Bachelor of Arts in Art, Track in Art History

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. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three 500-level graduate courses (nine (9) credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor's degree and the eventual master's degree. 

Interested students must apply to the program no later than the end of their junior year to be eligible to enroll in graduate coursework in their final year of the program. Students must have at least a 3.0 university grade point average when they apply and must maintain a 3.0 once accepted. Once admitted to the accelerated BA/MA program, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of nine (9) credit hours. 

Once accepted into the program, students complete nine (9) credit hours of 500-level graduate coursework during their final year of undergraduate studies. They then graduate with a bachelor's degree and move straight into the University of Louisville Master of Arts program. Students in the accelerated program must meet all of the requirements for the Master of Arts, including completing at least 12 credit hours of their 31 credit hour program in 600-level courses.