Hanover Art History Department
Why Study Art History? 
Deciding upon a major can be an intimidating task, and you may be wondering if art history would be a good fit for you. If any of the following is true for you, then the art and art history department at Hanover College may be just what you have been searching for.
You enjoy:
• Visual art (painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, etc.)
• Learning about great artists and significant works of art
• Studying, analyzing and critiquing art
You want to:
• Study a variety of artistic styles and historical periods
• Be able to evaluate aesthetic quality
• Gain research and analysis skills
• Develop the ability to interpret art in regard to historical and political references, emotion, symbols, styles, and time periods
• Be a museum or gallery curator, archivist, art auctioneer, appraiser, art critic or journalist, or work in the preservation and restoration of art
What Hanover Art and Art History Offers
The discipline of art history is founded on the premise that artifacts embody and reflect the beliefs and values of the persons who made and used them. By taking works of art and other objects of material culture as their primary sources, art historians are able to interpret changes in past societies and civilizations.
The art and art history department at Hanover College offers a comprehensive program that covers the breadth of art history. A small student-to-faculty ratio ensures individual attention for all students, as well as the means for students to discover and pursue their interests and strengths. Liberal arts classes and departmental classes work together to give graduates a broad, general education as well as an in-depth knowledge of art history.
The department offers majors and minors in art history. Art history majors begin with general survey courses that lead to further in-depth investigations of various artistic styles and periods spanning East and West, ancient and contemporary. Additional courses offered include Art in the United States, Art of China and Japan, Medieval Art and Architecture, and Renaissance Art and Architecture. To complement their studies, students are encouraged to participate in off-campus internships in museums, galleries, art organizations, and historic sites.
By providing practical experience and a comprehensive education, the art history department at Hanover strives to prepare students for graduate school and/or fulfilling professional careers connected to the arts.
Highlights
Hands-on Experience
Throughout the school year, the art and art history department present many exhibitions from a diverse lineup of artists and artistic styles. These give students the hands-on experience that is so valuable when applying for internships and jobs. This past year, for instance, art history majors exhibited selections from the Hanover College Print Collection, followed by a presentation on how the show was curated. The Art Club also provided opportunities for hands-on learning with artist lectures, demonstrations and workshops.
Travel
One exciting highlight of the art and art history department is the opportunity for travel, including field trips, junior/senior class trips, and Spring Term studies abroad. Field trips that parallel courses and provide opportunities to connect studies with viewing art are taken to Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis. The art and art history faculty also organize visits to selected cities of artistic and architectural significance that match the interests of current majors. Previous destinations for junior and senior students have included Detroit, Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, and New York City.
Spring Term is a month devoted to concentrated study on campus, participation in internships, or off-campus programs including travel to foreign countries. Recent Spring Term opportunities abroad have included courses held in Florence, Italy, and Paris, France.
Accessible Faculty
Art history students benefit from small a student-to-faculty ratio, receiving personal attention from faculty members with a diverse array of specializations. At Hanover, you will receive the independence you want and the support you need to get the most out of your education.
Research Opportunities
Art history majors are strongly encouraged to pursue an internship during one summer or semester in a museum, gallery, art organization, or history site. This gives students the freedom to tackles areas of personal interest while putting their classroom work to the test in a professional setting. During the past two years, Hanover art history students have interned at the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Indianapolis Art Center, the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center, and the Mexic-Arte Museum in San Antonio, Texas.
Career Opportunities
Art history within the context of a liberal arts education equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to continue on to a variety of careers and/or graduate school opportunities.