This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2023-2024 VCU Bulletin. This edition includes all programs
and courses approved by the publication deadline; however we may receive notification of additional program
approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available
in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The B.A. in Art History is a liberal arts program composed of an academic course of study exposing the student to the scholarship, theoretical perspectives and research methods of not only the history of art, but related disciplines in the humanities. Courses focus on cultures, historical periods and regions. The program also includes possibilities for directed research projects as well as museum internships. This curriculum provides students the best possible background for future graduate work in art history.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Students will demonstrate a command of art historical terminology and the ability to identify key works of art in relationship to historical contexts.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct rigorous research and write papers that incorporate visual analysis and current scholarship in the interpretation of artworks.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to read critically and apply art historical research methods used in research papers.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to interpret works of art in relationship to the historical, cultural and/or geographical contexts in which they were made.
Special requirements
Art history majors must earn a minimum grade of C in each ARTH course to be applied to the curriculum requirements.
Degree requirements for Art History, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| ARTH 103 | Survey of Art I | 3 |
| ARTH 104 | Survey of Art II | 3 |
| ARTH 292 | Writing for Art History | 4 |
| ARTH 293 | Professional Practices for Art History | 2 |
| ARTH 302 | Introduction to Museums | 3 |
| ARTH 390 | Art Historical Methods | 4 |
| ARTH 490 | Senior Seminar in Art History | 4 |
| • Major electives | ||
| Cluster A (select two courses from the list below) | 6 | |
| Cluster B (select three courses from the list below) | 9 | |
| Unrestricted ARTH electives (select any two additional ARTH courses) | 6 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| FREN 202 | Intermediate French II | 3 |
| or GRMN 202 | Intermediate German II | |
| or ITAL 202 | Intermediate Italian II | |
| or SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | |
| Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR or PHTO) | 3 | |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course) | 12 | |
| Humanities 3XX (AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL, WRLD) | 9 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. 1 | 19 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Includes language (101, 102 and 201, if needed)
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Art history course selections
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cluster A | ||
| ARTH 207 | Global Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 260 | Islamic Art Survey | 3 |
| ARTH 300 | Prehistoric and Ancient Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 304 | Art of Ancient African Cultures and Kingdoms | 3 |
| ARTH 305 | Classical Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 310 | Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 315 | Renaissance Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 320 | Baroque and Rococo Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 321 | Islamic Art in a Global Context 1600 to 1800 CE | 3 |
| ARTH 324 | 18th-century Art in Europe | 3 |
| ARTH 335 | Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 338 | Colonial Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTH 351 | Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 358 | African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 452 | Studies in Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 454 | Studies in African Art | 3 |
| Cluster B | ||
| ARTH 270 | History of the Motion Picture I | 3 |
| ARTH 271 | History of the Motion Picture II | 3 |
| ARTH 303 | History of Art Museums | 3 |
| ARTH 325 | 19th-century Art in Europe | 3 |
| ARTH 333 | Modern Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 339 | Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTH 342 | African-American Art | 3 |
| ARTH 344 | American Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 347 | Studies in Asian Art | 3 |
| ARTH 348 | Art of the African Diaspora | 3 |
| ARTH 349 | Body Adornment, Masks and Masking in Africa | 3 |
| ARTH 357 | Women, Art and Society | 3 |
| ARTH 359 | Studies in Aesthetics, Theory and Criticism of Art | 3 |
| ARTH 365 | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTH 366 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTH 367 | German Expressionism | 3 |
| ARTH 368 | Pop Art | 3 |
| ARTH 370 | History of Animated Film | 3 |
| ARTH 372 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTH 374 | Studies in Film | 3 |
| ARTH 439 | Studies in 20th-century Art | 3 |
| ARTH 440 | Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture of Africa | 3 |
| ARTH 444 | Studies in the Art of the United States | 3 |
| ARTH 449 | Studies in Asian Art | 3 |
| ARTH 465 | Islamic Art in a Global Context 1800 to 1900 CE | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| ARTH 291 | Special Topics 2 | 3 |
| ARTH 369 | Studies in Museum Methods | 3 |
| ARTH 391 | Special Topics 2 | 3 |
| ARTH 493 | Museum Internship | 3-6 |
| ARTH 489 | Topics in Advanced Art History 2 | 3 |
| ARTH 497 | Directed Research Project | 3 |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ARTH 103 | Survey of Art I | 3 |
| FREN 101 | Beginning French I (or elective if language requirement met) or Beginning German I or Beginning Italian I or Beginning Spanish I | 3 |
UNIV 111  Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level course) | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 104 | Survey of Art II | 3 |
| FREN 102 | Beginning French II (or elective if language requirement met) or Beginning German II or Beginning Italian II or Beginning Spanish II | 3 |
| UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level course) | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| FREN 201 | Intermediate French I (or elective if language requirement met) or Intermediate German I or Intermediate Italian I or Intermediate Spanish I | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| ARTH major electives 1 | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 292 | Writing for Art History | 4 |
| ARTH 293 | Professional Practices for Art History | 2 |
| FREN 202 | Intermediate French II (or elective if language requirement met) or Intermediate German II or Intermediate Italian II or Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level course) | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 390 | Art Historical Methods | 4 |
| ARTH major electives 1 | 3 | |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level course) | 3 | |
| Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR or PHTO) | 3 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 302 | Introduction to Museums | 3 |
| ARTH major electives 1 | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 490 | Senior Seminar in Art History (capstone) | 4 |
| ARTH major elective 1 | 6 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | 3 | |
| Open electives | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH major electives 1 | 6 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open electives | 5 | |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
See degree requirements for course distribution.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Accelerated B.A. and M.A.
