Program Overview
In the History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) Department, students study the production, use, form, and reception of visual products and cultural manifestations past and present. Objects of study include paintings, sculptures, and architecture, which are within the traditional purview of art history, as well as art and non-art objects and visual expressions that sit beyond disciplinary boundaries. The HAVC Department offers courses covering a wide variety of material from the cultures of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific Islands, including media as diverse as ritual, performative expression, bodily adornment, landscape, the built environment, installation art, textiles, manuscripts, books, photography, film, video games, apps, websites, and data visualizations.
- History of Art and Visual Culture
- Major
- Minor
- 3 year pathway
- Arts & Media
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
Student Story: Morgan
Through the Humanities EXCEL program, Morgan is working as the Assistant Archives Coordinator, Exhibitions & Programs at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz. As a HAVC major with a minor in History, Morgan is interested in museum studies, particularly with the goal of cultivating museums as spaces of inclusion and innovation. “I enjoy sharing art with my community and fostering an inviting and engaging environment for all people to learn about and create art. I hope that everyone can feel as comfortable and excited about museums as I do!” says Morgan.
Career Outcomes
The preparation students receive from the B.A. degree in History of Art and Visual Culture provides skills that can lead to successful careers in law, business, education, and social services, in addition to a more specific focus on museum curating, art restoration, studies in architecture, and studies in art history leading to a graduate degree. Many HAVC students have gone on to careers in the following fields (these are only samples of the many possibilities):
- Architecture
- Art book publishing
- Art criticism
- Art history
- Art law
- Art restoration
- Arts administration
- Auction management
- Curatorial work
- Exhibition design
- Freelance writing
- Gallery management
- Historic preservation
- Interior design
- Museum education
- Museum exhibition installation
- Publishing
- Teaching and research
- Visual resource librarian
Program Contact
