Visual Studies, Minor

Visual studies is an interdisciplinary approach to art history that can incorporate philosophy, psychology, literary studies, communication, and art and design to gain a deeper understanding of our histories and cultures of seeing and how the visual experience constructs power, cultural beliefs, and values. This minor is appropriate for students who are interested in art history and culture studies, curatorial/museum studies, art theory, art therapy, and film studies.

The Visual Studies minor involves lecture/discussion, hands on and fieldwork, photography, and a wide range of electives providing the student the opportunity to craft the minor to fit their individual interests and engage in the interdisciplinary and analytical nature of Visual Studies in line with the educational goals of the liberal and fine arts.

The student learning outcomes for the minor in Visual Studies are:

1. Develop an awareness of major stylistic and aesthetic developments in areas of visual culture and art history around the world;
2. Formally analyze a visual image from art or visual media using cultural, political, or aesthetic lenses;
3. Articulate how interdisciplinary approaches to visual studies shape our understanding of art, artifacts, and visual culture, or social impact.