Art History (BA)
The Art History major provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the current and historical roles that the visual arts play in a range of artistic, cultural, and social contexts. Many of our students go on to professions in the arts: curatorships, art conservation, gallery and museum management, arts administration, arts education, art criticism, and non-profit work. Many take the skills gained through their study of Art History to pursue careers in areas such as law, human rights, healthcare, business, international relations, librarianships, education, publishing, politics, and marketing.
Requirements
Art History majors must complete at least 45 credits, including major and related, as part of their total 120 credits required for graduation:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory, 1000 level | ||
| Select six credits of Art History: | 6 | |
| Global Perspectives on Western Art: Renaissance to the Present | ||
| Introduction to Art History: Prehistoric - 14th Century | ||
| Introduction to Art History: 15th Century - Present | ||
| Introduction to Asian Art | ||
| From Sun Gods to Lowriders: Introduction to Latin American Art | ||
| Introduction to Architecture | ||
| Art History at the 2000 Level and Above | ||
| Three credits of art history at the 2000 level 1 | 3 | |
| Global Jerusalem | ||
| Art, Politics, and Propaganda | ||
| Art and Activism | ||
| Race, Gender, Sexuality, and the Power of Looking | ||
| Select one three-credit course from each of the following groups: | 9 | |
| ARTH 4020 | Art History Capstone: Professional Development in Visual Culture and the Humanities | 3 |
| Six additional credits of Art History at the 3000 level | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
- 1
One 2000-level course can count toward the major in this category. Any further 2000-level courses can count as related credits; see Additional Requirements.
Groups
A: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, or 18th Century Art
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 3035 | 3 | |
| ARTH 3140/3140W | Greek Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3150/3150W | Roman Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3210/3210W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3220/3220W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3230/3230W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3240/3240W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3260/3260W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3330/3330W | Art of the Northern Renaissance | 3 |
| ARTH 3340/3340W | Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3360 | Eighteenth Century European Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3710/3710W | Islamic Art History | 3 |
- 1
May be used to fulfill just one requirement.
B: Art from the 19th-century to the Present
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 3020/3020W | Asian American Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 3050/3050W | 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3430/3430W | Nineteenth Century European Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3440/3440W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3445/3445W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3450 | 3 | |
| ARTH 3460/3460W | History of Photography: 1839 to World War I | 3 |
| ARTH 3510/3510W | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3530/3530W | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3560/3560W | History of Photography: World War I to Present | 3 |
| ARTH 3570 | History and Theory of Digital Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3575/3575W | Human Rights, Digital Media, Visual Culture 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3630/3630W | Alternative Modernities: Visual Culture of Latin America 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3640/3640W | Mexican and Chicano Art from Muralism to La Raza 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3645/3645W | 1 | 3 |
- 1
May be used to fulfill just one requirement.
C: Art from Global Perspectives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 3005/3005W | Museums and the Interpretation of Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 3010/3010W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3015 | 3 | |
| ARTH 3030 | The Artist and Society | 3 |
| ARTH 3050/3050W | 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3500/3500W | Urban Architecture: International Perspectives 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3575/3575W | Human Rights, Digital Media, Visual Culture 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3580/3580W | Image as Witness: Testimony, Witness, Confession | 3 |
| ARTH 3630/3630W | Alternative Modernities: Visual Culture of Latin America 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3640/3640W | Mexican and Chicano Art from Muralism to La Raza 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3645/3645W | 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3710/3710W | Islamic Art History 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3720/3720W | The Art of China 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3740/3740W | 3 | |
| ARTH 3760/3760W | 3 |
- 1
May be used to fulfill just one requirement.
Courses with Variable Content:
ARTH 2198 Variable Topics, ARTH 2993 Foreign Study, ARTH 3993 Foreign Study, and ARTH 3995 Investigation of Special Topics may be used to fill area requirements with the written approval of the Art History Coordinator. If approved, there is no limit on the number of credits from these courses that may be applied to the major, with a change of topic.
Independent Study. Open to Juniors and higher with a minimum departmental grade point average of 3.0 and no outstanding incompletes for any other 3999. A maximum of six credits total.
Internships. Open to Juniors and higher with a minimum major GPA of 3.0.
Additional Requirements
Art History students must successfully complete at least one Art History W course.
Art History students also take six credits of studio art at any level for which they meet the prerequisites and 12 credits at the 2000 level or above of related courses outside the major as approved by the major advisor.
Minor. A minor in Art History is described in the Minors section.
University General Education Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see General Education Requirements.
School of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's General Education requirements. For more information, see the School of Fine Arts section of this catalog.