Art History & Aesthetics: Admission 2025, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

Updated on Jan 20, 2025 06:14 IST

Art History and Aesthetics refers to the study of human history with aesthetics like sculptures, paintings, graphics, and other forms of art. The course consists of various subjects from Indian Art, Culture, and Aesthetics. Art History and Aesthetic courses are designed to provide comprehensive knowledge regarding artistic and aesthetic traditions in India and across Western countries. To be eligible to pursue courses in Art History & Aesthetics, one must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with an aggregate of 50% or more. These courses can be pursued by the candidates at various levels, including graduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral level. 

The duration for which varies from 1 year - 3 years depending on the course. Art History and Aesthetics course could be perfect for individuals who are artists and have a natural inclination towards Indian history, Contemporary critical theories, and Western philosophies which form a major part of the course syllabus. Some of the top colleges offering Aesthetics Arts History Courses include Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai.

Some of the commonly preferred courses for Art History include BVA (Art History & Aesthetics), and MVA (Art History & Aesthetics). The scope of the course is very wide providing abundant opportunities to candidates in museums, art galleries, and also in the field of research and academia. To know more about the field of Art History Aesthetics and the career opportunities attached to it, read the below article.

Origin of Art History & Aesthetics Course

Since the beginning of the era, Arts and different artistic expressions have been used to depict various cultural and religious facts and theories. Like the definitions of Art, the ideas about History have changed with time. And now it’s not merely a theoretical subject anymore. Different historical events and philosophies are depicted through art forms and artifacts.

Before going further with the understanding of Art History & Aesthetics and the future the field holds let’s start by understanding the emergence and the history of this specific field. The field of Art History emerged in Europe to emphasize the major happenings in the European tradition. It also recognized different art forms as ‘Western Art’ and ‘Non-western art’. The ideologies for this changed later on. 

10 Famous Artists of All Time

Art has always been used as an expression of thoughts, ideas, and emotions and is also used to communicate insightful information and research about different historical events. Some of the major events depicted through artworks include the Indus Valley Civilization, the Cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, the complex structures of Khajuraho, and the architecture of Hampi. 

Various artists have been famous for their art for a long time. Some of the popular and well-known artists are mentioned below:

Name of Artist

Famous Painting 

Time Duration

Leonardo Da Vinci

The Mona Lisa

1452 - 1519

Vincent Van Gogh

Starry Night

1853 - 1890

Pablo Picasso

La Rêve

1881 – 1973

Claude Monet

San Giorgio Maggiore At Dusk

1840 – 1926

Johannes Vermeer

Girl With A Pearl Earring

1632 – 1675

Edvard Munch

The Scream 

1863 – 1944

Salvador Dali 

The Persistence Of Memory

1904 – 1989

Andy Warhol

Birth Of Venus 

1928 – 1987

René François Ghislain Magritte

The Treachery Of Images

1898 – 1967

Henri Matisse

Dance

1869 – 1954

Benefits of Pursuing Art History Aesthetics Course 

There are several professional as well as personal benefits of pursuing an Art History Aesthetics course in India, including great financial remuneration along with work satisfaction and greater work-life balance. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:

  • Intellectual Enrichment: Candidates pursuing Art History & Aesthetics course in India get the opportunity to enhance their intellectual capabilities by learning about the complexities of artistic movements and theories.
  • Mastery of Analytical Skills: Candidates get the chance to develop analytical and critical thinking skills by analyzing visual forms and interpreting various symbols. 
  • Cultural Understanding: Students get a better understanding of different cultures by studying art from different historical periods. 
  • Professional Opportunities in Various Fields: By pursuing a degree or diploma in Art History and Aesthetics, one gets the opportunity to work in different art-related fields and earn great recognition. Some of the widely known positions after pursuing the Art History & Aesthetics Course in India include exhibition planners and museum educators.
  • Networking and Collaboration: Enrolling in Art History programs allows one to collaborate with different artists, scholars, and professionals with diverse professional backgrounds from the arts field. 

