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See how art influences society and culture with an on-site modern art museum and art displays around every corner at JCCC.

New for Fall 2023: American Indian Art
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Study actual pieces of Native American historical and contemporary art forms in this course based on JCCC's stunning collection of American Indian artwork.

Choose from 3 credits in Art History (ARTH 135) OR Anthropology (ANTH 135)

Questions? Contact Dr. Allison Smith at asmith165@jccc.edu

Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Enroll soon!

What will I learn in JCCC's Art History program?

The Art History Program at Johnson County Community College allows you to get a close-up look at the visual chronicles of political, religious, and cultural trends. From cave paintings to today’s modern works, art gives us a snapshot of humanity through the centuries.

Learn to analyze and notice details. Even medical schools and law enforcement agencies stress the advantages of studying art history because it heightens our ability to decode visual material.

JCCC’s Art History courses span the timeline from prehistoric to the present. Travel around the globe via state-of-the-art classroom technology to survey 2D, 3D, and architectural works from Asia to Western Europe to right here in the United States.

JCCC was the first school in Kansas to use Artstor, an online resource with a collection of more than 2 million images. This tool puts every slide shown in class at your fingertips at any time of day. 

Why JCCC for Art History courses?

When you’re enrolled in the Art History Program at JCCC, you’ll learn from instructors (not teaching assistants) who have excavated art in Italy and Greece, worked at world-class museums like The Smithsonian Institution and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and have been published in major art magazines.

You will also have access to the following in JCCC’s Art History Program.

  • Learn in small, personalized classes rather than in a giant lecture hall.
  • Walk among art-lined halls and courtyards daily. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the country’s top 10 college and university art collections (Public Art Review Magazine).
  • See an artist’s work in your textbook then walk across campus to view the real thing; a number of originals are in our campus collection.
  • Experience the Nerman’s renowned contemporary American Indian Art Collection. JCCC hosts the area’s most extensive collection, and it’s used for classroom learning.
  • Meet curators and world-renowned artists at Nerman Museum exhibition openings.
  • Choose face-to-face or online classes.
  • Pay less. Tuition is reasonable and many classes are transferable.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experience these other great events only at JCCC:

  • JCCC Night at the Nelson: Nearly 1,000 students, staff and faculty attend this interactive art experience at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
  • Noon at the Nerman: On Fridays during the fall and spring semesters, JCCC faculty or staff discuss a different work from our nationally-recognized campus art collection.
  • Third Thursday: Local artists are brought to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art to speak about their work, careers and educational backgrounds.
Allison Smith, Chair, Art History
“Yes, Art History meets the humanities and diversity requirements, but many of my students I see the following semester because they really enjoyed the class. They tell me, ‘I told all my friends to take this class.’”
Join other successful JCCC students Apply now

What do Harvard, Kansas State University, the University of Kansas and JCCC all have in common? They all use the same textbook! That’s good news because your ARTH 180 and 182 will seamlessly transfer to just about any school. Many other art history classes at JCCC will also fulfill a diversity, humanities, or foreign studies requirement, including:

  • Asian Art
  • European Art
  • Women, Art, and Society

When you make art history your major, your job can become your passion. Possibilities include:

  • Art librarian
  • Arts administrator
  • Journalist/art critic
  • Estate and art appraiser
  • Preservation expert
  • Art lawyer
  • Freelance collection manager
  • Architectural conservator
  • Art advisor
  • Art consultant at a hotel or cruise ship
  • Curator
  • Teacher
  • Museum registrar
  • Arts education
  • Grant writer
  • Antique dealer
  • Archivist

The cost of attending a higher education institution can be a huge stressor for many students. To avoid any of our students feel that they are hampered both academically and financially, we are constantly working to make tuition rates more affordable for you.

At JCCC, we can offer the following options:

There may be additional fees for textbooks and other supplies. The cost for these items will vary depending on which Art History courses at JCCC you are enrolled in.

There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.

Resources at JCCC

There are several resources and tools for students to take advantage of at JCCC. Our community college offers smaller class sizes, professional tutoring services, and personalized learning experiences. All of these tools can help to make your time at JCCC educational, memorable, and fulfilling.

JCCC’s Financial Aid counselors are here to help if you need to discuss loan and/or scholarship opportunities. There are many financial aid options available to you that can help to lower your tuition costs each semester.

The Career Development Center and Academic Counseling services are great resources for students who are still unsure about what they want to do post-graduation. JCCC is always committed to helping you find a future career that you’re passionate about.

If you’re eventually hoping to transfer your credits to another school, the transfer process at JCCC is easy for all students who are hoping to continue their education elsewhere.