Arts Major: Art History Option (B.A.)

The art history curriculum provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the present as well as some exposure to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing or librarianship. But because art historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options, such as law, business or architecture.

Students must complete a minimum of 10 courses (40 credits). The following courses are required:

These courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-. Art history students receive preferential placement in ARTS 532 Introductory Drawing. Students contemplating graduate school should learn German, and, if possible, either French, Italian, or another language relevant to their areas of interest.

The Discovery Program capstone requirement may be fulfilled by completing ARTH 795 Understanding Art History: An In-Depth Overview.

The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.

Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.

Art history majors may use two major-required courses to satisfy two Discovery category requirements.

• We expect our art history majors to become conversant with some of the major conventions artists and architects have subscribed to over the millenia, and with how these have been bent or broken and why.
• We expect them to learn to write cogently and clearly, and to be able to analyze orally on the spot what they see in a work of art or architecture, often by comparison and contrast with works they know well.