The Department of the History of Art and Architecture (HIAA) serves the undergraduate and graduate student communities at Brown by offering training in the history and theory of art, architecture, material culture and related fields of critical inquiry.
The Department of the History of Art and Architecture (HIAA) serves the undergraduate and graduate student communities at Brown by offering training in the history and theory of art, architecture, material culture and related fields of critical inquiry.
We also maintain a longstanding commitment to Museum Studies and the study of objects through a close working relationship with the RISD Museum, and the Bell Gallery housed in the List Art Center at Brown. Graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to hold proctorships and internships at the museum, and to work with the Bell Gallery.
Undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Brown University complete their courses of study with attention to the history and theories of art, architecture, and urban development, examining how objects of material culture are made, viewed, and collected.
As a department with a commitment to interdisciplinary study, faculty and students often collaborate with members of other departments and centers to teach courses and collaborate on symposia that bring together the strengths of different disciplines. We encourage both experimentation and concentration.
The department grants two undergraduate degrees — History of Art and Architecture and Architecture — as well as a five-year BA/MA program and a Ph.D. program. A list of all the courses offered in the department can be found in the University Bulletin. Current courses are listed in the Courses section of our website.