From the cave paintings of prehistoric times to the electronic
art of today, the making of visual images has been a vital form
of communication and personal expression. 
The
St. Olaf Department of Art and Art History provides students the
opportunity to create and interpret such images, that they may better
understand themselves, history, and the role of art-making in a
rapidly changing world.
Our traditional concerns for design, history, and technical expertise are balanced by a fostering of critical thinking, innovation, and exploration of new ideas in a range of media. A variety of strengths makes this possible: an active, professional faculty; a demanding foundation program in design; numerous domestic and international programs; creative curriculum development in art history, including film history and Asian art history; and innovative courses in video, digital media, photography, and architectural drawing and design.
We maintain on- and off-campus programs of the highest standard in order to give students the most profound experiences. The department, with 16 full- and part-time faculty, offers B.A. degrees in art history, studio art, and art education and has come to serve more than 1,200 students--non-majors and majors alike--annually. Each year an average of 40-45 studio and 8-12 art history graduates go on to pursue professions ranging from museum curator to graphic designer, architect to studio artist.
We invite you to join them, to become part of what we are and are yet to be.
