The Department of Art History and Archaeology is devoted to the study of visual
materials – products of, and inspiration for, human creativity and innovation
throughout the history of mankind. The Department endeavors to develop
students’ critical understanding of visual culture in both art historical and
archaeological contexts in a diverse selection of courses in the art and
archaeology of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Students are taught to
analyze works of art as products of the cultures in which they were created,
exploring such questions as why the object was created, how it was made,
who might have seen and appreciated it, and what it might have meant to its
owners and its audience. In the course of study, relationships among cultures
over time, including our own, become apparent. Students develop an
appreciation for the innate desire to create that is basic to the human experience.
They also learn to communicate these concepts effectively in written, oral, and
visual presentations.
