Art History and Visual Culture

The major in Art History and Visual Culture endeavors to provide a fundamental understanding of the visual world from a variety of viewpoints. Courses investigate the production of art, architecture, and film through the technical, social, economic, cultural, psychological, and epistemological forces at work when they were produced and viewed. The major places a particular emphasis on how images form beliefs and values, taking into acount issues of ethnicity, gender, and class. Addressing questions of chronology, theory, and methodology, the curriculum proceeds from a disciplinary to an interdisciplinary approach, guiding students in the development of analytical and synthetic thinking about visual culture. Students are encouraged to take classes in Communication and Media Studies and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies and to apply the methods from these disciplines to the study of art history and visual culture.

Students who have completed the major will be prepared to enter graduate and specialized studies in art history and visual culture. They may also choose a career in a gallery, museum, auction house, in the publishing sector, or some specialized corporate environments.

CORE REQUIREMENTS (35 + CREDITS)

The Intercultural Competencies requirement and Social Responsibility requirement may be fulfilled through courses in the major.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (42 CREDITS)

REQUIRED FOR ALL MAJORS (12 CREDITS)

Major Electives (24 Credits)

Choose 8 of the following courses, a minimum of 4 and a maximum of
6 must be AHT courses (of which at least 2 at the 300 level):

*Pre-requisites may be required for courses outside of the major.
**Students who have earned credit for the lower-level course, may not also earn credit
for the 300-level (advanced) course (i.e. AHT 200, 252, and 256 etc).

Studio Art (3 Credits)

Complete one Studio Art (STA) course at any level.

Capstone Requirement (3 Credits)

GENERAL ELECTIVES (48+ Credits)

Complete courses from any academic discipline.

Note: All Bachelor of Arts Degrees require a total of 125 credits consisting of Core, Major, and General Elective courses and requirements.  Credits required in the Core and General Electives part of the degree plan may vary depending on Core course selections.