Art History Major Map
Get started thinking about the future now.
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don’t have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- Take Art History 101, 102, and 103.
- Learn about differences between Track A (Art History) and Track B (Museum Studies).
- Find out what 300- and 400- level courses will be offered next year, and when required 400-level courses will be offered in the near future.
Engage: What kinds of activities and organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway - UM-Dearborn’s online community where you can complete challenges, earn points, and connect experiences with courses and professional goals.
- Participate in First Year Programs, offered through the Office of Student Success.
- Meet with First Year Experience Librarian to learn about Mardigian Library resources.
- Find internship opportunities through the Humanities Internship Office.
- Check out all the opportunities offered by the Office of Student Life.
Network: What are important topics in my field?
- Visit your professor’s office hours to introduce yourself and discuss your academic and career interests
and goals. - Join a professional organization related to your major. Visit Mardigian Library to explore endless resources and librarian support.
- Visit museums like the Detroit Institute of Art, Toledo Museum of Art, U-M Museum of Art and the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.
Transform: What are the challenges and the strengths in my community?
- Advocate for arts funding and education in K-12 schools.
- Support our art museums and bring your friends and family to museums and lectures.
Prepare: What is the best way to prepare to graduate with my major?
- Start building your CV - your academic resume. Explore career options in your field to learn about requirements and expectations.
- Visit Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to learn about different types of financial aid, including many scholarships.
- Research and apply for internships through the Humanities Internship Office.
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- Take upper-level courses (300- and 400- level).
- Find out about internship opportunities through the Humanities Internship Office.
- Plan to take required ARTH 300 and required 400-level Capstone seminar the next time they are offered.
- Visit museums, art galleries, and lectures offered by museums or universities.
Engage: What activities and organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Join a major-specific club or any of a number of Student Organizations on campus.
- Join the Art History Association to organize activities like field trips, film screenings, and campus fundraisers.
Network: How do I connect with faculty and students with similar interests?
- Submit one of your best papers or projects to the Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference.
- Attend research talks at UM-Ann Arbor, Wayne State, or Oakland University.
- Follow and like the UM-Dearborn Fine Arts Facebook page.
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Transform: How can I get involved with the Detroit Metro area?
- Take a course at the University of Michigan Detroit Center (daily bus service available). Volunteer for a campus or community organization.
- Intern at a Detroit-area arts institution and apply to be a docent at a Detroit museum.
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- Develop your “academic toolkit” through numerous Seeds of Success workshops through the Office of Student Life.
- Meet with your professors to discuss your skills and possible career options.
- Visit the Humanities/History Internship offices to investigate possibilities.
- Visit the Campus Writing Center.
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- Take advanced upper-level courses (400- level) in the distribution areas.
- Do an internship through the Humanities Internship Office.
- Develop a research paper from an upper-level course into a presentation at the annual Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Research Conference.
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for Student Government or a leadership position in a campus organization.
- Check out the options through the Office of Student Life’s Leadership Development webpage.
- Be an officer in Art History Association or Art Club.
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Submit your best paper or research to either the Meeting of Minds Conference or the UM-Dearborn
Writing Awards. - Establish a LinkedIn profile to connect with UM-Dearborn alumni or to join industry-related LinkedIn Groups that hire students.
- Apply for and do an internship and start forming networks through your internship mentor.
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local and global challenges?
- Visit the Office of International Affairs to plan and register for a Study Abroad course.
- Diversify your perspective by taking a course outside your major.
- Use Mardigian Library resources to learn more about real world problems and solutions.
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Schedule a visit to the Office of Career Services.
- Work a Humanities/History internship into your schedule to gain professional experience.
- Assess what experiences you are lacking for current job postings and fill in those gaps before graduation.
- Research the diverse career options for Art History students through College Art Association.
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- Finish your art history major distribution course requirements.
- Take the required 400-level Capstone seminar and ARTH 300 (Art Historical Methods) this year if you have not already.
- Prepare your graduation portfolio on Google Sites with your resume, writing samples, and reflective statements.
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Become a peer tutor in the CASL Writing Center.
- Become a SI (Supplementary Instructor) in Art History to tutor and mentor other students.
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Submit your best paper for the Campus Writing Awards.
- Make sure your applications for graduate or professional schools are complete with a writing sample and personal essay.
- Do targeted networking with alumni working in careers of interest and ask questions about job opportunities and the interview process.
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work.
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, the region, and the world?
- Add a minor or certificate program to your degree.
- Consider spending summer volunteering with government agency or non-profit.
- Visit your local art museums and provide comments and suggestions on their outreach and programming.
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Visit Career Services for advice with job searching and interviewing, resumes, and graduate school applications.
- Apply to jobs or future education, or make plans for other adventures.
- Register for postgraduate entrance exams if you plan on graduate school.
- Research graduate programs in Art History, Information and Library Science, Museum Studies, Arts Administration.
Art History majors at UM-Dearborn have gone on to work in the automotive industry, pharmacology, publishing, information and library science, museums as conservators, registrars, communications coordinators, and as entrepreneurs.
Art History trains you how to research, synthesize information, perform deep analysis, and write and communicate to different audiences. These skills are highly valued and sought after in every industry!
Tech companies seek humanities majors who can understand technical terms and innovations and translate them to potential clients and end-users. Advertising needs people who understand the history behind certain imagery to avoid embarrassing mistakes. Corporations need people who can gather information and write and present reports to different units. Lawyers need to know how to do research and understand the relationship between current situations and historical precedents. Doctors need to know how to explain complex diagnoses to their patients.
Art History majors are prepared to work in any field, especially with a second major in a STEM field.
How to use this Major Map
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions–figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally.