Art History concentration students develop critical skills to understand global visual arts within social, historical, and aesthetic contexts. Classes combine lectures and discussions with small seminars for deeper engagement. They explore a second field of study, selected with an advisor, while gaining exposure to a foreign language and aesthetic philosophy. Study abroad is a key part of the program, offering immersive, location-responsive experiences that integrate studio art, art history, education, humanities, and languages. These opportunities are built into the curriculum, making international study accessible and enriching.
Learning Objectives
Art History students will:
- Recognize and contextualize major monuments and artworks from around the world, understanding their historical significance.
- Use precise art historical vocabulary to explore the social, political, philosophical, and religious forces that shaped artistic production.
- Master essential art history methods, including visual and contextual analysis, comparative essays, and critical engagement with primary and secondary texts.
- Conduct research-driven analysis, crafting compelling arguments in writing and oral presentations through the lens of art history.
- Develop strong visual literacy skills to decode, interpret, and find meaning in visual media across cultures and time periods.
Effective Fall 2023
A minimum grade of C (2.000) or better is required in all upper-division Art History coursework.
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
AUCC | Credits | ||
ART 105 | Issues and Practices in Art | 1 | |
ART 110 | Global Art History I | 3 | |
ART 111 | Global Art History II | 3 | |
ART 135 | Foundations - Form and Observation | 3 | |
ART 160 | Foundations - Color and Composition | 3 | |
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
L*** 100 and L*** 101 (or equivalent)1 | 10 | ||
1B | 1B | 3 | |
Total Credits | 29 | ||
Sophomore | |||
ART 120 | Foundations--Time and Structure | 3 | |
ART 170 | Foundations - Materials and Space | 3 | |
ART 212 | Global Art History III | 3 | |
Upper-Division Art History | 4A,4B | 3 | |
1C | 1C | 3 | |
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
Biological and Physical Sciences | 3A | 7 | |
Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3C | 3 | |
Total Credits | 31 | ||
Junior | |||
PHIL 318 | Aesthetics-Visual Arts | 3 | |
Select one course from the following not taken elsewhere: | 3 | ||
Introduction to Figure Drawing | |||
Photo Image Making I | |||
Pottery I | |||
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I | |||
Fibers I | |||
Introduction to Graphic Design | |||
Introduction to Electronic Art | |||
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation | |||
Introduction to Printmaking | |||
Sculpture I | |||
ART *** Upper-Division Art History | 12 | ||
ART *** Upper-Division Art Electives | 4 | ||
Second Field Course2 | 3 | ||
Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
Total Credits | 31 | ||
Senior | |||
ART 419 | Historiography and Methodology of Art History | 4C | 3 |
ART *** Upper-Division Art History | 6 | ||
Second Field Courses2 | 6 | ||
Second Field Upper-Division Courses2 | 12 | ||
Elective3 | 2 | ||
Total Credits | 29 | ||
Program Total Credits: | 120 |
Upper-Division Art History Courses
Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
---|---|---|---|
ART 309 | Pre-Columbian Art of the Andes | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 310 | History of American Art to 1945 | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 311 | Art of West and Central Africa | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 312 | Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 313 | Art of East and Southern Africa | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 314 | Gender and Feminisms in Art History | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 315 | United States Art 1945-1980 | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 316 | Art of the Pacific | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 317 | Native North American Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 320 | Global Encounters in Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 409 | Museum Collections--Storage to Exhibition | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 410 | Greek Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 411 | History of Medieval Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 412 | History of Italian Renaissance Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 414 | History of Baroque and Rococo Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 415 | History of 19th Century European Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 416 | History of European Art, 1900 to 1945 | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 417 | Roman Art | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 418 | Contemporary Artists and Art Critics | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 492A | Seminar: Art History | 4A,4B | 3 |
ART 496H | Group Study: Art History | 4A,4B | 3 |
- 1
A total of 10 credits in foreign language courses may be counted toward the core language requirement. Students who test out of the core language requirement should see their advisor to select electives.
- 2
Complete a minimum of 21 credits of a minor or second major, or 21 credits from the same non-ART subject code. A minimum of 12 credits from the 21 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).
- 3
Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400- level).
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program: A minimum grade of C (2.000) or better is required in all upper-division Art History coursework.
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART 105 | Issues and Practices in Art | X | 1 | ||
ART 110 | Global Art History I | X | 3 | ||
ART 135 | Foundations - Form and Observation | X | 3 | ||
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
L*** 100 (or equivalent) | X | 5 | |||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART 111 | Global Art History II | X | 3 | ||
ART 160 | Foundations - Color and Composition | X | 3 | ||
L*** 101 (or equivalent) | 5 | ||||
1B | 1B | 3 | |||
CO 150 and AUCC 1B must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 14 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART 170 | Foundations - Materials and Space | X | 3 | ||
ART 212 | Global Art History III | X | 3 | ||
1C | X | 1C | 3 | ||
Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 4 | ||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART 120 | Foundations--Time and Structure | 3 | |||
ART*** Upper-Division Art History (See list of approved courses on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 4A,4B | 3 | ||
Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 3 | ||
Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
Social and Behavioral Sciences | X | 3C | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
PHIL 318 | Aesthetics-Visual Arts | X | 3 | ||
Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||||
Introduction to Figure Drawing | |||||
Photo Image Making I | |||||
Pottery I | |||||
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I | |||||
Fibers I | |||||
Introduction to Graphic Design | |||||
Introduction to Electronic Art | |||||
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation | |||||
Introduction to Printmaking | |||||
Sculpture I | |||||
ART*** Upper-Division Art History (See list of approved courses on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
Advanced Writing | X | 2 | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART*** Upper-Division Art History (See list of approved courses on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
ART*** Upper-Division Art Electives | X | 4 | |||
Second Field Course | 3 | ||||
Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART 419 | Historiography and Methodology of Art History | X | 4C | 3 | |
ART*** Upper-Division Art History (See list of approved courses on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 3 | |||
Second Field Course | X | 3 | |||
Second Field Upper-Division Courses | X | 6 | |||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ART*** Upper-Division Art History (See list of approved courses on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 3 | |||
Second Field Course | X | 3 | |||
Second Field Upper-Division Courses | X | 6 | |||
Elective | X | 2 | |||
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 14 | ||||
Program Total Credits: | 120 |