Bachelor of Arts in Art, Track in Art History

Art History composite image

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art, track in Art History introduces students to the history and appreciation of the visual arts and provides an in-depth understanding of the history of art, architecture, and visual culture — their production, circulation, and reception — while teaching them to interrogate visuality more broadly and developing skills in visual analysis, critical thinking, research, and writing.

The Art History track provides study in the areas of:

  • Renaissance and Baroque Art in Italy, Spain, and Northern Europe,
  • Mexican Art;
  • 19th and 20th Century Architecture;
  • American Art;
  • Film;
  • Modern, Contemporary western art, 
  • Contemporary Art and Theory, and;
  • Asian and Non-western art and architecture.

    Courses are also offered in curatorial studies, the history of drawing and prints, the history of photography, and the history of graphic design (see online schedule of courses for current offerings).

    [ View Art History course list ]

    Curriculum

    In addition to University-wide and College of Arts & Sciences requirements and electives, students in the Art History track complete a minimum of 36 hours in Department of Art + Design courses, including:

    • 6 hours (2 courses) of 200-level Art History survey courses
    • 9 hours (3 courses) at the 300-level with one course from each of the following three period / areas:
      Period / Area 1: Pre 1750
      Period / Area 2: After 1750 
      Period / Area 3: Non-Western
    • 12 hours (4 courses) Art History electives (two courses must be at the 500-level).
    • 3 hours (1 course) Studio Art elective at the 300 level.
    • 3 hours ARTH 541 Theories & Methods in the Visual Arts.
    • 3 hours ARTH 550 Art History Undergraduate Capstone Seminar (CUE).

    Program sheets are available by emailing Theresa Berbet, the Department's Academic Coordinator, Senior.

    A grade of "D" in any department course 300-level or above may not be used to fulfill a departmental requirement.

    Admission

    Enrolled students interested in majoring in a program in the Department of Art + Design may apply for major via ULink. Incoming and transfer students must be accepted by the University first, and then may apply for major. To qualify for admission to the department students must be admitted to the University in Good Standing and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, and meet the minimum overall grade point standards for the College of Arts & Sciences. Students applying for admission to the minor in studio art or art history must already be admitted to a major.

    Completing the BA in Art, Track in Art History

    Completion of this program requires work to be submitted for the department's Learning Outcome Measurement. To meet this requirement, graduating seniors admitted to the university must enroll in ARTH 550 - Art History Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE in their final semester to satisfy the Learning Outcome Measure. For more information, contact the department.

     


    Accelerated BA/MA in Art History

    Students enrolled in the BA in Art, track in Art History who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Art History can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master’s degree through the Accelerated BA/MA program in Art History.

    Interested students will apply through the department for admission into the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program no later than the end of their junior year to be eligible to enroll in graduate coursework in their final year of the BA program (application deadline is February 15).

    Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program will take three 500-level graduate courses (nine (9) credit hours) as an undergraduate during their final year of undergraduate studies that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master’s degree. Students must have at least a 3.0 university grade point average when they apply to the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program and must maintain a 3.0 once accepted.

    PATHWAY students who meet the minimum requirements for the Master’s program and are interested in moving into the Accelerated Master’s program will need to apply to the Accelerated Master’s program in their last semester before they graduate. Acceptance into the PATHWAY program is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s program.

    Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s program then graduate with a bachelor’s degree and move straight into the Accelerated MA in Art History. Students in the accelerated program must meet all the requirements for the Master of Arts, including completing at least 12 credit hours of their 31-credit hour program in 600-level courses. Once admitted to the Accelerated Master’s program, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of nine (9) credit hours.

    For questions about our Accelerated BA/MA in Art History, please email Christopher Fulton, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for Art History, or Theresa Berbet, Academic Coordinator, Senior.

    Accelerated BA/MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies

    Students enrolled in the BA in Art, track in Art History who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Critical and Curatorial Studies can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master’s degree through the Accelerated BA/MA program in Critical and Curatorial Studies.

    Interested students will apply through the department for admission into the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program no later than the end of their junior year to be eligible to enroll in graduate coursework in their final year of the BA program (application deadline is February 15).

    Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program will take three 500-level graduate courses (nine (9) credit hours) as an undergraduate during their final year of undergraduate studies that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master’s degree. Students must have at least a 3.0 university grade point average when they apply to the Accelerated Master’s PATHWAY program and must maintain a 3.0 once accepted.

    PATHWAY students who meet the minimum requirements for the Master’s program and are interested in moving into the Accelerated Master’s program will need to apply to the Accelerated Master’s program in their last semester before they graduate. Acceptance into the PATHWAY program is not a guarantee of acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s program.

    Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s program then graduate with a bachelor’s degree and move straight into the Accelerated MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies. Students in the accelerated program must meet all the requirements for the Master of Arts, including completing at least 12 credit hours of their 31-credit hour program in 600-level courses. Once admitted to the Accelerated Master’s program, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of nine (9) credit hours.

    For questions about our Accelerated BA/MA in Critical and Curatorial Studies, please email Christopher Fulton, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies for Critical and Curatorial Studies, or Theresa Berbet, Academic Coordinator, Senior.