Creative Arts
Creative Arts
Studying Art History and Visual Studies is more than just looking at pretty paintings. It is a fascinating exploration of human expression, spirituality, and meaning throughout the ages.
As a part of UFV’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs, you can opt to take Art History and Visual Studies courses as electives or as part of a minor or extended minor.
Whether you are a general arts student or a studio artist, coursework in Art History and Visual Studies takes you on a visual journey where you explore world cultures from prehistoric to contemporary times. Program fieldwork includes touring impressive local collections, with opportunities to travel to regional and international galleries and museums.
Art History and Visual Studies courses complement studio disciplines beautifully because they help you understand the traditions and develop the visual literacy required to make, appreciate, and appraise art.
Strengthening your visual understanding of the world prepares you for a career working in the arts and culture field and equips you for graduate study in areas such as heritage resource management, museum studies, library and archival studies, tourism, and teacher education. You may go on to work as an archivist, artist, curator, collection manager, museum educator, teacher or tour guide.
In British Columbia, 8.6 million people visit museums, galleries, and cultural centres annually. Consequently, the gallery, library, archives, and museum sector (known as the GLAM sector) needs graduates who have received training in the visual arts and art history to fill the 88,000 culture job openings in B.C. — 3.8% of all jobs in the province.
Visual Arts grads with art history training can also leverage their critical thinking, writing, and visual skills to pursue careers in fields such as journalism, teaching, law, public relations, fundraising, or marketing.