With a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Art History from St. John’s University, you can prepare for careers in museums, art galleries, artists’ foundations, and auction houses with real-world training in New York City. New York boasts more than 100 museums in the metropolitan area – what better place to launch a career in the visual arts?

A degree in art history will also open doors for you in a variety of careers outside of the arts. Art historians are expert researchers, writers and collaborators, skills employers in every industry sector seek.

Through the program, you develop an appreciation of and ability to analyze and write about art from aesthetic, historical, socio-cultural and political perspectives, engaging visual, verbal and critical thinking skills. You will be able to discuss and analyze historical through contemporary theories for the interpretation of art including ethical, philosophical, and theological debates related to visual art’s collection, presentation, and interpretation. You also engage in long-term research projects that involve interdisciplinary study of original objects, primary source materials, and historical contexts, allowing you to demonstrate problem-solving skills using archival, scholarly, forensic, digital, and technological research methods.

Career Outcomes

New York City is a global art center. With a B.A. in Art History from St. John’s University, you will be poised for careers in art museums, art galleries, artists’ foundations, and auction houses. Such positions are numerous in the NYC metropolitan area, with over 100 museums alone.

You will also find opportunities in a variety of careers outside of the arts. Art historians are expert researchers, writers and collaborators, skills that are in high demand in every industry sector.

At the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms expansion of the Art History employment sector: from 2016 to 2026 employment for archivists, curators, and museum workers is projected to grow 13 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations.