An Art History degree at Queen’s offers students an unrivalled opportunity to build visual literacy skills in global arts, architecture, and culture while exploring contemporary and historical problems in the visual art and museum sector from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. With our typically small class sizes, students work closely with internationally recognized experts to develop comprehensive research and analytical skills across a diverse spectrum of topics. The department prioritizes experiential learning—including field trips to museums, hands-on study of art, and the use of analytical equipment to examine art—and we offer several international programs including the Venice Summer School and courses at the Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle in England. Our program provides a highly valued first step towards exciting and rewarding career possibilities in museums, galleries, higher education, the creative industries, cultural policy, and far beyond.
Please have a look at our faculty bios and courses to see the areas of research and teaching we support.
Prof. Gauvin Bailey and students observing Italian Baroque drawings for "Caravaggio & Artemisia"
All Art History courses emphasize visual literacy and the contextual relevance of the discipline within culture and history. In many courses, field trips are offered to important exhibitions and collections of art in the surrounding region.
Students may also choose to expand their experience of works of art and architecture through study in our international programs, including the Venice Summer School and courses at the Bader International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle in England.
In addition to being the recipients of several teaching awards, our art history faculty members have international reputations as scholars and pursue active research agendas often linked to new pedagogical approaches.
