Students across the University of Arkansas are discovering that adding a minor from the School of Art is a powerful way to expand their academic perspectives, strengthen their professional toolkit with marketable skills, and connect creativity with real-world impact. In addition, they are learning that adding the minor does not have to be an additional financial burden with the School of Art scholarships available to pursue this focus. 

The Art History minor stands out as a program that teaches students to interpret creative production, preparing them for careers in fields that value visual literacy, critical thinking, and cultural knowledge. 

The art history minor connects coursework to world-class art collections, with frequent field trips to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and to regional institutions further afield, like the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. Visits from top scholars in the field, opportunities to study art abroad and the chance to meet curators enrich the student experience.

"Students minoring in art history learn how to think critically about art and images through direct observation, research and writing, and they connect historical interpretation to urgent contemporary concerns. These analytical skills are indispensible across a wide range of careers, from jobs in museums and galleries to work in spheres adjacent to the arts, like law, education and marketing; they are a meaningful complement to any major and make School of Art graduates even more competitive on the job market and desirable for employers," program director and endowed associate professor John Blakinger elaborated.

Additionally, the school has funded student internships to further art history studies at the University of Arkansas Museum and at leading national institutions like the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and students have also interned for credit at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Art Bridges. These experiences demonstrate how the study of art history in the classroom translates to professional opportunity. At the same time, the School of Art's curriculum allows students to customize their academic journeys, reaching across disciplines to nurture unique interests and goals. Several students have benefitted from adding the minor to their existing studies.

Blythe Wasem, a double major in studio art and political science with a minor in art history, has connected her creative and civic interests through internships with Art Bridges Foundation and local government offices. "While my areas of focus may seem unconventional together, I've found the opposite to be true—each informs how I think about advocacy, creativity and cultural access," she said.

Rachel Holcomb, a studio art and French major with a minor in art history, explained, "I added an art history minor to my degree track during my junior year because I saw how connected my own studio practice and my knowledge of art history are after taking required courses for Studio Art. I have been able to take art history courses that have helped shape my practice, such as Contemporary Abstract Art History and Feminisms in Art History. The most rewarding part has been seeing how they intersect with each other and inform my knowledge and practice. I've been able to create a set of classes and experiences that are specifically tailored to a range of my interests and goals."

Whether students are studying business, architecture, engineering or another major, a minor in art history adds depth and dimension to their education. Business students gain cultural literacy and market awareness, architecture students acquire historical context and design inspiration, and engineers cultivate creative problem‑solving and an eye for aesthetics. Across all fields, students can use the minor to add value to their degree by engaging with global perspectives and linking artistic expression to human experience.

Art history has strong career prospects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for museum workers, curators and archivists - common jobs for art history graduates - has been projected to grow 9% between 2018 and 2028. Looking ahead, overall employment in these fields is expected to increase by 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that art history majors enjoy competitive employment outcomes, highlighting the value of art education.

With access to the arts and student support as priorities, the school's cross-disciplinary and open curriculum encourages students who are majoring and minoring within it to experiment and define their own paths—a model that drives artistic excellence in Arkansas.

The school also offers unique support for students. Students who have declared a major or minor in a School of Art discipline are able to apply for the Current Student Scholarship that is due Feb. 15, 2026. As a result of the transformative gift from the Walton Family Charitable Foundation, the School of Art awards over $1 million in scholarships to undergraduate students per academic year, and students who submit a Current Student Scholarship Application could potentially receive between $2,000-$10,000 annually to support their studies. Students majoring or minoring in an area at the School of Art can also apply for funding to attend conferences, study abroad opportunities or to propose research travel related to their area of study each academic year.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities through the School of Art visit art.uark.edu or contact scholarship and awards coordinator Kim Crowell at kimc@uark.edu. Students interested in declaring a major or minor at the School of Art should visit art.uark.edu or contact academic adviser Jessica Park at jepark@uark.edu.