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Art History

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Study Art History at Fordham

About the art history major

There’s no better place to earn your art history degree than New York City, home to world-class collections, museums, and archives—and the artistic masters of tomorrow.

At Fordham, you’ll gain a rich background in ancient and contemporary art. Learn how artists were inspired by and grappled with challenges of their time. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art—or Fordham’s own Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art—as part of your coursework. Access hands-on internships at leading art institutions. And use your knowledge to make a difference, whether designing more sustainable architecture or preserving invaluable pieces of history.

Our graduates go on to …

  • galleries, auction houses, and estate appraisals
  • museum curation and art education
  • careers in architecture, art consulting, preservation, and more

Visit the art history department page

Group of students looking at art history

Art history program profile

  • Rose Hill CampusMajor
    Rose Hill
  • Rose Hill CampusMinor
    Rose Hill
  • Lincoln Center CampusMajor
    Lincoln Center
  • Lincoln Center CampusMinor
    Lincoln Center

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Program at a glance

92%

of art history graduates in the past five years were employed, continuing their education, or engaged in public service or other meaningful endeavors within six months of graduation

25%

of art history graduates in the past five years have pursued advanced degrees

260+

outstanding and exquisite objects, from funerary vases to the emperor Hadrian’s head, in sculpture form, at the Fordham Museum of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art.

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annual book award for two art history students who have outstanding academic records in the program

Museum Fridays

Students experience New York City's art and architectural treasures with Fordham faculty at various museums around the city

Performing and Fine Arts, Nonprofit, Advertising/Marketing/PR, and Education

industries where the greatest number of art history majors find jobs and internships at places like Gagosian, Metropolitan Opera, MoMA, and more

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Art history with impact

English Class Students Perform Medieval Drama at Met Cloisters

Medieval Drama at the Met Cloisters                    

These students are busting stereotypes about the Middle Ages by performing medieval plays at the Met Cloisters, a museum of the Middle Ages in Manhattan. See how they’re building community through public art.

Heidi Klum at the Met Gala

Fordham’s Ancient Fashion Influencers                    

Heidi Klum’s statue-inspired Met Gala look mirrors ancient garments housed right on campus. Discover how ancient history shaped modern high fashion and learn more about these timeless style influencers.

Professor Nina Rowe

Meet Professor and Chair Nina Rowe                    

Professor Nina Rowe, Fordham’s John L. Marion Chair in Art History, Painting, and Sculpture, is a leading scholar in art history. Learn about her students’ hands-on opportunities for museum curation.

A woman poses in front of an auction house

Success without Borders                    

Discover how Annika Suderberg’s experiences in New York and abroad led to a career at Phillips, a premier global auction house.

Stain glass windows in Duane Library

Shaping a Better World Through the Humanities                    

See how an education with a foundation in the humanities provides the critical thinking and clear communication skills essential for navigating the workforce and world today.

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Art History Program FAQ

  • Here, you’ll learn by doing. With hands-on opportunities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, you’ll gain the skills and experiences employers seek. Few locations around the world can rival the opportunities that New York offers in terms of internships, libraries, archives, and museums.

    And in addition to the big-city energy of New York, you’ll have a tight-knit, supportive campus community, eager for you to thrive. 

  • Beyond the broad historical context of the cultural accomplishments of human civilization, you might dive into specific areas with courses like Greek Art and Architecture, where you’ll examine ancient Greek culture through art, or study more recent work with courses like Art and Fashion in the Modern Age, where you’ll explore the intersection of 20th century art, design, and fashion.

  • With New York City as your college town, you’ll have access to some of the biggest cultural and artistic institutions. Students have interned at places like …

    • Metropolitan Museum of Art
    • MoMA
    • Guggenheim Museum
    • El Museo del Barrio
    • Marlborough Chelsea Gallery
    • Sotheby’s

  • You’ll be prepared for careers in fields as varied as architectural conservation, museum curation, historic preservation, art education, auctioning, and more. You’ll also be qualified to pursue a graduate degree or other advanced research.

  • At Fordham, you’ll use AI as a tool to enhance your learning. Our program will equip you with the skills to navigate the ever-changing landscape of AI in the workforce. As an art history major, you might explore how AI is changing the way art is authenticated, researched, and experienced in museums. You’ll be prepared for high-growth roles in AI-driven curation, computational art history, and more.

    You’ll also be able to earn credentials and paid micro-internships through IBM SkillsBuild’s Getting Started with AI course. All Fordham students and graduates have access to AI training through RamConnect, the University’s alumni and experiential learning platform.

    Above all, you’ll learn skills that can’t be replaced by AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and integrity.

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