Art represents and questions the deepest cultural and spiritual values of a society. Knowledge of these values can deepen the life of mind and spirit. The purpose of the University’s Art History Program is to enhance the intellectual, aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of the student’s experience in discovering the communicative power of art.

Ideally the study of all artworks should be in the presence of the original. Although this is usually not possible, art history students at UST do have an exceptional opportunity to experience original art related to that being studied in the program’s slide-illustrated lectures and discussions. Since the campus lies in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, excellent examples of works from Ancient to post-modern times are readily available in numerous nearby museums. Especially beneficial are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Menil Musuem, which is adjacent to the campus. Even though art history faculty make use of these collections in class visits and in assignments, individual visits throughout courses are recommended to heighten recognition of the subjects and styles of works of art and to reinforce understanding of their meanings.