Art History (BA)
The art history major is designed to ensure that students are well versed in both the historical and critical facets of the field through a sequence of courses that explores art objects from a variety of cultures across time. Courses emphasize visual, verbal, writing, and critical thinking skills, giving students the tools to form persuasive arguments based on evidence found in tangible objects, original documents, and scholarly literature.
The skills developed in the art history program prepare students for graduate programs and for a broad variety of careers.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| FNAR 199 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| FNAR 200 | Global Art History: Prehistoric to 600 CE | 3 |
| FNAR 201 | Global Art History: 600-1800CE | 3 |
| FNAR 202 | Global Art History: Modern Art | 3 |
| Studio Art Courses | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Drawing I | ||
| Painting I | ||
| Ceramics: Handbuilding | ||
| Ceramics: Wheelthrowing | ||
| Sculpture Foundations | ||
| Area Studies | ||
| Early Modern Art | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Medieval Art | ||
| Baroque Art | ||
| Early Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Art and the Catholic Tradition | ||
| Italian High Renaissance and Mannerist Art | ||
| Picturing Women in Renaissance and Baroque Art | ||
| Non-Western Art | 6 | |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| Latin American Art I: Ancient to 19th Century | ||
| Islam and Visual Culture | ||
| Art of Africa | ||
| South Asian Visual Culture | ||
| Chinese Art and Culture | ||
| Japanese Art and Culture | ||
| Modern Art and Western Traditions | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Women, Art, and Society | ||
| Paris in the Nineteenth Century | ||
| American Art to 1945 | ||
| Contemporary Art 1945-Present | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Art History Choices: Three Additional Courses | 9 | |
Can be any course already listed in Area Study and... | ||
| Women, Art, and Society | ||
| Paris in the Nineteenth Century | ||
| American Art to 1945 | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Seminar | ||
| FNAR 390 | Art History: Methods and Research | 3 |
| Senior Thesis | ||
| FNAR 391 | Senior Thesis in Art History | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
Suggested Course Sequence
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| FNAR 200 | Global Art History: Prehistoric to 600 CE | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNAR 199 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNAR 201 | Global Art History: 600-1800CE | 3 |
| FNAR Studio Art | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNAR 202 | Global Art History: Modern Art | 3 |
| FNAR Area Studies | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNAR Area Studies (Non-Western) | 3 | |
| FNAR Area Studies | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNAR Area Studies | 3 | |
| FNAR Area Studies (Non-Western) | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FNAR 390 | Art History: Methods and Research | 3 |
| FNAR Area Studies | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| FNAR 391 | Senior Thesis in Art History | 3 |
| FNAR Area Studies | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
College of Arts and Sciences Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to take two Writing Intensive courses (6 credit hours) as well as complete a foreign language requirement at 102-level or higher (3 credit hours) or a language competency test. More information can be found here.
Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements
All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101. SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101. Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101. You can find more information in the University Requirements area.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of human creativity and the role of the visual arts as a mode of visual communication in a global context
- Employ the elements of visual language and artistic terminology to critically analyze and interpret objects of art, architecture, and visual culture
- Demonstrate general knowledge and understanding of Western and non-Western art traditions across historical periods in terms of major monuments, artists, ideas, formal expression, themes, techniques, iconography, and functions of art in relation to their cultural, social, religious, and historical contexts
- Demonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of specific historical periods or civilizations in the history of art
- Demonstrate an understanding of visual culture as it relates to issues of gender, class, race, religion
- Demonstrate knowledge of and an ability to apply art historical methodologies, criticism, and theory in art history research
- Demonstrate skills in critical thinking, conceptualization of self-developed projects, scholarly research techniques, and written and oral communication
- Demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of art history