The UCLA Department of Art History was one of the first in the United States to embrace a mission of comprehensive global coverage. With this mission, the department has educated undergraduate students for decades with a broad-based understanding of art that comes from exposure to the artistic practices of a variety of “western” and “non-western” cultures through time and space. With its requirements for study across the globe and for foreign language training above and beyond the college obligation, the current Art History major seeks to encourage our students to question the art historical canon, to rethink the relationships between margins and centers, and to practice a socially and politically responsible art history.External applicants apply to the major through the office of Undergraduate Admissions. Current UCLA students who wish to change their major to Art History are eligible to do so in any quarter except summer after completing four courses (preferably the preparation for the major). Guidelines are available from the department office.
