There are many opportunities for students interested in preservation work, archaeology or museums to gain experience important to their academic training and careers. Possibilities for internships include professional orga-nizations, museums, historical societies, and federal, state and local government agencies. Value of an Art History or Archaeology Degree Art historians and archaeologists study the development of European and American cultures and the artistic manifestations of those cultures. Courses in Near Eastern art and other non-Western fields broaden that perspective. The department also offers courses related to historic preservation, which has become a vital and active field.
Some students go on to graduate study in preparation for teaching or museum scholarship.
In addition, with the liberal-arts foundation and opportunities to combine art history and archaeology with other disciplines, graduates have entered a variety of fields, including arts management, secondary education, library science, the design professions, and conservation. The museum is a great asset for the people of Missouri as well as students and faculty members. The third-largest museum in the state, it was founded in 1957 to bring students into contact with works of art. Its galleries contain art and artifacts from six continents. The collection comprises more than 13,500 objects from periods and cultures ranging from prehistory to the present.