The Department of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University in Saint Louis has a rich past and a vibrant present. One of the oldest Art History programs west of the Mississippi, the Department was an important force in establishing recognition for Art History outside of the eastern United States. The program was built by some of the foremost figures in the discipline, including Horst Janson, Frederick Hartt, and George Mylonas. The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum (formerly The Washington University Gallery of Art which was founded in 1881) is home to one of the most important modern art collections in the Midwest, and is one of the most distinguished university collections in the United States. The Department is housed within the distinguished School of Arts and Sciences, and is also an active collaborator with the new Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, which opened with a new building and new curricular initiatives in the fall semester of 2006.

Now over a century in the making, our graduate and undergraduate programs are relatively small but known for their excellence. With degree programs from the undergraduate to Ph.D. level, our faculty offers training in everything from traditional archaeology to the most contemporary art historical approaches. Because of our modest size, our students receive invaluable attention and extensive opportunities to teach, research, and gain important museum experience. Washington University's St. Louis location provides students with the cultural and research opportunities of a major urban area, balanced with affordable housing and easy navigability.Our rich resources include an excellent Art and Architecture library, an established field trip program that affords our students visits to major national exhibitions, and an expansive lecture series that attracts important scholars in art history, archaeology and visual culture to speak and provide special seminars to our students. The Department of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University is an exellent choice for those seeking a program that is intimate yet broad-ranging, and historically significant with an eye on the future.

Our faculty welcome phone and e-mail inquiries regarding our program, and are happy to make arrangements for prospective undergraduate and graduate students to meet with faculty and current students to discuss our programs. Please contact us for more information. Our deadline to receive applications for the 2009-2010 academic year is December 15, 2008.

--Elizabeth C. Childs, Department Chair