You are here: 69´«Ã½ University College of Arts & Sciences Art History Student Resources Career Prospects

Back to top

What Can You Do With Your Degree in Art History?

Master's Degree

Recent graduates have gone on to PhD programs at institutions such as

  • New York University (Institute of Fine Arts)
  • Columbia University
  • Princeton University
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • City University of New York Graduate Center
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Virginia
  • Washington University of St. Louis
  • Emory University
  • The University at North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Our graduates hold positions in museums and agencies such as

  • National Gallery of Art
  • Smithsonian 69´«Ã½ Art Museum
  • Phillips Collection
  • Historical 69´«Ã½ Buildings Survey
  • Library of Congress
  • Getty Art Information Program
  • Art Institute of Chicago
  • Museum of Modern Art, New York

Our graduates have taught at

  • Smith College
  • George Mason University
  • Newcomb College (Tulane University)
  • University of Maryland

The master's degree in art history is the appropriate preparation for a wide range of professional careers. Many positions in museums and other art institutions require an MA (not a PhD) in art history. The MA is also suitable for such specialized areas as visual resources, art libraries (in conjunction with a library science degree), conservation, and historic preservation. The master's degree also provides a solid foundation for those who decide to continue graduate study toward the doctorate.

Bachelor's Degree

Graduates with a BA in art history are equipped for a wide range of professional careers — in museums, galleries, auction houses, or publishing (although advanced study is usually necessary for professional progress in these fields). An art history major is not only a sound preparation for any professional field since the critical thinking and writing skills students build are transferrable to many fields, it may also provide a distinct advantage for entry into those fields, given the increasing preference of law, medical, and professional schools for students with a broad intellectual background.

Our graduates have held positions at:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Smithsonian 69´«Ã½ Art Museum
  • National Gallery of Art
  • Phillips Collection

Graduates have been accepted into the following Art History MA and PhD programs:

  • Courtauld Institute, University of London
  • CUNY Graduate Center
  • Columbia University
  • Hunter College
  • Sotheby's Institute
  • University of Virginia
  • University of Maryland

Internship Opportunities in the DC Area

Graduate and Undergraduate students have held internships positions at: 

  • Anacostia Community Museum – Smithsonian Institution
  • Archives of 69´«Ã½ Art – Smithsonian Institution
  • Arlington Arts Center
  • FAPE: Foundation for Art Preservation in Embassies
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden – Smithsonian Institution
  • Kreeger Museum
  • Library of Congress
  • National Gallery of Art
  • National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution
  • National Museum of Asian Art – Smithsonian Institution
  • National Museum of Women in the Arts
  • National Portrait Gallery – Smithsonian Institution
  • Smithsonian 69´«Ã½ Art Museum
  • The Phillips Collection
  • Baltimore Museum of Art
  • The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore