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.
Location
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
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 3140 | Greek Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3150/3150W | Roman Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3220W | Early Medieval Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3240W | Gothic Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3260W | The Early Illustrated Book | 3 |
| ARTH 3330 | Art of the Northern Renaissance | 3 |
| ARTH 3340 | Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3360 | Eighteenth-Century Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 3710 | 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 | Asian American Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 3050W | African American Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3430 | Nineteenth Century European Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3440W | Visual Culture of the United States, 19th Century | 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 | History of Photography: World War I to Present | 3 |
| ARTH 3570 | History and Theory of Digital Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3575 | 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 |
- 1
May be used to fulfill just one requirement.
C: Art from Global Perspectives
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 3005W | Museums and the Interpretation of Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 3030 | The Artist and Society | 3 |
| ARTH 3050W | African American Art | 3 |
| ARTH 3500 | Urban Architecture: International Perspectives 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 3575 | 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 3710 | Islamic Art History 1 | 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.
University Common Curriculum 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 Common Curriculum Requirements.
School of Fine Arts Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's Common Curriculum requirements. For more information, see the School of Fine Arts section of this catalog.
Learning Objectives
- Knowledge and context: Analyze and articulate the transformative role of visual and material culture across diverse societies and time periods.
- Knowledge and context: Apply art historical knowledge and skills to contemporary issues and professional contexts.
- Critical thinking and analysis: Apply advanced critical thinking skills to interpret and evaluate complex visual and material information.
- Critical thinking and analysis: Construct well-reasoned arguments about the meaning and significance of cultural objects supported by visual and textual evidence.
- Communication: Demonstrate advanced writing skills in crafting clear, well-organized, and persuasive art historical essays and research papers.
- Communication: Effectively communicate complex ideas about material and visual culture through oral presentations and discussions.
- Global and interdisciplinary perspectives: Exhibit cultural literacy and sensitivity when engaging with diverse artistic traditions and practices.
- Global and interdisciplinary perspectives: Integrate knowledge from related fields such as history, literature, philosophy, and anthropology in the study of material and visual culture.