Art history

Art history jobs that recent SMU art history majors go on to include careers in museums and galleries, as well as conservation, auction houses, art advisory and consulting, publishing, art law, cultural policy, architecture, urban design, teaching and nonprofit management. Many recent SMU art history undergraduates have gone on to graduate school at institutions such as Yale University, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford. Learn more about some of our students’ graduate school journeys. 

The primary focus in art history is studying the histories and cultures of artistic traditions around the world while the primary focus of the B.A. in art is the creation of visual art.

Interdisciplinary and intercultural connections are central to the art history degree, which overlap with disciplines as diverse as human rights, dance, film, literature, advertising, science and engineering.

The B.A. in art is designed to offer students a degree in art that allows time for significant study in another discipline as well. This makes room for double majors and extensive study in the humanities, sciences or other degree programs.

Overall employment of archivists, curators and museum workers is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of architects is projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Please note that an M.A. in architecture would be required for this field.

The critical thinking, looking and writing skills you will develop while studying art history are highly transferrable to any career path requiring thinking on your feet, being sensitive to the visual and expressing yourself with words.

The museum studies track in the art history major is particularly ideal for these career paths:

• Museum careers or careers in related institutions, such as archives, historical sites or other collecting institutions
• Art gallery, auction house or the art advisory field
• Art conservation

The history of architecture track in the art history major is particularly ideal for these career paths:

• Architect
• Interior design
• Architectural historian, either in academia or in historic preservation work
• Urban planning and urban design, in government, non-profit or private practice 

The museum studies specialization within the art history major provides students with pre-professional training to begin their careers in museums, art galleries, archives, historical sites, and other institutions that collect, preserve, display and interpret objects of visual culture.

Preprofessional career training and real-world work experience in the museum field is available on campus, whether through curating an exhibition as part of the art gallery practicum or leading tours of the Meadows Museum to elementary school students as part of the art museum teaching practicum.

Art history students enjoy unusually close proximity to world-class institutions such as the Kimbell Art Museum, Amon Carter Museum, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas Museum of Art, the renowned Meadows Museum and more. The SMU campus is located only 5 miles from downtown Dallas, home to the country’s largest arts district.

Interning at an art museum, art gallery, auction house, archive or other arts-related institution is a powerful way to jump-start your career in art history. SMU art history can help you find the arts internship that is right for you. Art history majors and minors can earn course credit for completing a museum internship, some of which (such as the DMA-SMU summer internship) are available exclusively to SMU art history students.