A New York Exploration of Art History

June 21-July 1, 2027 Rose Hill

This course will offer an introduction to the study of art history, approached through the lens of New York’s museums and galleries. We will analyze art works from Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe, to understand how and why people made and treasured paintings, sculptures, and buildings everywhere from Ancient Egypt to modern New York.

Class sessions will take place in the Met and other New York museums. Students will study major monuments of world art in person, and gain an understanding of the decisions artists made, and the periods in which they worked. In addition, this course will focus on the fundamental tools of art history as a discipline: attentive looking, clear writing, and careful research. Students will spend significant time inside and outside of class practicing these skills. As a result, participants will develop their visual literacy, while becoming completely at home in the museum environment.

Skills/Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you will have:

  • The essential skills needed to flourish in college-level art history classes.
  • The ability to look attentively at familiar and strange art works, and derive meaning from that examination.
  • Developed as an art writer.
  • An introduction to the research practices art historians use to understand art works.
  • Become truly at home in a wide variety of museums and galleries.

Overall Takeaways

You will know:

  • The outlines of how art has changed from the ancient world to the modern.
  • How artists manipulate form and structure to convey meaning and make the viewer feel.
  • Some of the dynamics that shape museums, their collections, and their role in society.
  • The goals and functions of key works of art from around the globe from antiquity to today.
  • That the art history canon is always in flux, and why.

Course Schedule

Participants should anticipate engaging in activities that require walking as part of the learning experience. If you have any concerns or require accommodations related to mobility, please contact us to ensure your full participation.

A typical schedule:
9:30 a.m.: Meet at the Rose Hill classroom for an introductory writing activity. 
10 a.m.: Board Ram Van to a museum
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Arrive on site
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Lectures, discussions, and looking activities in museum.
12:30 p.m.-1.30 p.m.: Lunch break
1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.: Lectures, discussion, and looking activities in the museum 
3:30 p.m.: Ram Van back to campus

Course Details

A New York Exploration of Art History
June 21- July 1, 2027, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Rose Hill Campus
Instructor: Katherina Fostano

Course Number: SULA 0113 RT1
CRN: 16474

This course is for high school students only.

Tuition

Residential: $4,332.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for the residential program includes the course, course materials, housing, meals, and excursions in and outside of class. Move-in is Sunday afternoon, the day before classes begin. Please click here for a more detailed calendar of important dates.

Commuter: $3,125.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for commuters includes the course, course materials, lunches, and excursions in and outside of class. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Students may wish to bring funds for incidentals, shopping at the Fordham Bookstore, souvenirs, and any personal items they wish to purchase.

Apply

Application deadlines:

Course and housing: The deadlines for 2027 will be posted by December 2026. Please note that admission decisions are rolling until the class is full, and course caps are around 20 students. The deadline to be considered for a limited number of need-based discounts is April 1. We recommend early application.

Application Requirements: this non-credit course is open to high school students who have completed their first year. The course is recommended for those with a 3.0 or better. No prior experience with the subject matter is required.

To apply, you will need a copy of your high school transcript and your fall report card if the grades are not reflected on your transcript.

Please make note of the course details above because you will select your course as part of your application.

There is a $75 fee to apply and a $300 deposit to secure your seat. Housing requires a $50 deposit. All payments will be treated as deposits toward your final bill.

2027 applications will open in late November. Please sign up to stay informed about the Fordham Summer Leaders Academy, or email us with questions!

Immersion 1 Resident Move-In/Move-Out

Date  Resident Information
May 29 All medical forms and consents due
Sunday, June 20 Move-in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 26 Move-out between 6 and 9 p.m., One-Week students
Friday, July 2 Move-out by 10 a.m., Two-week students
   

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