A woman looking at a display of sculptures at the National Gallery of Art.

Minor Art History

Explore

Why are we drawn to create art? How does art express meaning, arouse controversies, and shape ways of seeing the world? As an art history minor at RMC, you’ll study the human experience through artistic expressions and develop an appreciation of the aesthetic similarities and differences in all societies. Strengthen your critical thinking skills by examining how artists create works that are inextricably connected to their daily lives and societies. Understanding art history within its cultural, historical and political context prepares you for future graduate study and interesting careers in education, museum studies, nonprofits, law, advertising, graphic design and architecture.

As of May 19, 2025, major declarations for the Art History program have been suspended; however, the Art History minor will remain and continue to accept declarations.

art history
up close In and Beyond the Classroom

experiential learning

Art is meant to be experienced, and courses in art history help students discover art in unexpected ways and in unexpected places. Randolph-Macon’s location is ideally located for trips to art-rich sites like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, and even the Met in New York City. In HONR 130: Food and Politics in American Art and Culture, Dr. Evie Terrono’s class visited the governor’s kitchen in Colonial Williamsburg, where they connected their in-class learning with a hands-on experience on site.

A group of RMC art history students passionately crafting culinary masterpieces in a kitchen, infusing the artistry of Art History into their dishes.
The US Supreme Court building

high-impact internships

Randolph-Macon art history students bring their studies to life through hands-on internships, often working with curators on curatorial projects on exhibitions’ research and design; opportunities rarely available to undergraduates. Students have interned at:

  • Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
  • Virginia Museum of History and Culture
  • The Supreme Court of the United States
  • Williamsburg Foundation
  • Chrysler Museum of Art
  • Mariner’s Museum
  • The Century Association in New York City
Internships at Rmc

Global Education

In the last 25 years, art history faculty have led study abroad courses in Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, and North African countries. RMC art history students have traveled all over the world to immerse themselves in western and non-western art forms of visual art, theatre, music, architecture, sculpture and more. Paige Sellars ’19 landed an internship at the National Gallery of Art as a result of her study abroad experience because she had learned the theory, history, and culture of art production in Holland during the 17th century. 

study abroad

graduate school

RMC art history students have completed graduate degrees in art history, museum and curatorial studies at:

  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • George Mason University
  • Virginia Tech
  • American University
  • Georgetown University
  • The Corcoran School of Arts and Design
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Harvard University
  • University College, London
  • Stockholm University
Art history faculty member discusses a piece of artwork with students

advising and mentorship

Randolph-Macon art history faculty bring the past to life through illustrated discussions and research trips to area museums. They actively guide students through their academic journeys and work side-by-side with you as you study the human experience through artistic expression. 

ART HISTORY FACULTY
Art ceiling

art history
in full Courses You Won’t Want to Miss

(A very small sample)

arth 240

WOMEN IN THE ARTS

Examine the role of women in Western art from the Renaissance to the modern era. Through illustrated lectures, contemporary films, and visits to museums, consider topics like the social constraints placed upon women in the public sphere, the education of female artists, the critical reaction to their work, artistic couples, and the role played by women as patrons in the arts.

ARTH 225

AMERICAN ART

From the commemorative spirit of the colonial portraits, through the nationalistic content of the Hudson River School and the American Renaissance, to the subjective expression of the Abstract Expressionists and the various non-figurative movements of the 21st century, American art displays an impressive variety of forms, which often give us substantial information about the society they were created for. Through an interdisciplinary lens, examine the diverse artistic productions of the United States, with a particular focus on the socio-economic and political conditions within which these forms were developed.

ARTH 224

Modern Art

Learn how artists from the late 1800s challenged artistic and social norms by creating highly individualistic and subjective works, often in opposition to official rule and restrictions, and expressed the dynamic social, economic and political transformations of their time. 

all art history Courses

Opportunities Worth Grabbing

Popular activities and programs among art history minors

creative arts alliance

From Here To What you can do with an Art History minor from RMC.

Katie Domurat '11 headshot

Katie Thomas Domurat ’11

Adult Programs Coordinator
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

“RMC prepared me for my career through the close relationship I developed with my advisor, Dr. Evie Terrono. The smaller academic class sizes were invaluable to my time at RMC and they allowed for me to make close personal connections with my professors and peers. Dr. Terrono taught me to love art history and showed me the different ways it could be applied in a professional setting through trips to museums, galleries, and historic houses. I am so thankful for RMC and Dr. Terrono for helping me form the foundation to achieve my career goals.”

MARK HUTTER ’96

Textile Historian and Master Tailor, Department of Historic Trades and Skills
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Katie Umberger ’14

Marketing Automation Manager
The American College of Financial Services

Amy Bulgrien headshot

AMY BULGRIEN ’08

Senior Advisor in the Office of Grants Administration
FEMA

“I loved every minute of my Art History, English, and Classical Studies courses and would not change my path one bit. My love for the humanities leant itself to an amazing job at a library association for seven years. My involvement with Residence Life and Student Affairs led me to obtain a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, and my experiences with Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break leant themselves toward my current job with FEMA.”

Paige Sellars ’19

Ph.D. Candidate in History of Art
University of Pennsylvania

raichelle johnson ’21

Archives Assistant, Criticism and Conservation Studies
University of Wisconsin at Madison

Buzzworthy The Latest From RMC Art History

Art History Academics Archaeology

Art History SURF Project Examines Narratives at Virginia Plantation Museums

Allison Seiberling ’26 worked with Dr. Evie Terrono to explore how plantation museums interpreted the stories of enslaved populations.

A person in a yellow dress stands on a pathway in front of a large two-story building with columns and a triangular pediment.
Art History Academics Behavioral Neuroscience

Summer of Undergraduate Research Culminates in SURF Symposium

Students shared findings from their research, covering a broad range of topics, in both oral and poster presentations.

An RMC student stands in front of a research poster, explaining its contents to a man in a gray jacket. The poster displays graphs, text, and images under the title about a study on the role of TRKB signaling in memory.
Art History Academics Behavioral Neuroscience

SURF Kicks Off Summer Undergraduate Research

Under the guidance of faculty mentors, 27 student participants will conduct original research during the nine weeks of SURF.

A group of people sitting at round tables in a conference room, listening to a person standing and speaking near the front.

more to explore 55+ areas of study to discover at RMC

Major/Minor

Studio Art
In the art studio, an instructor guides a student working on a drawing, while another student looks on with interest.
Major/Minor

Arts Management
An exhibit at the Flippo Art Gallery
Major/Minor

Classics
Classics-Major-Minor-Virginia
All Areas of Study

Get Ready Discover Art History at RMC.

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