The Visual Cultures of the Americas is an interdisciplinary, hemispheric investigation of the art and visual cultures generated through the dynamic and complex exchange between indigenous, Western, African and Asian societies from the archaic period to the present. Critical for an understanding of the colonial and modern world, the study of the Visual Cultures of the Americas highlights not only the richness of America's indigenous cultures, as well as the ones born from the colonial experience, but also the dialogue that these cultures have had with the rest of the world.<br>Areas currently covered in the program include: Precolumbian and Mesoamerican art, archaeology and culture, modern US and Canadian art, architecture and film cultures, and issues of mass culture and globalization. Given the wide scope of this field of study students are expected to focus on a specific topic or area to build expertise. Nevertheless, all are expected to explore the larger issues that the visual cultures of the Americas raise.<br>The Department of History offers a variety of programs at the Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels that lead toward a range of careers within the profession. It boasts strong graduate programs in selected areas of American, European, African-American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Latin American history. In addition to the traditional MA degree that requires mastery of a major and a minor field and completion of a thesis, the department provides an MA with a major in public history that prepares students for careers such as archivists and museum curators and lays the groundwork for historically-oriented careers in governmental agencies and the private sector. Two other masters programs, an MA teaching track and MS as terminal degree provide other options. Particularly gifted students may be eligible for the fast-track MA-PhD programThis degree involves broad exposure to the history of art as well as focused attention to one of the department's major areas. The 36-hour Master of Arts degree is designed to develop research and writing skills that will be useful in a professional career in one of the art historical disciplines.