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Art history combines historical analysis with a special concern for artistic expression. Every society has recorded its history in art and architecture. By developing the ability to interpret social and cultural history through a study of works of art, art historians contribute a unique perspective to the central issues of civilization, issues that define the core of a comprehensive liberal arts education.

AREA OF EMPHASIS AT DELAWARE

The department offers courses in nearly every area of specialized interest from American and European painting, sculpture and architecture to Islamic, Asian, African, African-American, and Latin-American art. The eras covered range from antiquity to our own time. Advanced courses often focus on prominent artists, major themes in art, and specialized areas of study within the field. The overall emphasis of the major is on developing and refining the intellectual skills associated with critical analysis, historical awareness, and aesthetic sensitivity, though students are not expected to make art themselves. Coupled with that is a desire to offer research opportunities and practical experience in areas such as museum work and art history education to allow students to test and apply the knowledge and values they are acquiring.