The faculty of the Department of Visual Arts and Art History, through their own significant research and creative activities, fosters the preservation of artistic legacies with an interest in originality and innovation within artistic and research practice. These educational goals are enhanced by visiting lecturers, workshops, internships, conferences and exhibitions held at two University galleries, the Schmidt Center Gallery and the Ritter Gallery in Boca Raton and the Second Avenue Studio Gallery in Fort Lauderdale.

The Art History Program requires courses in art appreciation, foundations drawing and design, an upper division studio art course, a course in aesthetics and art theory, a minimum of 28 credits in upper level art history, and a senior seminar in art history. Graduates in Art History have gone on from FAU to jobs at museums and galleries, and many have continued on to pursue graduate degrees. It is the belief of the faculty that a well-rounded preparation in Art History is also important to success in every branch of the visual arts, and to this end foreign study programs are offered in France, Italy, and Spain and departmental awards are available both to concentrators in the studio areas and to those in Art History.