Art History Major/Minor

Art History Major

Suggested Preparation

Students considering a major in art history should take ARTHIST 5 Art and Power.

Fields of Study and Degree Options

Students who wish to major in Art History must meet with the Student Services Specialist. At that time the student selects a faculty advisor, declares the major on Axess, and selects a concentration. Concentrations within the major are approved by the faculty advisor and are not declared on Axess. Sample concentrations include:

  • Topical concentrations: art and gender; art, politics, race, and ethnicity; art, science, and technology; urban studies
  • Genre concentrations: architecture; painting; sculpture; film studies; prints and media; decorative arts and material culture
  • Historical and national concentrations: ancient and medieval; Renaissance and early modern; modern and contemporary; America; Africa; Asia; the Americas
  • Interdisciplinary concentrations: art and literature; art and history; art and religion; art and economics; art and medicine (with advisor consent a maximum of two concentration courses may be taken outside the department).

Degree Requirements

For the most up to date information about requirements for the Art History major, please click the link below to the Stanford Bulletin. 

BA Art History Degree Requirements

Art History Minor

A student with a minor in Art History must complete six Art History courses for a total of 25 units. Courses must be taken for a letter grade. Only one class may be taken for credit outside of the Stanford campus; this includes courses taken in the Overseas Studies Program. Minors are required to attend an orientation session presented by the professional staff of the Art and Architecture Library, which introduces the tools of research and reference available on campus and through the Internet. This requirement should be completed no later than the quarter following the declaration of the minor.

Degree Requirements

For the most up to date information about requirements for the Art History minor, please click the link below to the Stanford Bulletin. 

Art History Minor Degree Requirements