Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Art History MinorArt History
College of Liberal Arts
Art history is the study of the visual world, both past and present. Starting from the premise that images, objects, and the built environment speak more directly and deeply about a culture than its written records, our courses prepare students to 'read' and respond to the increasingly visual world in which we live. Through the close, careful study of artworks from different times and places, students acquire a unique understanding of the world and their place within it.
Intrinsically interdisciplinary, Art History's curriculum covers not only the fine arts but also visual and material culture more broadly defined: from paintings and sculpture, to architecture and urban design; from films and photographs, to ceramics and textiles; from scientific illustration and political posters, to performance art and street graffiti. Through engaging closely with these and other forms of visual expression, students develop crucial, transferable skills: visual analysis and interpretation, original research and careful argumentation, image-based thinking and communication, and clear and persuasive writing in a variety of modes.
Art history prepares students for a variety of professional tracks: visual arts (e.g., art criticism, art appraisal and sales, art therapy, fashion, interior design, museums, and conservation), the humanities (e.g., grant writing, historic preservation, and philanthropy), media and marketing (e.g., advertising, film, journalism, radio, and television), K-12 and post-secondary education (e.g., teaching and administration), information science and collections management (e.g., libraries and archives in public, non-profit, and corporate contexts), and medicine and law. Thanks to their powerful skill set, students of art history also go on to enjoy higher job satisfaction and lower unemployment rates over the course of their working lives than peers in vocational tracks.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Minor Requirements
Students may earn a BA or a minor in art history, but not both.
Electives
To achieve training across the discipline and its skills, students must meet the following distribution requirements:
Level Distribution Requirements:
(0-4) 3xxx-level courses
(1-5) 5xxx-level courses
Chronological and Geographic Distribution Requirements:
-Take at least 1 course from at least two of the three historical eras
-Take at least 1 course from at least two of the three geographical areas
Take exactly 5 course(s) totaling 14 or more credit(s) from the following:
Era I: Ancient to ca. 1300
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
Area: North America and Europe
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3009 - Intersectional Medieval Art
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
or
MEST 3009 - Intersectional Medieval Art
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3609 - Intersectional Medieval Art
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3152 - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
or
CNRC 3152 - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: Middle East and/or Islamic World
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3018 - Art of the Ottoman Empire
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3015W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3706W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: South and/or East Asia
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3019 - Buddhist Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3765 - Chinese Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3779 - Visions of Paradise: The Indian Temple
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5765 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5774 - The Body in Indian Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3014W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3415W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
Era II: ca. 1300 to 1800
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
Area: North America and Europe
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3309 - Renaissance Art in Europe
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3311 - Baroque Art in Seventeenth Century Europe
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3312 - European Art of the Eighteenth Century: Rococo to Revolution
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3345 - Imagining the North Country
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5336 - Transformations in 17th Century Art: Caravaggio, Velazquez, and Bernini
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3015W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3706W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3313 - Spanish Baroque Masters: Tradition and Experimentation in Golden Age Spain
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 5313 - Spanish Baroque Masters: Tradition and Experimentation in Golden Age Spain
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3315 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800
[AH, TS]
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 5315 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800
[AH, TS]
(3.0 cr)
or
HIST 3708 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800
[AH, TS]
(3.0 cr)
or
HIST 5708 - The Age of Curiosity: Art, Science & Technology in Europe, 1400-1800
[AH, TS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 5335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3612 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 5612 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3422 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 5422 - Off the Wall: History of Graphic Arts in Europe and America in the Modern Age
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: Middle East and/or Islamic World
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3018 - Art of the Ottoman Empire
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3015W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3706W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5781 - Age of Empire: The Mughals, Safavids, and Ottomans
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 5781 - Age of Empire: The Mughals, Safavids, and Ottomans
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: South and/or East Asia
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3019 - Buddhist Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3765 - Chinese Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3779 - Visions of Paradise: The Indian Temple
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5774 - The Body in Indian Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3014W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3415W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 3777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 5777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
·
Era III: 1800 to Present
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
Area: North America and Europe
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3005 - Identity and American Art
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3012 - 19th and 20th Century Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3021 - Art and Revolution, 1789-1889
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3401W - Art on Trial
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3434 - Art and the Environment
[AH, ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3464 - Art Since 1945
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3577 - Photo Nation: Photography in America
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3921W - Art of the Film
[AH, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3929 - Cinema Now
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5411 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5413 - Alternative Media: Video, Performance, Digital Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5417 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5466 - Contemporary Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3216W - Chicana and Chicano Art
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
CHIC 3216W - Chicana and Chicano Art
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
CHIC 5216W - Chicana and Chicano Art
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5655 - African-American Cinema
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: Middle East and/or Islamic World
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3434 - Art and the Environment
[AH, ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3464 - Art Since 1945
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5466 - Contemporary Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3015W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3706W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5781 - Age of Empire: The Mughals, Safavids, and Ottomans
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 5781 - Age of Empire: The Mughals, Safavids, and Ottomans
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: South and/or East Asia
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3019 - Buddhist Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3434 - Art and the Environment
[AH, ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3464 - Art Since 1945
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3765 - Chinese Art and Architecture
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3779 - Visions of Paradise: The Indian Temple
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5466 - Contemporary Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5774 - The Body in Indian Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3014W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3415W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 5777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 3777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 5777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
·
Courses Requiring Advising Appointment for Application to the Distribution Requirements
The below courses are applicable to the distribution requirements described above, but vary in how they may be applied. Some courses span across time periods and geographic/cultural areas. Consult with the program advisor or director of undergraduate studies to determine which requirements these courses fulfill.
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3940 {Inactive}
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5766 - Chinese Painting
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5930 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5950 - Topics: Art History
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3009/MeSt 3009/RelS 3609 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3009/MeSt 3009/RelS 3609 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3009/MeSt 3009/RelS 3609 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3152/CNES 3152 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3152/CNES 3152 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3019, RelS 3019 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3779/RELS 3779 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3313/ArtH 5313 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3313/ArtH 5313 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3315/HIST 3708/ARTH 5315/ |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/ |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/ |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/ |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3335/Rels 3162/Hist 3706/ |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3422/ArtH 5422 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 5781/RelS 5781 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 5781/RelS 5781 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3019, RelS 3019 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3779/RELS 3779 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3216W/Chic 3216W/Chic 512 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3216W/Chic 3216W/Chic 512 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3216W/Chic 3216W/Chic 512 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3655/ArtH 3655/ArtH 5655 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 5781/RelS 5781 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 5781/RelS 5781 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3019, RelS 3019 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ARTH 3779/RELS 3779 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3014W/ RelS 3415 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3777/ArtH5777/RelS 5777 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |