Department?
The Art History Department recommends that students either enroll in programs in which they can study art history (especially history of architecture courses) or attend a program in which the focus is language acquisition, because languages are required for graduate studies in art history. A partial list of programs offering art history courses is as follows:
- CIEE: Cape Town Arts and Sciences (South Africa)
- DIS Copenhagen (Denmark)
- IES: Paris French Studies (France)
- IES: Vienna European Society and Culture (Austria)
- Syracuse University Florence (Italy)
- SIT Indonesia: Art, Religion, and Social Change
Students interested in studying abroad should attend a Study Abroad First Steps Meeting in the fall of their second year, discuss their interests with their Major Advisor, and schedule an appointment with an Study Abroad Advisor.
Office of Global Programs
- Email or call to schedule a virtual advising appointment
- 509-527-4992
Office of Global Programs
- Email or call to schedule a virtual advising appointment
- 509-527-4992