
Department of Art History

Illuminating the past, inspiring the future
Through Art History at UD
WELCOME
The Department of Art History at the University of Delaware is a distinguished hub for education and research in the visual arts. Renowned nationally and internationally, the department boasts a faculty of leading specialists who have received prestigious awards and fellowships. The curriculum spans a wide array of artistic periods and cultures, from Greco-Roman antiquity to contemporary art, and includes American, European, Chinese, Latin American and African art. Students benefit from the department's proximity to major art centers and museums in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as access to significant collections on campus. The department is committed to fostering critical insights into art and cultural expression, preparing students for diverse careers in art history, museum curation and beyond.
Photo Credit for banner image: Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park, Cheyenne River Youth Project RedCan Graffiti Jam, 2023, photograph by Dakota H. Stevens
Why Study Art History at UD?
- The Department of Art History is dedicated to education and research in the history of the visual arts. The study of the visual arts leads us to understand important issues of our civilization, issues that form the core of a comprehensive liberal arts education.
- The department has an established national and international reputation as the home of leading specialists in the field. Faculty members have been recognized with prestigious awards, such as fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the National Humanities Center, the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (Needham Research Institute).
92%
of art history graduates are employed or pursuing further education.
2022 grads
are finding success in 44 states in the U.S. (and Washington, D.C.) and 30 other countries around the world.
Top 3%
in the United States in terms of research activity.
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Trustees approve faculty promotions
May 15, 2025 | Written by UDaily staff23 new faculty emeriti noted -
Old College project unites UD community
May 06, 2025 | Written by Department of Art History staffMore than 100 Blue Hens gathered to celebrate the conclusion of a four-year campus-wide project to investigate the original color of the University of Delaware's oldest building. -
Grad student documents stories of contemporary artists
May 05, 2025 | Written by Department of Art History staffUniversity of Delaware M.A. student Leah Mackall was one of two graduate students selected to work on the Baltimore Museum of Art's "Artist Interview" Project. -
Alison Terndrup wins teaching award
May 05, 2025 | Written by Department of Art History staffAlison Terndrup has her students cycle through course material to build new ideas while revisiting previous ideas from new perspectives. They examine issues outside their own experiences, a vital skill for lifelong learning.