Q:   What is Art History & why is it important to study?

A:

Art History is the study of visual art forms, their development, and the cultural, historical, and social contexts that influence them. It studies the artworks such as paintings, sculptures, architecture and even digital media to understand their significance in different time periods and cultures.

Studying Art History is important because of the reasons listed below:

  • Cultural Understanding
  • Analytical Skills
  • Preserving Heritage
  • Interdisciplinary Approach

Q:   What are Arts courses?

A:

Fine Arts, Visual Arts and Performing Arts courses consists of various courses such as Dance, Theatre, Film Making,  Editing,  Printmaking, and Acting. It also includes various dance forms such as Kathak, Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Folk Dance.

Other branches under this include Tabla, Cinematography, Hindustani Classical Vocals, Video Editing, Illustrator, Direction, Graphic Design, Sitar, Violin,  Script Writing, Sound Editing,  Computer Science,  etc.. These courses are offered across various top colleges in India and are popular choices amongst candidates who wish to make a career in the field of media and television.

Q:   Can I pursue Art History and Aesthetics without an art background?

A:

Definitely, While an art background can be benificial for you but most programs welcome students from diverse academic fields. Beginners can start with foundation courses that introduce basic concepts in art and aesthetics. Passion, curiosity and a willingness to learn are the most important criteria for an Art History and Aesthetic Course.

Arts History & Aesthetics Entrance Exam

Art History and Aesthetics is an Artistic Course thus admission to this course happens on the basis of a portfolio and merit. However, some Colleges also conduct entrance tests. Below is the list of Art history & Aesthetic Entrance Exam that candidates can consider taking:

Art History & Aesthetics Entrance Exams

Art History & Aesthetic Exam Date

Art History & Aesthetics Course Exam Schedule

CUET 2025

May '25 - Jun '25 (Tentative)

CUET Exam Date 2025

CUET PG 2025

Mar '25 (Tentative)

CUET PG Exam Date 2025

JMI 2025

Apr '25 - May '25

JMI Exam Date 2025

IICD Entrance Exam 2025

25 Jan '25

IICD Entrance Exam Date 2025

Art History & Aesthetic Course topics you might be interested in:

CUET Exam Syllabus 2025

BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Subjects 2025: Subjects, Semester-wise Syllabus PDF, Top Colleges, Books

10 Feb ' 25 - 12 Feb ' 25

CUET PG 2025 Application Correction Window

Mar '25

CUET PG 2025 Advance City Intimation Slip

TENTATIVE

13 Feb ' 25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Application Last Date

5 Apr ' 25

MAH AAC CET 2025 Exam

28 Jan ' 25 - 5 Feb ' 25

NSD Exam 2025 Workshop cum interview

10 Jan ' 25 - 15 Jan ' 25

NSD Entrance Exam Registrations 2025

Feb '25 - Mar '25

PUBDET 2025 Applications

TENTATIVE

Jun '25 - Jul '25

PUBDET 2025 Admit Card

TENTATIVE

Important Exam Dates

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates

Feb '25 - Mar '25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025 Applications Open

TENTATIVE

Apr '25 - May '25

JMI Entrance Exam 2025

TENTATIVE
DatesPast Exam Dates

25 Apr '24

JMI Entrance Exam 2024

20 Feb '24 -

30 Mar '24

JMI Entrance Exam 2024 Application Form

Q:   Why is CUET important?

A:

NTA conducts Common University Entrance Test or CUET for admission to UG courses of central, state, private or deemed universities. Untill 2022, each university had its distinct entrance exam or admission criteria for UG courses. To create fairness in admission process, CUET was introduced. It is common entrance exam for all central universities. Some of the important factors why CUET is important are:

  • It gives equal opprtunities to candidates during the admission process. The pressure of immese weightage to 12th marks is reduced.
  • Cutoffs will be based on CUET score/percentile ensuring fair mechanism for students.
  • CUET puts an end to subjective bias. Candidates can appear for their domain subject exam and get admission on the basis of the score obtained in CUET.

Q:   What is CUET UG passing marks?

