Make the most of your natural passion for the impact of art and visual expression on society with the bachelor’s degree in art history from Lindenwood University. Through the comprehensive curriculum of our online art history degree program, you will develop your analytical skills in examining various cultures, & historic perspectives from early civilizations to contemporary art. Ranked among the top undergraduate art history programs, this award-winning program has been recognized as a top art history bachelor’s degree online for the quality of its content and its affordable value. Plus, take advantage of an accelerated, self-paced online degree in art history you can complete fully online in as little as three years!
100%
Online
2-4 Yrs
Program Length
120
Credit Hours
$525
Cost per Credit
What You’ll Learn
Our BA online art history degree program examines the intersection of art and defining aspects of the human experience, including culture, society, politics, and religion, creativity, problem solving, project development, teamwork, and mastery of technique and craftsmanship. Blend applied areas within artistic production, such as design and color theory with online art history courses in historical artistic expression, including:
- Baroque Art
- Ancient Art
- Classical Mythology
- Nineteenth-Century Art
Essential Skills & Insights
Coursework in this art history degree online program covers the following:
- Analytical Skills – develop analytical aptitude for artistic expression and production in classical artworks, as well as contemporary forms of artistic expression.
- Interpretive Approach – learn to interpret visual expression and its physical artifacts as a language for communicating social and political perspectives and realities through robust visual history research and study.
- Communication – cultivate a robust approach to communicating insights based on research and analysis of historical and contemporary artistic expression as a source of cultural, societal, political, and religious messaging.
- Artistic Production – gain a foundation in the essentials of artistic production, in areas such as design and color theory.
Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), museum curators can earn an average salary of $57,120 per year. A background in art history and visual culture is valued in a number of other career paths including Art Educator, Cataloguer, Design Specialist, Studio Assistant, Art Tutor, and Art Consultant. LU graduates have found roles at top employers such as the following:
- Saint Louis Art Museum
- Foundry Art Centre
- Missouri History Museum
- Campbell House Museum
- Nelson Atkins Museum
- Missouri Heritage Museum
Internships
While attending LU online, students are encouraged to participate in internships where they will take advantage of having real-world applications to complement their academic classwork. Art History and Visual Culture students have found themselves with internships at world class companies such as:
- Saint Louis Art Museum
- Foundry Art Centre
- Missouri History Museum
- Campbell House Museum
- Nelson Atkins Museum
- Wells Fargo
Affordability & Accessibility
Online art history degree students have the best of both worlds in their LU education. Through a virtual reality (VR) headset students can gain an immersive learning experience remotely. Additionally, we commit to affordable education through the use of Open Educational Resources or no-cost textbooks.
“Through the use of a Virtual Reality headset within a course, I was able to see Raphael’s Vatican rooms and compare the School of Athens to its companion La Disputa by looking back and forth, overwhelmed with the scale, composition and seemingly countless figures, just as Raphael would have intended.”
– Paige Sandheinrich, M.A. ’23
Tuition Details
The cost per credit hour for this online art history degree program is $495. Besides being ranked ranked No. 17 on Niche.com’s list of Best Value Colleges in Missouri, we build in unique benefits such as our 20 percent discount per credit hour for returning alumni pursuing their master’s degree.
Admissions Requirements
For admission to your online art history degree program, you will need to submit the following documents:
- Online Application
- Official Transcripts
- All colleges and universities previously attended. If you have fewer than 24 college credits, you will need to submit your official high school transcript.
