Art, Art History & Visual StudiesYou are encouraged to travel and to take courses abroad. There is no substitute for exposure to the major works of painting, sculpture, and architecture in museums and cities around the world. A wide variety of programs are available for one semester, for the entire academic year, or for the summer only. There is a complete listing of such programs in the Office of Duke Global Education for Undergraduates, (Smith Warehouse, Bay 6, 114 S. Buchanan Blvd.), which has an extensive file of study opportunities in other countries, including a number of programs that have received “pre-approved” status. A listing of summer courses can be obtained from the Office of Summer Session in the Bishop’s House.
The Duke University Summer Session and other Duke-sponsored study programs have also offered courses in a variety of countries. In past years, courses for both undergraduates and graduates have been offered in the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), Florence, Rome, Paris, Madrid, and Vienna. Whereas you would simply receive credit (without a grade) from most study abroad programs, a course sponsored by Duke will be indicated by the grade on your transcript. The latter may be important if you are considering graduate or professional school. Please note that the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies will not give credit to courses taken under the auspices of Global Education that are not specifically related to the art and culture of the particular locale where that course is being taught. Courses in Visual Arts will be accepted at the discretion of relevant faculty members. The Global Education program provides you with a unique opportunity to examine different cultures, and we as a department encourage you to utilize Global Education to gain such exposure.
A maximum of two courses taken away from Duke will count towards any major or minor.
As an Art, Art History and Visual Studies major or minor, you may find the following programs of interest:
Duke in Venice is based at Venice International University (VIU), located on the island of San Servolo. VIU is an association of universities and organizations from around the world. The partners are:
- Boston College (USA)
- Duke University (USA)
- Koj University (Turkey)
- Ludwig Maximilians Universität (Germany)
- Tel Aviv University (Israel)
- Tongji University of Shanghai (China)
- Tsinghua University of Beijing (China)
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
- University IUAV of Venice (Italy)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain)
- Waseda University of Tokyo (Japan)
- European University (Russia)
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR (Italy)
- Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare (Italy)
- Provincia di Venezia (Italy)
Faculty from the partner universities offer courses at VIU, all taught in English. You will have an opportunity to take courses from all of these international scholars, and will enjoy a truly international academic experience by mixing with your European peers. Although no previous knowledge of Italian is required, it is strongly recommended that you begin study of the language before arriving in Venice. Italian language will be a required course for you on the Duke in Venice program.
The fall Arts & Media program is a complete, exciting semester for you if you have some background in--or want to learn more about--art, music, theater, fashion, and media, including magazine and book publishing, advertising, film, and television. The program offers you the opportunity to earn four Duke credits: three credits for courses taught by Duke faculty and one credit for an internship in an arts and/or media area of interest. Please note that this program is open to students from all majors.
Duke also offers a summer program, Duke in New York Summer Internships in the City.
The Duke in LA program takes advantage of Los Angeles as one of the most significant cultural centers of an increasingly globalized United States and as one of the most diverse and interesting megacities worldwide.
The program’s academic focus includes the film, television, and media industries, which have been the core of the program in the past, and now also introduces issues of the globalized city, architecture, urbanism, contemporary art, experimental arts, activism, radical popular culture, visual studies, and global south debates. The program also explores the rich cultural life of Asian, Latino/a, and African-American communities in the city.
Duke in L.A. also focuses on multilingualism as a key category that constitutes this complex urban environment and helps us to navigate through it. Thus, you have the opportunity to use your language skills to develop a particular area of study, and in the process, learn more about new forms of citizenship in the United States.
Duke in L.A. students supplement the two courses taught by Duke faculty with a course at the University of Southern California and a 15-hour-per-week internship. In addition to internships with film and television companies, the program has a significantly expanded list of potential internship sites, including museums, art galleries, and community organizations related to the topics mentioned above.