Art History

Art history is the academic study of works from an historical perspective, spanning centuries of imagination, perspective, history and culture.

At Emmanuel College, students study painters, sculptors, architects and others from Ancient Egypt to the present, learning to not only to analyze creative works, but also to ask broader questions about the place and role of the arts in human history. Students of art history take an interdisciplinary approach, considering art objects not only in relation to history but also to the politics, economics and societal and cultural values of the time period in which they were made.

Minor Requirements

View the 2022-2023 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for Minor in Art History

  • ART1204 History of Western Art (AI-A) (VCI)
  • Four courses in art history to be selected in consultation with the advisor

Learning Goals & Outcomes

Students enrolled in the art history program will be trained to:

  • Identify and describe the formal properties of art objects
  • Connect specific art objects to major art movements
  • Understand the ways in which art objects engage history, culture and other external forces
  • Analyze the shifting meanings of art objects based on the theoretical tools employed by art historians

Explore Emmanuel

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For Nadel, the stage is her “second home,” and the community she’s found within Emmanuel’s Theater program, a second family. While she originally thought she would pursue college theater as a hobby, she soon realized the work would define her student experience and provide a foundation for life beyond Emmanuel.

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Gianna Kittle '20: Advocating for Justice

Prior to coming to Emmanuel, Gianna had never heard of the field of sociology, but was very familiar and passionate about issues of crime and justice. Her time at Emmanuel helped her to not only put a name—but also, a purpose—to that passion.

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Jake Hill '20: Seeing Citizenship with a Capitol C

Growing up in a suburban town outside of Boston, going to college in the city had always been a goal for Jake. After touring Emmanuel's campus he felt it had the perfect mixture of “small campus feel and big city appeal.”

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Melissa Duffy '20: Artist and Appreciator

When Melissa started at Emmanuel, she chose what she believed to be two separate and distinct majors—studio art and history—to fulfill her both her personal and professional interests.

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Featured Faculty: Petros Vamvakas

Petros Vamvakas is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Latin American Studies, Middle East Studies and Peace Studies Programs. His work focuses on security and democratization, as well as issues related to identity and race in politics throughout the Americas. As part of his teaching, he has escorted groups of students to Crete, Greece, and will be bringing a group of students to Cuba.

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