Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Art History B.A.Art History
College of Liberal Arts
Art History is the study of the visual world, both past and present. It looks closely at a wide array of images, objects, buildings, and sites in order to better understand human societies. Art History operates with the understanding that visual/material artifacts may speak more directly and deeply about a culture than its written record. Put another way, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then Art History equips students to read it. This is called "visual literacy" and it is an invaluable skill in our increasingly visual world.
Students in Art History learn to analyze a wide variety of artifacts from all geographic regions and historical eras, including our own. Not limited strictly to the so-called "fine arts," Art History seeks to understand visual and material culture more broadly: 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 of Art History become adept practitioners of the following 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 (e.g., analytical, creative, and journalistic).
Engaging visual approaches to learning and thinking, Art History prepares a diverse student body for a variety of professional tracks. Graduates from this major go on to enjoy careers in the following fields: 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, two fields that have long prized Art History alumni for their analytical precision, skills at information mastery, and "right-brain/left-brain" balance. For these and other reasons, students of Art History go on to enjoy higher job satisfaction and lower unemployment rates over the course of their working lives than peers in vocational tracks.
Majors in Art History are required to fulfill a variety of distribution requirements across geographic regions and historical eras; one studio art class is also required for the major. Most classes have no prerequisites. The 30-unit credit for the major makes it an attractive option for double-majors and transfer students. Students considering pursuing graduate-level work in the discipline should aim to take more than the required two 5xxx-level courses, with as many professors in the department as possible; they should also strongly consider making French or German their chosen foreign language.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
The major consists of nine courses in Art History, one course in Art, and the senior project, for a minimum of 31 credits. All courses must be taken A-F. A minimum of 13 upper-division credits of major coursework must be taken at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus. No more than three credits of ARTH 3975, 3993, 5993, or 5994 may be used to fulfill major requirements. Students who double-major and choose to complete the senior project in their other major are still responsible for taking 31 total ARTH credits. Students are encouraged to take courses from a variety of instructors to ensure exposure to various approaches and methods.
Students may earn a B.A. or a minor in art history, but not both.
Beginning fall 2012, all incoming CLA freshmen must complete the appropriate First Year Experience course sequence. Specific information about this collegiate requirement can be found at: http://class.umn.edu/degree_requirements/index.html
Art History Foundation
ARTH 1001 - Introduction to Western Art
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
or
ARTH 1002W - Why Art Matters
[AH, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
ARTH 1004W - Introduction to Asian Art
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
Art Practice
This course must be hands-on, and focused on the practice, rather than the history, of art. Other courses not on the list may fulfill this requirement, but only with prior approval from the undergraduate adviser or director of undergraduate studies.
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 - 4 credit(s) from the following:
·
ARTS 1101 - Introduction to Drawing
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1102 - Introduction to Painting
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1802 - Introduction to Sculpture: Understanding the Fundamentals of the Practice of Sculpture
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1501 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1103 - Introduction to Printmaking: Relief, Screen and Digital Processes
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1505 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1704 - Introduction to Moving Images
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1701 - Introduction to Photography
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1801 - Introduction to Ceramics: Wheel-Throwing and Hand-Building Techniques
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1902 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1905 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTS 1910W {Inactive}
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2101 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2102 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2301 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2501 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2502 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2601 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2701 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTS 2801 {Inactive}
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
Art History Electives
Take 8 courses: six 3xxx and two 5xxx courses, spanning all 3 time periods and 2 geographic/cultural areas. One ARTH 1xxx may be substituted for an ARTH 3xxx course. Up to 3 credits of directed museum experience (ARTH 3975), or directed study (ARTH 3993/5993), or directed research (ARTH 5994) may count. Some courses span across time periods and geographic/cultural areas. Consult with the program adviser or director of undergraduate studies to determine which requirements these courses fulfill.
Take 8 or more course(s) totaling 24 or more credit(s) from the following:
Era I: Ancient to ca. 1300
Take 1 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)
·
ARTH 3152 - Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3162 - Roman Art and Archaeology
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5112 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
Area: Middle East and/or Islamic World
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3182 - Egypt and Western Asia: Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt and Western Asia
[AH, GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5115 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5192 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
South and/or East Asia
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 5765 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5775 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
Era II: ca. 1300 to 1800
Take 1 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 3315 - 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)
·
ARTH 5302 - The Image Multiplied: Prints in Early Modern Europe
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5323 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5324 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5335 - Baroque Rome: Art and Politics in the Papal Capital
(3.0 cr)
·
Latin America
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 5325 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
Era III: 1800 to Present
Take 1 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 3422 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3484 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3577 - Photo Nation: Photography in America
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3655 - African-American Cinema
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5411 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5417 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5454 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5546 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5575 - Boom to Bust: American Art from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5577 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5655 - African-American Cinema
[AH, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
Courses Spanning Across Time Periods and Areas: Consult with adviser.
Take 0 or more course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 1001 - Introduction to Western Art
[AH]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 1002W - Why Art Matters
[AH, GP, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 1004W - Introduction to Asian Art
[HIS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 1910W {Inactive}
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 1921W - Introduction to Film Study
[AH, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3013 {Inactive}
[GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3014W - Art of India
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3015W - Art of Islam
[AH, GP, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3017 {Inactive}
[AH, GP]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3205 {Inactive}
[AH]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3208 {Inactive}
[AH, GP]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3401W - Art on Trial
[AH, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3422 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3434 - Art and the Environment
[AH, ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3464 - Art Since 1945
[HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3921W - Art of the Film
[AH, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5930 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3940 {Inactive}
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3896 - Directed Professional Experience
(1.0-2.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3993 - Directed Study
(1.0-4.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5301 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5325 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5413 - Alternative Media: Video, Performance, Digital Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5422 - Off the Wall: History of Graphic Arts in Europe and America in the Modern Age
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5466 - Contemporary Art
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5766 - Chinese Painting
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5777 - The Diversity of Traditions: Indian Empires after 1200
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5781 - Age of Empire: The Mughals, Safavids, and Ottomans
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5785 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5801 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5802 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5950 - Topics: Art History
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 5993 - Directed Study
(1.0-4.0 cr)
Senior Project
Take ARTH 3971W (honors students should enroll in ARTH 3971V). With permission from the course instructor, students select a research paper previously written in an ARTH 5xxx course and develop it into their senior project. The department strongly recommends that students complete the ARTH 5xxx course at least one semester prior to enrolling in ARTH 3971W/V. Concurrent registration in the ARTH 5xxx course and ARTH 3971W/V is permissible, however.
ARTH 3971W - Art History Capstone
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
ARTH 3971V - Honors: Art History Capstone
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Upper-division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper-division Writing Intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
ARTH 3971W - Art History Capstone
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
ARTH 3971V - Honors: Art History Capstone
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
|
|
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 1004W/1004V/1016W/1016V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtS 1101/ArtS 2101 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtS 1102/ArtS 2102 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtS 1103/ArtS 2502 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtS 1704/ArtS 2601 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtS 1701/ArtS 2701 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
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 3162/CNES 3162 |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd, Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3182/CNES 3182/RelS 3182 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & 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] |
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] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
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 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: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3655/ArtH 3655/ArtH 5655 |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Afro 3655/ArtH 3655/ArtH 5655 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 1004W/1004V/1016W/1016V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 1921W/CSCL 1201W/SCMC 120 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
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 3015W/ClCv 3015W/RelS 370 |
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 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
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: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
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 Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
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 5781/RelS 5781 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -4.0 [max 12.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3971W/ArtH 3971V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3971W/ArtH 3971V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3971W/ArtH 3971V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ArtH 3971W/ArtH 3971V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |