Searching for the best colleges for art history

I love art history and am looking for a college with a standout program. What are some top colleges for art history, and what unique opportunities do they offer, like study abroad or internships?

Certainly, there are several schools renowned for their art history programs, each offering unique opportunities:

1. New York University (NYU) - NYU has one of the leading art history departments in the country. Their curriculum is vast, covering global art from the ancient to contemporary periods. Additionally, the department emphasizes internships to provide its students with professional experience. Many students intern at museums and galleries around NYC. The school also has a strong study abroad program, with courses offered at their sites in Florence and London.

2. University of California, Berkeley - Another prominent location for studying art history. The department at Berkeley offers extensive coursework on various geographic areas and periods. Students also have access to the resources of Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), a great resource for on-hands experience.

3. University of Chicago - The Art History department here has excellent connections with the Art Institute of Chicago and the university's own Smart Museum. The Department often organizes study trips and offers opportunities for students to participate in research projects. A notable program is the Arts, Science + Culture Initiative, which fosters collaboration across different disciplines, such as art history, physics, and music.

4. Yale University - Known for its strong humanities, Yale also offers an exceptional program in the History of Art. The department encourages cross-disciplinary study and provides extensive opportunities for studying and researching art and architecture. Furthermore, Yale has several museum and gallery facilities, including the Yale Center for British Art and the Yale University Art Gallery.

You might also consider schools with robust study abroad programs specifically tailored to art history, such as Sarah Lawrence College, which offers a year-long program at Oxford University's Ruskin School of Art, or Bard College, whose students can study at the school's own Center for Curatorial Studies.

Remember, the best program for you will depend on your specific interests within art history and your other academic, extracurricular, and lifestyle preferences. When researching schools, dig into their course catalogs, faculty, and unique offerings to see if they align with your goals and interests.