The accelerated B.A. and M.A. program allows academically talented students to earn both the B.A. and M.A. in Art History in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. The accelerated program may be undertaken in either concentration. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 138 credits rather than the 150 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.
This option offers students a faster and more cost-effective path to professional success by making them more competitive for jobs in the field immediately following graduation and for admission to doctoral programs in art history. Students holding these degrees will attain the skills considered critical to success in the field and continued advanced study in art history, including the ability to apply critical and analytical concepts, frameworks and methods; the ability to contextualize scholarship in relationship to existing art historical/museological knowledge, discourse and/or debate; the ability to translate art historical scholarship written in a language or languages relevant to their research; and the ability to conduct scholarly inquiry that makes a scholarly professional contribution.
Entrance to the accelerated program
Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.
Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 54 undergraduate credit hours, including a minimum of 21 credits of art history course work (may include AP and transfer courses); an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.5 in art history course work. Applicants should have completed or be enrolled in ARTH 390. Additionally, students must provide the names of two art history faculty who can provide recommendations as well as a statement of interest and a writing sample that demonstrates an aptitude for research. Students who are interested in the accelerated program should consult with the faculty adviser to the art history master’s program before they have completed 84 credits. Successful applicants would enter the program in the fall semester of their senior year.
Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate art history adviser and the faculty adviser to the graduate program.
Admission to the graduate program
Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin
Degree requirements
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits will substitute for required open elective credits for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
The graduate art history courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are listed below.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 690 | Historiography and Methodology of Art History | 3 |
| Museum studies seminar (select one) | 3 | |
| Museums and Communities | ||
| The Museum as Educational Institution | ||
| Museum Collections | ||
| Curating Museum Exhibitions | ||
| Historical studies seminar (select two) | 6 | |
| Seminar in 19th-century Art | ||
| Seminar in 20th-century Art | ||
| Seminar in Trans-millennial Art and Ideas | ||
| Seminar in Art and Representation | ||
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH major electives | 6 | |
| Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR or PHTO) | 3 | |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level course) | 3 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 390 | Art Historical Methods | 3 |
| ARTH major electives | 6 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | ||
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 490 | Senior Seminar in Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 690 | Historiography and Methodology of Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 722 | Seminar in 19th-century Art | 3 |
| or ARTH 723 | Seminar in 20th-century Art | |
| or ARTH 742 | Seminar in Trans-millennial Art and Ideas | |
| or ARTH 743 | Seminar in Art and Representation | |
| ARTH major elective | 3 | |
| Humanities 3XX (300-level AFAM, ANTH, RELS, GSWS, ENGL, PHIL or WRLD) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 681 | Museums and Communities | 3 |
| or ARTH 682 | The Museum as Educational Institution | |
| or ARTH 683 | Museum Collections | |
| or ARTH 684 | Curating Museum Exhibitions | |
| ARTH 722 | Seminar in 19th-century Art | 3 |
| or ARTH 723 | Seminar in 20th-century Art | |
| or ARTH 742 | Seminar in Trans-millennial Art and Ideas | |
| or ARTH 743 | Seminar in Art and Representation | |
| ARTH major electives | 6 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Term hours: | 15 | |
Art historical concentration
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 683 | Museum Collections | 3 |
| ARTH 695 | Writing Seminar I | 3 |
| ARTH 7XX historical studies seminar | 3 | |
| Term hours | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 743 | Seminar in Art and Representation | 3 |
| ARTH 771 | Writing Seminar II | 3 |
| ARTH 7XX historical studies seminar | 3 | |
| Term hours | 9 | |
Museum studies concentration
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fifth year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ARTH 683 | Museum Collections | 3 |
| ARTH 693 | Graduate Museum Internship | 3-6 |
| ARTH 695 | Writing Seminar I | 3 |
| Term hours | 9 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH 743 | Seminar in Art and Representation | 3 |
| ARTH 771 | Writing Seminar II | 3 |
| ARTX 6XX museum studies seminar | 3 | |
| Term hours | 9 | |
ARTH 103. Survey of Art I. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online and face-to-face). 3 credits. Introductory survey of art from the prehistoric era through the 13th century, including examples from selected regions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Illustrated lectures demonstrate visual analysis and other art historical methods while also identifying key monuments and artists’ work in relationship to historical contexts.
ARTH 104. Survey of Art II. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online and face-to-face). 3 credits. Introductory survey of art from the 14th century through 21st century, including examples from selected regions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Illustrated lectures demonstrate visual analysis and other art historical methods while also identifying key monuments and artists’ work in relationship to historical contexts.
