The Department of Art History and Art offers opportunities to study art history, to engage in pre-professional museum training, to participate in a broad range of studio offerings. The Bachelor of Arts degree is granted in art history and in pre-architecture (second major only). The department offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy in art history, Master of Arts in art history, and Master of Arts in art history and museum studies. In conjunction with the School of Law the department also offers a combined JD/Master of Arts in art history and museum studies. Qualified undergraduates majoring in art history may participate in the Integrated Graduate Studies Program.

All art programs are considerably enhanced by close cooperation with cultural institutions located in University Circle, in particular the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and MoCA Cleveland, a museum of contemporary art.

The Cleveland Museum of Art/CWRU Art History Program has been in existence since 1967. The museum’s curators serve as adjunct faculty, and graduate research projects under their direction often result in exhibitions and publications. The museum Studies course and internships provide experience in curatorial practices, connoisseurship, conservation, design, and museum education, and the program has a history of producing leaders in the museum field. Graduate students are exposed to both traditional and newer theoretically based art historical approaches in classes taught by faculty renowned for their expertise in a diversity of fields.