A:

There are no prescribed passing marks for CUET UG. In order to know if a candidate has passed the CUET 2025 exam or not or is eligible for admission to desired course and university, they are required to check the passing marks released by the colleges/university seperately. After the declaration of CUET result, all the colleges or universities will release the course-wise passing marks or CUET UG cutoff, which will be used for shortlisting candidates for admission to UG courses.

On the basis of the cut off released by the CUET participating universities and candidates meeting the criteria will be offered amdission to UG courses.

Specializations in Art History & Aesthetics

Art History and Aesthetics is a vast field with various specializations one can pursue. Some of the well-known and commonly pursued specializations are mentioned below. To learn more about them in detail, read the section below.

Art History: Students learn to investigate different historical periods and artistic movements that significantly contributed to India’s Aesthetic History.

Classical Dance Forms: Indian dance forms and aesthetics are linked to each other. A good understanding of the various Indian dance forms like Kathak and Odissi can help students gain a better understanding of how different movements and emotions are depicted through Indian Arts. 

Indian Music: Both vocal and instrumental music make a huge impact on Aesthetics. Students can learn about different classical music forms like Hindustani or explore devotional music to understand aesthetics better.

Visual Arts: A specialty in Indian visual arts includes studying a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture, and architecture. It is vital to grasp the symbolism, iconography, and techniques used in Indian art.

Aesthetic Philosophy: Students explore the philosophical foundations of Indian aesthetics, including Rasa theory, Bhava, and the experience of beauty in Indian thought.

Q:   What does an Aesthetic course cover?

A:

An Aesthetic course explores the philosophy of beauty and taste in art and life. This course equips students to evaluate art critically and understand its impact on emotions and thought processes. Following are the topics that are covered in an Aesthetic Courses:

  • Theories of beauty from philosophers like Aristotle, Kant, and Nietzsche
  • The relationship between art, ethics, and society
  • Aesthetic principles in different forms of art (visual, performing, and literary)
  • Contemporary aesthetic theories, such as postmodernism and minimalism

Best Colleges for Arts History and Aesthetics in India in India

Candidates can pursue Art History and Aesthetics Courses from some of the well-known colleges across India, and fulfil their dream of being an art historian or a presenter of artworks at museums, or historic art galleries. The courses can be pursued at both the UG and PG levels. Further, candidates can also learn more about the subject by pursuing Arts History and Aesthetics courses online and gain a better understanding of the advanced level concepts. Some of the top colleges offering this course are mentioned below:

Best Art History & Aesthetics Colleges

Fees

Manipal Academy of Higher Education INR 1.04 Lakh - 1.52 Lakh
JNU, New Delhi  INR 432
Visva Bharati University INR 840 - 2,400
Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University INR 1.24 Lakh
Faculty of Visual Arts, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi INR 5,160
Mewar University INR 66,000
College of Art, University of Delhi, Delhi INR 16,800
Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara INR 27,540 - 51,720
Indian Institute of Crafts and Design INR 4.48 Lakh - 8.9 Lakh
Utkal University of Culture INR 1,200

Art History & Aesthetics Course Fee

Candidates can pursue various free as well as paid Art History and Aesthetics courses online to upskill themselves and gain a better understanding of the field. The duration of the courses varies from 1- 3 months. These courses are offered at various online platforms, including Coursera. Some of the free courses along with their duration and the offering university are mentioned below. 

Name of Course

Offered by

Course Duration

Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization

The Museum of Modern Art

3 - 6 months

Greek and Roman Mythology 

University of Pennsylvania

1 - 3 months

Roman Art and Archaeology 

The University of Arizona 

1 - 3 months

What is Contemporary Art? 

The Museum of Modern Art

1 - 3 months

Old Norse Mythology in the Sources

University of Colorado Boulder

3 - 6 months

Quick links relevant to Art History & Aesthetics Courses:

Types of Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture

1 Course
432
9.5 LPA
2 Courses
27.54 K - 51.72 K
3 - 3.1 LPA
1 Course
21.1 K
9.25 LPA
1 Course
5.16 K
9 LPA
1 Course
18 K

Q:   Are there online courses available in Art History and Aesthetics?