If cumulative college GPA is below a 2.0, the following will also be required:
- Résumé
- Letter of intent/personal statement
- (1–2 page document indicating your interest in the program and Lindenwood)
Curriculum Overview
Our bachelor’s degree in art history curriculum develops an analytical approach to examining artistic expression throughout history, along with an exploration of visual culture at the intersection of creative expression and social and cultural commentary. Upon completion of this art history and visual culture degree program, students can offer value to settings such as museums, art galleries, art consultation, and more through a foundation in coursework such as:
- Baroque Art
- Ancient Art
- Nineteenth-Century Art
- History of Digital Art
- History of World Cinema
- History of Costume
Major Coursework – 3 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AAD 10600 | Design Foundations | 3 |
Art History Coursework – 9 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 22300 | Global Art History I: Rise of Cities and Empires | 3 |
| ARTH 22500 | Global Art History II: Canvases and Courts of Power | 3 |
| ARTH 22700 | Global Art History III: From Colonial Vistas to Avant-Garde Horizons | 3 |
Pre-1800 Art History Coursework – 6 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 35600 | Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTH 35700 | Ancient Art | 3 |
| ARTH 35800 | Medieval Art | 3 |
| ARTH 38300 | Renaissance Art | 3 |
| ARTH 38400 | Classical Myth | 3 |
| FBD 37200 | History of Costume to 1900 | 3 |
Pre-1800 Art History Coursework – 6 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 35400 | Nineteenth-Century Art | 3 |
| ARTH 36100 | Twentieth-Century Art/Modern | 3 |
| ARTH 36200 | Twentieth-Century Art/Contemporary | 3 |
| ARTH 36500 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTH 36900 | History of Graphic Design | 3 |
| ARTH 37000 | History of Games and Critical Theory | 3 |
| ARTH 38000 | History of Digital Art | 3 |
| CINE 34000 | History of World Cinema | 3 |
| FBD 37300 | History of Costume from 1900 | 3 |
Elective Coursework – 6 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 36300 | Early Modern Gender Studies | 3 |
| ARTH 36401-36499 | Topics in Non-Western Art | 3 |
| ARTH 38900 | Art Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| ARTH 42000 | Directed Research | 3 |
| CINE 33600 | Asian Cinema | 3 |
| CINE 34000 | History of World Cinema | 3 |
Capstone Coursework – 6 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 41000 | Research Methods of Art History | 3 |
| CAH 44444 | Internship | 1-6 |
Transfer Credits
Lindenwood offers a generous transfer policy of up to 90 credits toward your degree completion to further offset tuition costs. This means you can complete your degree in as few as 30 credit hours at Lindenwood—saving you time and money on your education!
Plus, you can personalize your transfer experience through Lindenwood’s Transfer Guides. These guides are part of our articulation partnerships with area community college to help you get the most value from your transfer credit.
Accreditation & Awards
Top Ranked
Best Online BA in Art & Art History
Ranked #1
Best Online Bachelor’s in Art and Art History Programs
Ranked #2
Best Online Bachelor’s in Art & Art History
Career Opportunities
Museum Curator
Manage collections of artwork and artifacts, organize exhibitions, and conduct educational programs for a variety of audiences.
Art Teacher
Earn your teaching certificate with your degree so you can educate and inspire students by fostering their creativity through visual arts.
Gallery Manager
Oversee the daily operations of an art gallery, including managing sales, and promoting artists.
Frequently Asked Questions
An art history and visual culture major blends focuses within artistic expression and analysis through historical and modern lenses, with an examination of visual culture as a tool for interpreting social and cultural perspectives.
It depends on what you want to get out of your degree and how you want to use your degree toward your future. A BA degree offers more of a general focus on an areas of study, whereas a BS degree leans more into the technical, or specialized aspects of your field of study, so it depends on the type of knowledge you need to achieve your career or further education goals.
A background in art history can clear a path to careers in the world of art education, museum curation, art consultation, and a number of other areas in the art world. Additionally, an undergraduate degree can lay the foundation for further study in the field of art history at the graduate level.
Art history examines artistic expression through a historical lens, as well as particular aspects of historical artistry, including medium, technique, and messaging within the artistry. Visual studies looks at the impact of visual images and other visual artifacts as a type of visual language communicating social and cultural commentary.
The online art history degree program allows you to transfer up to 90 credits. Learn more about our transfer policy.
Yes, there are scholarships available for our online art history degree. Learn more about financial aid and other ways to save on your art history online courses, including our generous transfer policy.
No. We do not charge any fees any additional application or admission fees.
This versatile degree blends creativity, research, and culture—perfect for careers in the arts or beyond. The online art history degree at Lindenwood prepares students for career fields such as curator, museum educator, art dealer, art critic, content creator appraisal specialist, and more.
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Throughout each step of your online degree program, you will receive support. From enrollment and tuition planning to staying on the right track, your support team is there to ensure your success.