Historians of art and architecture study visual communication. At Carleton, we study the great monuments of Western culture—painting, sculpture and buildings—but we also study Asian and other non-Western art, North American Indigenous art, photography, printmaking and popular culture as well as the institutions of art itself: museums, galleries and exhibitions.
Our material ranges from the prehistoric to the present day. Our students come away from the program with direct experience of collections of art here in the National Capital Region and a historical framework for understanding imagery, as well as an awareness of the multiple possibilities for interpreting art, architecture and other visual phenomena.
Specifically, we examine how representations work. We analyze the products of the human imagination and the visual expressions of different societies. Such analyses produce a historical awareness as well as an understanding of modes of expression in different cultures. This knowledge provides students with the intellectual tools that allow them to function as informed and thoughtful individuals in and increasingly visual and globalized society.
In the Art History and History and Theory of Architecture programs at Carleton University, you will be taught both by professors with a keen understanding of art and architecture and by seasoned museum professionals with extensive working experience in the field. Students in Carleton’s Art History and History and Theory of Architecture programs have access not only to a wide variety of courses but also to the resources of the Carleton University Art Gallery (CUAG). At 27,000 works, CUAG’s holdings are rich in Canadian art (especially works on paper), Inuit art and European prints. Faculty regularly use the CUAG as a teaching collection and the art gallery offers practicum placements, an annual research assistantship and summer employment to qualified students.
The Art History and History and Theory of Architecture programs offer you unique practicum opportunities. Senior students who maintain satisfactory standing will be able to receive up to 1.0 credit for working on special projects in an Ottawa museum or cultural institution.
The university’s location in the nation’s capital, Ottawa, places you in the heart of Canada’s major cultural resources, providing unparalleled access to both personnel and research materials.
Ottawa is home to the National Gallery of Canada, renowned nationally and internationally for its outstanding collections (including the most important collection of Canadian art in the world) and exhibitions. The Gallery also boasts the most extensive collection of European art in the country. Other important Canadian organizations in Ottawa include:
Twitter
Studied or Worked here? Share Your Review
Please do not post:
Thank you once again for doing your part to keep Edarabia the most trusted education source.