A:

Yes, there are numerous online platforms that offer courses in Art History and Aesthetics. Online courses are ideal for working professionals or those unable to attend in-person classes. Popular options for Art History & Aesthetics online Courses are:

  1. Coursera: Partnered with institutions like Yale and MoMA
  2. edX: Offers specialised programs from top universities
  3. Khan Academy: Provides free resources on art history
  4. Udemy: Affordable courses with flexible schedules

Q:   How many top Arts colleges are there in India?

A:

There are almost 130+ best Humanities colleges in India. Out of these,  77 are private whereas 46 are government owned and the remaining 11 are semi government owned. Some of the popular colleges are Hindu College, Miranda House, Hansaraj College, Gargi College, Ramjas College. Humanities, Social Studies, and Liberal Arts are some of the subjects covered in a Bachelor of Arts degree. Bachelor of Arts specialities include History, English, Philosophy, Economics, Political Science, Geography, and Sociology,  among others.

Popular Private Art History & Aesthetics Colleges in India

1.04 L - 1.52 L
5.0

Art History & Aesthetics Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
432
9.5 LPA
2 Courses
27.54 K - 51.72 K
3 - 3.1 LPA
1 Course
21.1 K
9.25 LPA
1 Course
5.16 K
9 LPA
1 Course
18 K

Art History and Aesthetics Scope

The scope of the Art History and Aesthetics field is very wide, providing abundant opportunities in the field of art, history, and art history. Some of the top job opportunities in various fields are mentioned below:

  • Candidates get the chance to work in different domains including art, culture, academic, and research domains. Further, the course gives them a deep understanding of Indian art, cultural history, and aesthetics helping them to protect and promote India’s artistic past.
  • Arts History graduates can work at Museums, Art Galleries, and other cultural institutes. They will be responsible for overseeing and curating different sculptures and artworks.
  • Research is another interesting field for Arts Aesthetic Graduates. They can work in the field of Academia as a researcher or lecturer in colleges and universities. 
  • Arts History Graduates also get the chance to television production sets. Candidates can work can consultants and advisors on the set. 
  • There are also a plethora of opportunities for Arts History Aesthetic Graduates in the tourism sector. They can create different trip packages to represent India’s creative and Aesthetic beauty to both Indian and International Tourists. 

Q:   Which are the top companies that hire Art graduates?

A:

1.     Top companies that hire Art graduates are:

Top Companies for Arts Graduate

Microsoft Corporation

Robosoft Technologies

AAPC

Lowe Lintas

Cognizant

Saregama India Limited

FAQs on Art History & Aesthetics

Here are some important Questions related to Art History & Aesthetic Course:

Q:   Is there any difference between arts and humanities?

A:

Although they are not exactly the same stream, the humanities and arts are related subjects. Both are included in the more general category of liberal arts, which includes academic fields that study human expression, culture, and society.

Although the study of artistic expression is frequently included in the humanities, the arts can be seen as a part of the larger humanities discipline.
Understanding the cultural and historical relevance of artistic works is made possible by the academic and philosophical framework provided by the humanities. Click to know Is Liberal Arts Degree Worth It?

Q:   What is the difference between Visual Arts and Performing Arts?

A:

Hi Cobi,

Visual arts expresses feeling, emotion, opinion, or taste through visual means such as photography, painting, sculpting, and drawing while performing arts express opinion, emotion, feeling, or taste by means of performance such as theatre, music, and public speech.

All the Best

Popular Art History & Aesthetics UG Courses

Following are the most popular Art History & Aesthetics UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Art History & Aesthetics PG Courses

Following are the most popular Art History & Aesthetics PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

Popular Art History & Aesthetics Specializations

Following are the most popular Art History & Aesthetics Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else

On Shiksha, get access to

  • 64k Colleges
  • 968 Exams
  • 627k Reviews
  • 1500k Answers