The School of Art and Design History and Theory (ADHT) offers a comprehensive array of courses in design studies, fashion studies, media/visual culture studies, spatial design studies, design/art - history and criticism, writing, and research methods. A number of these courses form part of the core curriculum for all Parsons undergraduate students. The school also offers electives and University Lecture courses that are open to undergraduate students in all colleges of The New School.
Courses at ADHT educate Parsons and New School students in visual literacy, research methods, writing skills, and critical analysis, and provide them with a systematic understanding of how design, art, and visual culture operate in various geographical and historical contexts. This helps students develop the intellectual rigor necessary to become the next generation of professionals in the creative industries. Using multidisciplinary approaches, students learn to frame questions about the meaning, function, and critical and creative potential of design and art, and to consider problems from multiple perspectives.