• Enrollment system is currently unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try again later.

Art History and Architecture

  • Affords Visits to NYC Museums and Galleries
  • Examines All Media
  • Explores Style, Movements, and Forms

These courses provide a forum for exploring the world of art—from ancient artifacts and ruins to contemporary painters and photographers. You will tour New York City’s renowned museums and galleries with art historians and museum professionals, as you develop an understanding of the history, cultural context, and aesthetics of art movements and trends.

This semester, study in-person or from anywhere in the world from the safety and comfort of your home through online or remote instruction.

Artists of the Woodstock Artists Association

Explore the history and influence of the Woodstock Artists Association

2024 Summer
1 section

Sculpture Through the Ages: Depictions of the Human Body

Explore how artists from the Paleolithic age to the 21st century depicted the human form through sculpture.

2024 Summer
1 section

The Dutch Tradition: From Rembrandt to de Kooning

Explore 350 years of Dutch art from Vermeer to Mondrian. 

2024 Summer
1 section

The Surreal Universe of Rene Magritte

Explore the art of Rene Magritte and his surrealist contemporaries.

2024 Summer
1 section

A Journey Through Ottoman Splendor: History, Art, Legacy

Join us for a captivating exploration of the Ottoman Empire’s rich history and enduring influence on art and...

2024 Spring
1 section

History of Art in New York City from Colonial Times to the Present Day

Explore how New York came to be a global capital of...

2024 Spring
2 sections

The History of Art: Drawings From Da Vinci to Degas

Explore the art of drawing through the works of famous...

2024 Summer
1 section

The New York Art Scene

Explore New York City’s museums and galleries virtually to gain insight into the meaning of and inspiration for today’s art.

2024 Spring
+ 1 more semester
3 sections

Venice Through the Eyes of Artists

Explore Venice through the eyes of the famous artists who lived and visited there.

2024 Spring
1 section

Interiors and Architecture: From Classical to Contemporary

Learn about the history of interior design and its evolution over time.

2024 Spring
1 section

Let's Go to the Movies

Examine a wide range of films and engage in lively discussions about what makes each a truly exceptional work of art.

2024 Spring
2 sections

Masterpieces of Netherlandish Art at the Met

Celebrate the reopening of the Met Museum’s European Paintings gallery with an exploration of Netherlandish art.

2024 Spring
1 section

Radical Visionaries: Cézanne, Gauguin, and Van Gogh

Explore the art and legacy of Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. 

2024 Spring
1 section

Masterpieces of Nepal: Buddhist and Hindu Art in the Himalayas

Explore masterpieces from Nepal across mediums, from richly detailed mandalas to graceful bronze sculptures and spectacular temple...

2024 Spring
1 section

What is Jewish Art?

Explore the multiple ways in which Jewish identity has surfaced within, and been influenced by, visual...

2024 Spring
1 section

Before the Selfie: Six Hundred Years of Self-Portraits

Explore the fascinating history of self-portraits.

Greeks and Romans Abroad: Art and Archaeology of the Greek Colonies and Roman Provinces

Examine Greek and Roman colonies and influences from the British Isles to Western Asia.

The Shock of Abstraction: Changing the Future of Art

Explore the history and evolution of abstract art.

American Architecture and Urbanism

Explore 400-plus years of urban and suburban architecture in the United States.

Art from the Age of Cathedrals: Medieval Art and Architecture

Explore the art and architecture of Western Europe from 500-1400 AD.

Celebrating Pablo Picasso

Explore Picasso’s masterpieces and lasting legacy as museums around the world commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death.

Dishing the Dirt on Artists: From Renaissance to Modern Art

Learn about artists’ lives and famous artworks in this entertaining trip through art history.

From the Buddha to Mandalas: How to Understand Buddhist Art

Explore the history of Buddhist art from its origins in India to tantric developments in the Himalayas.

Old Masters and Mistresses of the Renaissance and the Baroque

Explore important female and male artists of the Renaissance and Baroque era.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Then and Now

Spend six weeks revisiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s galleries in creative new ways.

Touched by Fire: Van Gogh's Passion

Learn about van Gogh’s life, and discover the work of a self-taught artist who reached toward a world he could not hold but loved nonetheless.