Carleton combines in a single department the creative aspects of art making and the study of art as a historical discipline. The Studio Art program helps students develop their skills in a variety of arts media. It also gives them a critical understanding of the function and process of art that fits well with the goals of the college's liberal arts orientation. The Art History program introduces students to the intrinsic qualities of artistic images and artifacts. Equally important, it considers the conditions of their production and viewing, their functions and meanings, and the roles they play in recording and shaping people, perceptions, events, and cultures.

Both programs serve potential majors, including students who go on to art-related careers, as well as students who take courses as part of their broad liberal arts education.