Department of Art History

Bachelor of Arts

Stephen Clancy, Professor and Chair

The Department of Art History believes in the importance of visual knowledge and visual experience as a means to historical awareness and cultural literacy. The program in art history is designed to develop both specific areas of knowledge about the style, meaning, history, and context of art, and a broader foundation of reasoning, analytical thinking, and critical written and verbal communication. Courses in the department offer a variety of approaches to art history, including the study of thematic development, theory and criticism, and media and techniques.

The study of the history of art will serve several objectives:

1. To sharpen students' ability to perceive and understand visual images in a world where ideas and information are increasingly communicated through visual media.
2. To deepen students' understanding of history in general. Because visual artifacts eloquently express cultural values, students will learn to analyze works of art as carriers of political, social, and religious meanings.
3. To enrich students' lives by opening the door to a lifetime of aesthetic enjoyment, intellectual stimulation, and creative inspiration.

The major curriculum will prepare students interested in pursuing a career in the arts or further study at a graduate level in the humanities. The major will also appeal to students who wish to study visual culture, human expression, or ideas through history. The minor in art history complements studies in studio art, photography and cinema, communications, literature, cultures, and languages.

Requirements for Honors in Art History

The honors program in art history offers stimulating, advanced undergraduate training for art history majors who show particular promise in the field. Students interested in entering the program should apply to the chair of the department during their junior year. After consultation with other faculty members and evaluation of the student's ability to meet the requirements outlined below, the chair will give written notification of acceptance to the program.

Upon acceptance, the student agrees to do a 3-credit honors tutorial or honors independent study course during the fall semester of the senior year, under the guidance of one or more art history faculty members. (The honors course must be completed during the fall semester so that the decision regarding honors can be made in time to be included in graduation announcements.) Research done in this course culminates in an honors thesis, which is evaluated and graded by the faculty members who have agreed to work with the student. Honors are granted only to those students who receive a B or better on this project.

Students interested in applying for honors in art history must meet the following requirements:

1. An overall GPA of 3.00 and a 3.30 average in art history courses.
2. Proficiency in at least one foreign language. The student must have completed two years of a foreign language with grades of B- or better, or must pass a proficiency exam.
3. Approval by the department faculty. The decision is based on the faculty's judgment of the student's preparation and motivation to do independent research, and on the availability of one or more members of the faculty to work with the student.

Requirements for the Major in Art History -- B.A.

Levels in the major

• No more than four courses at level 1

• A minimum of two courses at level 3, and at least six additional credits at level 3 or above

Foundational courses

Select two of the following:

Select one of the following:

Art history electives

Of these 24 credits:

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture before 1400,

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture from 1400 to 1750, and

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture after 1750.

If a course satisfies one of these chronological requirements, it will be indicated in the course description.

Senior experience

Choose one of the following, to be completed in the senior year or during the summer preceding the senior year (or as approved by the department chair):

Majors who meet the prerequisite may take a seminar, tutorial, internship, or independent study before the summer preceding their senior year, but it will not count toward the "senior experience requirement." Majors must indicate their senior-year activities before the end of the second semester of their junior year by submitting a "senior experience plan form" (available from the department chair).

Courses outside the major

Architecture Concentration

In addition to fulfilling core requirements for the major, art history students may elect to complete a concentration in architecture. The concentration is designed to lay the groundwork for professional training in architectural design, historic preservation, urban design, and city planning. The concentration also complements the broad coverage of the major requirements by providing interested students with in-depth exposure to architectural history and theory.

Courses within the concentration may be used to satisfy the "senior experience" requirements of the major and may also count toward the electives required within the major. Students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in architectural design are encouraged to consult the department for a list of recommended courses in studio art, mathematics, computer science, and physics.

Requirements for the Major in Art History with a Concentration in Architecture -- B.A.

Levels in the major

• No more than four courses at level 1

• A minimum of two courses at level 3, and at least six additional credits at level 3 or above

Foundational courses

Art history restricted electives

A minimum of 12 credits selected from the following:

Art history free electives

Students are required to complete an additional 12 credits of free electives in the Department of Art History.

These 24 art history elective credits must include the following:

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture before the year 1400,

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture from the years 1400 to 1750, and

• a minimum of one course focusing on art, visual culture, or architecture after the year 1750.

If a course satisfies one of these chronological requirements, it will be indicated in the course description. CNPH 24000 History of Photography may be substituted for one of the art history electives.

Senior experience

Choose one of the following, to be completed in the senior year or during the summer preceding the senior year (or as approved by the department chair):

Majors who meet the prerequisites may take a seminar, tutorial, internship, or independent study before the summer preceding their senior year, but it will not count toward the "senior experience" requirement. Majors must indicate their senior-year activities before the end of the second semester of their junior year by submitting a "senior experience plan form" (available from the department chair).

Courses outside the major

Minor in Art History

Eighteen credits in art history courses, with no more than 6 credits in level 1 courses and at least 3 credits in courses at level 3 or above. Internships or independent studies may not count toward the requirement of at least 3 credits in courses at level 3 or above. Three credits of one of the following may be substituted for 3 credits of art history: any course in the art department (except in the case of art majors), and CNPH 24000 History of Photography or CNPH 14100 Introduction to Photography (except for majors in the Department of Cinema, Photography and Media Arts).