You are a time traveler. You dream of exploring the world through the eyes of an artist to gain a deeper understanding of global cultures from the past and today. Learn about the history of art and architecture and develop your knowledge of art from prehistory to the contemporary artists of today. Through courses in ancient, medieval, Renaissance, modern art, women in art, and visual cultures from across the globe, art history minors develop skills in problem solving, historical analysis, research, and writing that complement a variety of majors and are sought by many employers.
The Global Arts and Visual Culture minor
is an 15-hour program.
The minor in Global Arts and Visual Culture introduces students to art from a broad,
multicultural perspective. Through a focused investigation of the visual traditions
of civilizations that are often marginalized in mainstream art historical narratives,
students will examine the values, attitudes, and beliefs of peoples from across the
globe. Choose from a variety of elective courses, such as the Arts of Africa, Global
Baroque, Art of the Islamic Worlds, Contemporary Art, Arts of Oceania, and Art in
the Age of Revolution. In class, students might create a traditional ofrenda to celebrate the Día de los Muertos, don Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to see the moai statues of Easter Island, or debate
the importance of protecting global cultural heritage.
Students studying studio art, design, performing arts, humanities, anthropology, global languages, international relations, global politics, museum studies, arts management, or international business will find that the minor in Global Arts and Visual Culture complements their major. Students who complete the minor will have a platform of knowledge applicable for careers in art museums, galleries, auction houses, tourism/hospitality, or cultural heritage institutions, or graduate study in art and visual culture, global/international affairs, history, arts administration, or museum studies.
This minor is not open to students majoring in art history.
The art history faculty at Winthrop University are teachers, scholars and mentors interested in involving undergraduate students in various forms of experiential learning, including study abroad, immersive virtual reality, research and internships. They regularly present their research at international conferences, organize panels and publish their work in peer-reviewed journals and anthologies. Our faculty are also active members of professional organizations such as the College Art Association and the Society of Architectural Historians. They work closely with Winthrop students to assist them with their coursework, graduate school applications and career goals.
The Global Arts and Visual Culture minor is a 15-hour program.
Choose 1 foundational course:
Choose 4 elective courses:
Are you ready to join the ArtsWinthrop family of creatives? We can't wait to meet you!