200,000+
Alumni from our Global Campuses
Find Your Creative and Analytical Voice Through a Global Perspective
Discover how visual culture shapes our world and how art influences society, history and economics with Webster University’s Bachelor of Arts in Art and Art History.
This flexible program connects making art directly to history and culture. Instead of separating studio work from its historical context, you will see how today's creative practices link to global issues.
As an Art and Art History major, you will develop the career-ready skills that modern employers look for by learning to:
- Communicate effectively through visual, written and spoken media.
- Think critically to solve complex creative problems.
- Lead your own studio and academic projects independently.
Learning to analyze both visual art and historical facts, you will gain a creative edge to build a strong career in the cultural sector and broader job market.
A Modern Liberal Arts Curriculum
This program rejects rigid, singular tracks. Instead, our curriculum gives you a well-rounded foundation and the freedom to choose your own direction:
- Core Distribution: Every student explores the principles of visual literacy and historical context together. You will study creative strategies, observational drawing, materials and digital visualizations alongside global art history and contemporary visual movements.
- Media Exploration: Rather than limiting your studies to a single studio focus, you will explore a wide
distribution of artistic disciplines, including:
- Two-dimensional (2D) art: Painting, printmaking, illustration, photography or design.
- Three-dimensional (3D) art: Sculpture and ceramics.
- Four-dimensional (4D) art: Video, performance, sound and noise, or motion typography.
- Elective Flexibility: With fewer locked-in major requirements, the program opens up 44 to 45 credit hours of electives. You can use this space to explore diverse subjects across the university or cluster your choices to create an informal concentration in studio art or art history. This keeps your academic exploration as open as contemporary art itself.
Why Choose Webster for Your Art and Art History Degree?
A Rare Liberal Arts Advantage
Combined Art and Art History degrees provide a versatile foundation. Choosing this major demonstrates a commitment to both practical creation and historical scholarship, giving you a competitive edge over peers with narrower technical backgrounds. This combined approach allows students focused on visual culture to gain crucial hands-on studio experience, while studio creatives build a robust historical framework to ground their portfolios.
Dedicated Faculty Mentorship
Our faculty are not only passionate educators but also working, professional artists and highly regarded scholars. This collaborative environment allows our expert faculty to provide personalized, one-on-one academic guidance, research advice and portfolio critiques. Our instructors are dedicated to helping students of all backgrounds navigate their creative developments and find true academic and exhibition success.
Active Exhibitions and Experiential Learning
Unique to Webster, the department offers a structured sequence of professional milestones built directly into your degree.
- First-Year Exhibition: In your first year, you will exhibit your creative work in a group show featuring a public reception.
- DADAH Critique: By your sophomore year, you will receive a direct evaluation from faculty on your progress in studio, design or art history work to help clarify your creative direction.
Beyond these reviews, a flexible capstone choice lets you customize your final year to match your personal professional goals:
- Exhibition Option: Step into the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery for a formal senior studio exhibition alongside a rigorous senior critique.
- Practicum Option: Complete a tailored internship or independent project under the supervision of a professional within a studio, gallery or museum.
Study Where Art Lives as a Global Citizen
True to Webster’s global mission, you can take your Art and Art History degree worldwide. The department offers alternating short-term Study Abroad trips to Italy. You can travel to Venice for the international Biennale contemporary art exhibition, or visit Florence to study Renaissance art firsthand. You can also leverage Webster’s global campus network to explore international art ecosystems while fulfilling core program requirements.
Transcript
[Music fades in with text appearing over a photo of the St. Louis Arch. Overhead shot of Webster Groves campus with fall leaves and students walking to class.]
Text on screen: Welcome to Webster University and to our Global Campus Network
[A blue and black map of the world.]
Text on screen: Webster University’s Study Abroad Locations
Text on screen: Athens, Greece, Geneva Switzerland, Leiden, the Netherlands, Vienna, Austria
[Various photos of students at a historical site in Athens, aesthetic plants and the beachfront.]
Text on screen: Athens, Greece
[Photos of Geneva campus with mountains in the background, the campus dorms and a group student photo.]
Text on screen: Geneva, Switzerland
[Video of the Webster Leiden campus: multiple white and red buildings, a Webster Leiden flag, and a moving photo of students posing.]
Text on screen: Leiden, the Netherlands
[A photo of the Vienna campus, a large white building. A timelapse of the bustling city and a photo of three diverse students hanging out.
Text on screen: Vienna, Austria
[There is big, bold text in the middle of a photo collage.]
Text on screen: A Leader in Global Education
[One of the pieces of the collage mentions Webster’s WINS program and the photos slide out of frame.]
Text on screen: Webster University, WINS (Webster International Network of Schools)
[All text and photos disappeared and is replaced by text sliding into place.]
Text on screen: Webster’s Global Campuses expand study abroad for universities and students.
[The text is replaced by a fast-paced photo slideshow. The first photo is five students posing at the Athens campus, sitting on a railing with the sunset behind them. A student takes a photo with their camera phone.]
[A photo of six dance majors posing in the hallway with arms and legs outstretched. A student taking a photo of mountains and water, equipped with camera and hiking gear. A Vienna student bounces a ball on their knee.]
[A brief video of tourists and students at the Acropolis. A photo of a student posing with Greece behind them. A snippet of another video of a windmill in Leiden and cyclists crossing a bridge.]
[The photo slideshow continues. A photo of three students talking with old architecture behind them. A Gorlok poses with a student at an event.]
[Footage of a graduation ceremony at Webster Leiden. Students throw their caps in the air as the video fades to a blue screen.]
Text on screen: Webster University
[Ending video footage of the St. Louis campus.]
Local and Global Cultural Networks
Our curriculum places global and contemporary perspectives at the center of your education through core courses like Intercultural History of Art and Current Art. Beyond the classroom, you will live and learn within the thriving St. Louis art scene.
By leveraging our extensive connections to local, national and international professionals, you can secure elite internships and networking opportunities. Webster students regularly build relationships and career paths with prominent institutions close to campus, including the St. Louis Art Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and local creative studios and galleries.
BA in Art and Art History
Find out more about the overall curriculum, electives, learning outcomes and more.
What Can You Do with a BA in Art and Art History?
A degree in Art and Art History prepares you for a broad spectrum of occupations rather than a single, rigid track. Webster alumni successfully translate their visual literacy, creative problem-solving and communication skills into thriving careers across the creative industries, arts administration, corporate branding and nonprofit sectors.
Potential career pathways for graduates with a bachelor’s in Art and Art History include:
- Fine Artist
- Museum Archivist
- Gallery Director
- Arts Administrator
- Exhibition Designer or Preparator
- Art Educator
- Creative Director
- Art Conservator
Job Market Outlook and Earnings
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the skills gained from an interdisciplinary arts background translate to competitive fields such as art director (2024 median pay $111,040), postsecondary teacher (2024 median pay $83,980), set and exhibit designer (2024 median pay $66,280) and archivist, curator or museum worker (2024 median pay $57,100). While some highly specialized paths require graduate degrees (such as an MFA or PhD), this BA provides the foundational studio practice and critical writing skills valued across the industry.
Get Started on Your Bachelor's Degree in Art and Art History
Take the next step toward a meaningful career that combines creative execution with
cultural scholarship.
Apply to Webster University's Art and Art History program today.
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Contact the Admissions Office to Find Out More
If you have more questions about the program, your application or other enrollment-related inquiries, contact our Admissions Office.
Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or send an email to admit@webster.edu.