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JCU Art History students in a museum

Art History

Build broad foundations, gain first-hand experience, and explore contemporary questions — all in Rome, one of the world’s most culturally rich cities in the world. Join our international community and pursue an Art History degree unlike any other.

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Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Credit Hours 120
Entry Time Fall or Spring
Language English
Thinking in Four Dimensions

Study Art History and Archaeology

At John Cabot University, our research-led teaching will guide you through this process, from foundational courses to your own Senior Thesis, across a curriculum that spans antiquity to the contemporary.

Central to your studies is the direct encounter with works of art. Studying in Rome means meeting artworks face-to-face — unmediated by a camera lens — and engaging with their materiality, reception, and display.

Art History cultivates critical thinking in four dimensions: form, time, and space, and materiality — all shaped by interdisciplinary perspectives. History, politics, gender, law, curation, and more are intrinsic to the academic conversation. Combined with strong research and writing skills, this breadth equips Art History graduates with excellent employment prospects across a wide range of fields.

Our international arts community is inclusive, collegial, and inquisitive.

The structure of the Art History degree is intentionally designed to help students shape a program that reflects their intellectual passions and professional goals.

Four foundation courses introduce students to key issues — and exciting possibilities — in the study of art. From there, students deepen their knowledge through a wide range of mid- and upper-level Art History courses, many of which incorporate on-site teaching at museums, archaeological sites, and historic monuments. A hands-on Art and Design course offers experience with artistic techniques, while research and methodology courses prepare students for the culmination of their academic journey: the Senior Thesis, an independent research project on a topic of their choice.

Our curriculum spans all periods of art and offers diverse thematic paths, including curation, art and politics, archaeology, gender studies, art crime, and more. Internships, guest lectures by leading scholars, and departmental events further enrich the learning experience and open pathways to professional opportunities.

See For Yourself

Art History at JCU

Art is an engagement with the world. It invites us to be moved by it — and to question it. Art History is the practice of seeing clearly, of learning to see critically and contextually. To be an Art Historian is to ask not only how and why, but also what if?

With small class sizes and discussion-driven teaching, students actively engage in academic discourse from day one — and begin shaping their future in the field of Art History.

Discover what the B.A. in Art History program has to offer you!

Inside the Program

A Degree in Art History

Professional Experience

Students can gain substantial professional experience that enhances any resume.

The Art History department is like no other. I have endless admiration for all my professors – they are intellectually generous mentors." Meet Aleksandra Nasobina JCU Alumna, B.A. in Art History
Aleksandra Nasobina
Career Outcomes
A Degree in Demand

Career Outcomes

Our Art History alumni have found work in the following sectors:

- Cultural heritage and tourism management, promotion, and outreach
- Museum and gallery curation and management
- Marketing and advertising
- Art Technology consultancy
- Events management and presentation
- Research, teaching, and education
- Art and culture law
- Publishing and editorial work, media production and journalism
- International non-governmental and non-profit organizations management

BA in Art History

Featured Alumni

Viviana Calvagno

Viviana Calvagno

Class of 2020

Director and Co-founder of Sol Creative since 2019, Viviana holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Art History from JCU. She was featured in Marie Claire in 2025 for her work as an educator, food culture researcher, and outstanding plant-based chef.

Meet Viviana

Natalia Stanusch

Natalia Stanusch

Class of 2022

Ph.D. candidate, School for Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam, researching methodological approaches to AI models, Natalia holds a B.A. in Art History and Communications from JCU, and has published on the visual and physical in social media platforms.

Meet Natalia

Anna Bottinelli

Anna Bottinelli

Class of 2010

Director of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation since 2017 and named by Christie’s as one of the six most influential women in the art world in 2024, Anna gained a B.A. at JCU and an M.A. in Art History from the Courtauld Institute, London.

Meet Anna

Flavia Frigeri

Flavia Frigeri

Class of 2007

Curatorial and Collection Director of the National Portrait Gallery in London since 2025, Flavia holds a B.A. from JCU, an M.A. from the university of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from University College London and has curated major exhibitions and published widely on Modern art.

Meet Flavia

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