Edgar Degas once noted, “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Indeed, this is the ambition of the art historian--helping others to see, as well as to understand, to evaluate, and to appreciate. The study of art history unlocks the understanding of visual culture, human achievement, and human expression. Interdisciplinary by nature, art history links the study of history, aesthetics, philosophy, and even psychology, economics, and the sciences.
Art history is an academic discipline with a strong literary focus. Research is the primary method of communication for art historians, who share their findings through the written and the spoken word. In this connection, students are encouraged to participate in conferences and symposia, to seek publication opportunities, to cultivate research partnerships (with faculty and peers), as well as to develop internship opportunities on local and national levels.
To support the art history area, UVU offers highly popular summer study abroad programs; a biennial art history symposium, a spring tradition since 2010; and an online journal of student research: Artemisia: An Undergraduate Journal for Art Research and Criticism
Utah Valley University offers strong support for student research:
UCUR: The Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research
NCUR: The National Conference for Undergraduate Research
URSCA: Undergraduate Research Scholarly and Creative Activities
