Art History, Theory and Criticism Major, B.A.

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The B.A. in Art History, Theory and Criticism is an extended major; no minor is required. Art History, Theory and Criticism majors who elect to take a minor in studio art, digital media, or industrial design should be aware that coursework used to meet requirements for the major may not be used to meet requirements for a minor. A grade of “C-” or better is required in each required course before progressing to subsequent courses. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required. Art History, Theory and Criticism is a distinct academic discipline from Art or Communication Design, although all reside within the Department of Art and share common foundational requirements.

Art Foundation Requirements

ART 1101 - Studio Foundations: 2D Credits: 3
ART 1141 - Drawing I: Black and White Credits: 3
ART 1501 - Studio Foundations: 3D Credits: 3
ART 1531 - Studio Foundations: 4D Credits: 3
ARTH 1600 - World Art I: Art Prior to 1400 Credits: 3
ARTH 1700 - World Art II: Art 1400-1900 Credits: 3
Subtotal: 18 credits

Required Post-foundation Course Work

ARTH 2080 - Art of the 20th and 21st Centuries Credits: 3
ARTH 2600 - Reading and Writing Visual Culture Credits: 3
ARTH 4480 - Art Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
ARTH 4710 - Art History, Theory and Criticism Senior Experience Credits: 3
ARTH 4720 - Directed Research in Art History, Theory and Criticism Credits: 1
Subtotal: 13 credits

Art History Electives

At least three courses (9 credits) must be in the history of art prior to 1900.
At least one course (3 credits) must be in art of a non-western culture.
At least one course (3 credits) must be a senior-level seminar, either ARTH 4410, ARTH 4500, or ARTH 4510.

Choose from the following or from approved omnibus courses. See your advisor if you need more information regarding these requirements.

ARTH 3210 - Site Specific Studies in Art History: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3300 - Multiculturalism and American Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3310 - African Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3330 - Egyptian Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3340 - Asian Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3360 - Contemporary Chicana/o Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3385 - Feminist Art Since 1960 Credits: 3
ARTH 3401 - Art of Ancient Mesoamerica Credits: 3
ARTH 3402 - Art of the Ancient Andes Credits: 3
ARTH 3431 - Art of the Italian Quattrocento Credits: 3
ARTH 3432 - Art of the Italian Cinquecento Credits: 3
ARTH 3433 - Northern Renaissance Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3441 - Italian Baroque Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3443 - 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3481 - Latin American Modernisms Credits: 3
ARTH 3500 - Non-Western Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3520 - Medieval Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3530 - Renaissance Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3540 - Baroque Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3560 - 19th Century Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3580 - 20th and 21st Century Art: Variable Topics Credits: 3
ARTH 3660 - Art Nouveau Credits: 3
ARTH 3670 - History of Art Between World Wars Credits: 3
ARTH 3690 - History of Communication Design Credits: 3
ARTH 3780 - Cinema as Visual Art Credits: 3
ARTH 3790 - Photography and Modernism Credits: 3
ARTH 4410 - Art History and Its Methods Credits: 3
ARTH 4500 - Variable Topics Seminar in Art History, Theory and Criticism Credits: 3
ARTH 4510 - Exhibiting the Art Object Credits: 3
Subtotal: 24 credits

Studio Art Electives

Choose two of the following courses. The Art Foundation must be completed before proceeding.

ART 2241 - Drawing II: Color Credits: 3
ART 2611 - Ceramics I Credits: 3
ART 2651 - Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing I Credits: 3
ART 2661 - Painting I: Materials, Techniques, and Concepts Credits: 3
ART 2671 - Photography I Credits: 3
ART 2681 - Printmaking I Credits: 3
ART 2691 - Spatial Media I: Methods Credits: 3
CDES 2222 - Design Media Credits: 3
Subtotal: 6 credits

Totals

Total for the Major:	61 credits
General Studies:	33 credits
Two semesters of the same foreign language***:	6-10 credits
General Electives:	16-20 credits
Total for the Degree:	120 credits

Notes

A minimum of 27 upper-division art history credits required. A minimum of 40 upper-division credits total are required for the degree.

** Neither ARTH 3300 nor ARTH 3360 (CHS 3025) may be used as the sole art history elective for the B.F.A. in Art or Communication Design. ARTH 3300 or ARTH 3360 (CHS 3025) may be used to meet the Multicultural requirement.

** Title and course numbers for variable topics courses will be distinct for each offering, for example: ARTH 354E Art and Culture of the Spanish Golden Age. A student may take up to three distinct offerings under each variable topics designation, for example, ARTH 350A Art of China, ARTH 350B Islamic Art, and ARTH 350D Ancient Maya Art and Culture may all be applied to the requirements.

*** Students who entered college with fluency in a language (or languages) other than English are encouraged to study a language with which they are unfamiliar. Students with a good high school background in a foreign language may take intermediate or advanced courses in that language, or study a new language. The second semester of certain foreign languages may be applied to the General Studies requirement. Four semesters of French or German are required for entrance into most graduate programs in art history, theory and criticism. Both French and German are required for entrance into Ph.D. programs in art history, and doctoral research often requires research in at least one additional language.