Global Art History: Movements and Masterpieces

This pre-college course in art history offers high school students an immersive exploration of the major artists, movements, cultures, and ideas that have shaped the global history of art. Designed for students considering college majors in art history, studio art, architecture, museum studies, or the humanities, the course combines college-level lectures with in-depth museum study across New York City. Through close engagement with famous artworks, key art history movements, and global cultures, students will gain a deeper understanding of how art reflects and shapes cultural values over time.

As part of this New York City pre-college program, students participate in guided museum visits and behind-the-scenes experiences that provide a hands-on approach to learning. While the course aligns with several core themes found in the AP Art History curriculum, it is designed to benefit all students, regardless of prior art history coursework, by offering a broad and globally informed perspective.

The course begins in the ancient world at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where students study the visual traditions of ancient Egypt, Pre-Columbian societies, and early Chinese dynasties. Students then explore Islamic art through the Met’s exceptional collections of manuscripts, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles.

Moving forward in time, students investigate the art of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment through close study at the newly renovated Frick Collection, while also considering the monumental works created concurrently in Central and South America.

The course continues with an exploration of Asian art, including Japanese Edo-period woodblock prints and historic Chinese ceramics, before turning to Impressionism and Modernism through works in the Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

The experience culminates in a focused study of contemporary art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where students analyze how today’s artists address urgent social and cultural issues such as race, geopolitics, gender, sexuality, disability, and class. Throughout the course, guest scholars provide additional global perspectives, helping students understand how art history has developed into a dynamic, interdisciplinary field.

By the end of this pre-college art history course, students will have gained a new framework for understanding artistic styles, movements, and cultural connections across time and geography. In addition to building strong academic foundations, students develop critical thinking and visual analysis skills while gaining clarity about potential college majors and future paths of study.

The Priority Admissions Enrollment Deadline is February 27.