Art History

Overview

The Art History program offers undergraduate courses which equips students with skills in visual analysis, art historical research, problem solving, critical thinking, and writing, as well as with direct experience with the art object. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts degree program in art history will have received a solid liberal arts education with a strong emphasis on writing, the acquisition of at least one foreign language, and critical thinking, useful for virtually any career path.

B.A. Degree Requirements

Students in Art history will complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of coursework. This includes requirements in University Studies, foreign language (a four-semester sequence or its equivalent), and four pre-major courses in art history and art studio. Students will take twenty-four hours of art history beyond the premajor requirements. The curriculum in the major is divided into four distinct aspects:

1. Four courses at the 300-level selected from five different areas of study, each designed to introduce students to major developments in the history of art.
2. One course such as a museum practicum or Experiential Education designed to provide students with direct experience with the art object through or organized course.
3. Two advanced courses which provide students with differing perspectives and approaches to the study of the visual arts. Courses may explore interdisciplinary aspects of art historical study, concentrate on an in-depth study of a specialized topic or period, or provide other frameworks beyond the traditional canon.
4. The capstone course, A-H 555 Methods in Art History, is necessary for the successful completion of the major.

Requirements for the B.A. Art History are constantly updated. Please check the University’s current Undergraduate Bulletin for specific requirements for the B.A. in Art History and for complete course descriptions.

Undergraduate Minor in Art History

This minor requires at least 18 hours of course work, plus satisfaction of a language requirement. Students from any college may choose to minor in art history. The University’s current Undergraduate Bulletin explains the specific requirements for the Minor in Art History.