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If you want to learn about visual art and the history of the world, from the Paleolithic to the contemporary, there’s no better method than through the lens of visual culture.

Studies in art history strengthen your understanding of art and culture by examining, analyzing, and interpreting works of art. Art history at Rollins embraces an interdisciplinary approach by integrating techniques from archaeology, anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology.

As an art history major, you’ll gain a broad range of flexible skills that will prepare you for the rapidly changing 21st-century job market, including critical and creative thinking, visual literacy, writing, research, global history, and diversity.


Why Study Art History at Rollins

  1. 1

    Discerning Approach to Media

    You’ll learn to be critical and skeptical consumers of images, both historical and contemporary, which will prepare you for both grad school and a variety of careers, from museum professions to medicine and law.

  2. 2

    International Perspective

    With an eye toward global citizenship, art historians explore world cultures through their aesthetic traditions. On field studies to places like Rome and Athens you’ll apply what you’re learning in class to the real world.

  3. 3

    Practical Experience

    Through volunteer and internship experiences with local museums, like the College’s very own Rollins Museum of Art and its Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, students gain hands-on professional experience.


What does it mean to study Art History at Rollins?

From study abroad experiences to applying skills you learn in the classroom directly to your field of interest, find out what it’s like to study art history at Rollins from some of our current students and successful graduates.

Interested in Studying Art History at Rollins?

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A study poses between the stacks of the Rollins College Archives.

“Majoring in art history at Rollins was incredibly valuable because the major trains students to construct strong written arguments supported by both documentary and material/visual evidence and gives them the skills they need to defend their ideas verbally. These two things have become fundamental to my day-to-day life. While at Rollins, I received incredible mentorship from professors without which I certainly would not be on the path I am today.”

Rebecca Charbonneau ’16

Historian-in-Residence, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard University


Rollins Art History Careers

Rollins art history grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions and innovative organizations. Learn more about careers in art history.

  • Self portrait of Christian Bromley

    Christian Bromley ’12

    Associate Commercial Litigator, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

  • Self portrait of Virginia McColl

    Virginia McColl ’17

    Business Development Manager of Contemporary Art, Sotheby’s

  • Self portrait of Tocarra Mallard

    Tocarra Mallard ’10

    Standup Comedian and Writer

  • Self portrait of Millicent Armstrong

    Millicent Armstrong ’09

    Founder, Artemis Design Co.

  • Self portrait of Daniel Zietlow

    Daniel Zietlow ’10

    Educational Designer, The National Center for Atmospheric Research

  • Self portrait of Morgan Snoap.

    Morgan Snoap ’20

    Graduate Teaching Fellow & Researcher, Boston University


Real World Experience

From community engagement courses to internships and research, students hone their skills in the real world.

  • Rollins Museum of Art logo
  • Orlando Museum of Art
  • Snap
  • United Artists
  • Walt Disney Company
Rollins College students enjoying lunch by the Lakeside pool.

Apply By November 15

It’s never been easier or more rewarding to apply to Rollins. No app fee, formal essay, or test scores required. Apply by November 15 to receive priority consideration for admission and academic scholarships that range from $15,000 per year to full ride.

Start an ApplicationStart an Application

Popular Courses

Rollins art history courses help you develop a sophisticated understanding of the relationships between art, history, and culture through examination, analysis, and interpretation of art. Studies begin with broad surveys and conclude with you co-curating an exhibition at the Rollins Museum of Art.

An intern reviews the collection at an Orlando art gallery.

Beyond the Classroom

Study Abroad Many of our students spend time at places of great artistic and historical import, such as Trinity College in Rome, IAU in Aix-en-Provence, American University in Paris, and on full-year studies in Athens.

Student-Faculty Collaborative Scholarship Program Our expert faculty and industrious students work together on scholarly research for professional publication or exhibition, such as repatriation of artworks; studies on historic Venetian social institutions; African textiles, clothing, and adornment; as well as other topics of global-historical significance.

Archaeological Excavations Rollins’ art history students have been active participants on excavation teams at Murlo, near Siena, Italy, and Poggio Colla, near Florence, as well as at other sites around the world. Students working on archaeological sites have served as unit supervisors and even engaged in independent research projects.


A Rollins student hosts a gallery tour.

Scholarships

The Department of Art and Art History offers scholarships to applicants who have declared or are exploring a major in Art History and Studio Art. Minors can apply for travel and research (priority will be given to majors). Scholarships are awarded on the basis of both need and merit and may be applied for annually. Scholarship amounts and durations vary and are not automatically renewed. Subsequent awards are based upon overall performance in the major.

Learn more about scholarships by contacting the department at 407.646.2498 or rschlueb@rollins.edu.


Keep Exploring

Take a deeper dive into art history at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.

Oil on copper painting of an extensive wooded river landscape with travelers

August 21, 2024

Rollins Museum of Art Announces Fall 2024 Exhibitions

The Rollins Museum of Art unveils six exhibitions for its fall season, which runs from September 14, 2024, to January 5, 2025.

Rollins Museum of Art Announces Fall 2024 Exhibitions
Bonner Leader on an Immersion

July 29, 2024

Leading Change

For the past 10 years, the College’s Bonner Leaders Program has provided service-learning opportunities to students passionate about social issues and nonprofit work, creating positive change in the Rollins community and beyond.

Leading Change
Piece in The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art by Andrew Robert Parker, Lithograph

January 19, 2024

Rollins Museum of Art Announces Winter 2024 Exhibitions

The Rollins Museum of Art unveils five exhibitions for its winter season, which runs from January 20 to May 12.

Rollins Museum of Art Announces Winter 2024 Exhibitions
A group of students look at art at Rollins College.

Dive into Art History at Rollins

Art History exposes students to global cultural expression throughout thousands of years of history through the exploration of visual media.

See What You'll Learn

Expert Faculty

At Rollins, you’ll study under faculty with wide-ranging expertise. Our professors are scholars who help you connect with the broader academic and museum community, assist you in choosing graduate programs, and act as role models for your own research and writing.

Department of Art & History

Cornell Fine Arts Center
1000 Holt Ave. – 2774
Winter Park, FL32789

Telephone:407.646.2498

Fax:407.628.6395

  • Kim Dennis portrait

    Kim Dennis, PhD

    Professor of Art History

    Research interests: Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture, with a particular interest in women’s involvement in the arts as artists, patrons, and subjects

  • MacKenzie Moon Ryan portrait

    MacKenzie Moon Ryan, PhD

    Department Chair, Professor of Art History

    Research interests: African and global art, especially textiles, fashion, trade, colonialism, cross-cultural exchange, and museum studies

    Visit site.

  • No photo available

    Robert Vander Poppen, PhD

    Associate Professor of Classical Art & Archaeology

    Research interests: Ancient art and archaeology, emphasizing the negotiation of social and cultural tensions between imperial powers and native communities

  • Portrait of Rollins College Art History Professor Melanie Woody Nguyen.

    Melanie Woody Nguyen, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Art History

    Research interests: Contemporary, American and African American, and ecocritical art history, with current research focus in artists addressing environmental issues in performance art of the postwar period.

  • Susan Libby portrait

    Susan Libby, PhD

    Professor Emerita of Art History

    Research interests: European art, with an emphasis on colonialism and construction of race and gender; contemporary cultural property disputes

A Rollins professor leads a discussion in an outdoor classroom.

See for Yourself

Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.

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