Visual/Cultural Studies vs. Art History MA

[lcap]

My apologies if this has been discussed here before (if it has, I haven't been able to find it). Anyway, I'm currently an art history undergrad looking at terminal MA programs. A few of the schools that I'm interested in (such as the Claremont Graduate University) offer a master's program in Cultural or Visual Studies rather than straight up art history. What exactly is the difference between these two subjects? Are career opportunities more limited with one or the other?

Edited December 9, 2011 by lcap

[losemygrip]

My impression is that the Cultural/Visual Studies programs are more interested in theory than in history.

[tendaysleft]

I think also that the range of topics available for study in a visual studies program is wider--not just art, but also TV shows, stamps, crafts, comic books, advertising.

[Chombo]

Omnibuster is basically right. Visual Studies is interested in looking at basically anything you can "look at", whether its overtly or subtly influential on culture, and writing about it.

[Chombo]

And I think that Losemygrip is also right that Visual Studies puts more emphasis on theory than on history in an art historical sense. Oftentimes though Visual Studies is very interested in history from the standpoint of sociological impact.