Art Major, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Art History, Theory and Criticism Concentration:

The art history, theory and criticism concentration is designed to prepare student to:

Evaluate developments in the history of art.
Assess critically the scholarship applied to specific art historical problems of style, meaning, interpretation, theory, or the exhibition of objects.
Construct an analytical response to the nonverbal language of art and design based on visual perception, historical evidence and interpretive strategies.

Foundation courses must be completed before proceeding. A grade of “C” or better is required in each foundation course and each course specifically required for the concentration.

Foundation Requirements:

Total Foundation Requirements: 18

Course Work:

Total: 12

Additional Course Work

Electives and Other Courses

Choose 7 courses (21 hours) of approved art history electives. At least 3 courses (9 hours) must be in the history of art prior to 1900 (see advisor).

Also:

Totals:

Total for the major: 57 hours

General Studies: 33 hours

Two semesters of the same foreign language*: 6-10 hours

Electives: 20-24 hours

Total for the Degree: 120

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

* 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.

Note: 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.

Art History electives:

Choose 7 courses (21 hours) from the following or from approved omnibus art history courses (ARTH 39XX or ARTH 49XX). At least 3 courses (9 hours) must be in the history of art prior to 1900 (see advisor).

Total, Art History electives: 21

Totals:

Total for the major	57
General Studies	33
Two semesters of the same foreign language***	6-10
Electives	23-24
Total for the degree	120

Notes:

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

^*Neither ARTH 3300, ARTH 3360, nor ARTH 3380 may be used as the sole art history elective for a studio art concentration. 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 352B Medieval Artisans and Craftsmen. A student may take up to three distinct offerings under each variable topics designation, for example, ARTH 353A Renaissance Art: Bosch and Bruegel; ARTH 353B Renaissance Art: Leonardo and Michelangelo; and ARTH 353C Court Art and Renaissance Women may all be applied to the requirements.