ARTH 201. Banned! Art and Controversy. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. What could make a work of art so controversial that it divides public opinion, is banned from public view or even gets destroyed? This course examines the reasons why visual art can be such a provocative and polarizing creative endeavor. By examining case studies from various historical and geographical contexts, students will explore the ways in which artistic controversy intersects key humanistic concerns, including questions of aesthetics and economic value; politics and cultural heritage; sacredness and religion; and gender and sexuality. This course will promote critical looking and thinking by introducing students to a variety of criteria used to evaluate art and by challenging them to consider diverse, often contradictory, interpretations of art.
ARTH 207. Global Art History. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. Art will be presented as an integral aspect of each culture from the areas of China, Japan, Africa, Oceania, Native America, and pre-Columbian Central and South America. Aesthetic appreciation will be enhanced through a presentation of various philosophies, customs and values. Illustrated lectures and analytical practices will be supported by the student visiting local museums and galleries to examine selected works of art.
ARTH 245. Survey of Asian Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Introductory survey of South Asian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian and East Asian art. Illustrated lectures provide a survey of Asian art and architecture.
ARTH 260. Islamic Art Survey. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ARTH 103, ARTF 105 or ARTF 115; and ARTH 104, ARTF 106 or ARTF 116. Provides a survey of Islamic art and architecture from the seventh century to the present.
ARTH 261. Islamic Art Survey. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3, 3 credits. Prerequisites: ARTH 103 or ARTF 105 or 115 and ARTH 104 or ARTF 106 or 116. First semester: seventh century to 13th century. Second semester: 14th century to the present. Illustrated lectures provide a survey of Islamic art and architecture. Students will visit local museums and galleries to examine selected works of art.
ARTH 270. History of the Motion Picture I. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. The history of development of the motion picture from the early 1800s to the mid-20th century, with both technical and aesthetic consideration. Students engage in analysis and discussion after viewing selected films.
ARTH 271. History of the Motion Picture II. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online or face-to-face). 3 credits. The history of development of the motion picture from post-WWII to the present, with both technical and aesthetic consideration. Students engage in analysis and discussion after viewing selected films.
ARTH 291. Special Topics. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credits. An in-depth study of a selected topic in art history not included in the curriculum. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 292. Writing for Art History. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 2 research hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 200 or HONR 200 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to art history majors. Students hone their writing skills in a variety of contexts relevant to the field of art history through writing assignments that emphasize argumentation, creativity and research, writing for a specific audience, responsible use of sources, paragraph and sentence mechanics, and developing an individual voice as an author. Students will produce an extended research project that culminates in a formal presentation and research paper.
ARTH 293. Professional Practices for Art History. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Prerequisite: UNIV 200 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to art history majors. This course introduces students to a variety of career pathways within art history and includes practical advice about career preparation in the field. Through a combination of lecture and guest-speaker workshops, students learn about careers in academia, museums, libraries, publishing, arts administration and art conservation, among others. By the end of the course, students will create a portfolio of professional documents and give a short presentation about their future career goals.
ARTH 300. Prehistoric and Ancient Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A survey of the artistic expressions of the major prehistoric and ancient cultures of Europe, the Near East, Egypt and the Aegean.
ARTH 302. Introduction to Museums. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A survey of contemporary theories, issues and practices in the museum environment. Topics include museum identity and function, administration, museum ethics, collections maintenance and management, curatorial and exhibition issues, and education and public interaction.
ARTH 303. History of Art Museums. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Course surveys the history of museums, from their origins in early modern Europe to the present day. This course explores the development of museums not just as preservers of culture, but also as active agents in shaping the perception of and access to cultural objects.
ARTH 304. Art of Ancient African Cultures and Kingdoms. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An in-depth examination of the visual arts of ancient African cultures and kingdoms from prehistoric times to the 18th century and analysis of the historical, cultural and economic forces that shaped them.
ARTH 305. Classical Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A survey of the development of Greek, Etruscan and Roman art and architecture from their beginnings to the early 4th century CE.
ARTH 310. Medieval Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Survey of European medieval art and architecture between approximately 300 and 1400 CE.
ARTH 311. Early Islamic Art in a Global Context. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 260. Explores the early evolution of Islamic visual culture. Emphasizes artistic contact and exchange with non-Islamic civilizations in Europe, Asia and Africa up through the Crusader period.
ARTH 312. Islamic Art in a Global Context 1200 to 1600 CE. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 260. Explores the artistic dynamics of the Islamic world beginning with the Mongol expansion and the Spanish Reconquista through the flourishing of the Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman empires.
ARTH 315. Renaissance Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An examination of the Renaissance in Italy and Northern Europe. Painting, sculpture and architecture of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.
ARTH 320. Baroque and Rococo Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The art and architecture of Italy and northern Europe between 1600 and 1750.
ARTH 321. Islamic Art in a Global Context 1600 to 1800 CE. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 260. Explores Islamic and global artistic developments as facets of geopolitical shifts, cross-cultural interactions and changing aesthetic tastes.
ARTH 324. 18th-century Art in Europe. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Study of European art between 1688-1789.
ARTH 325. 19th-century Art in Europe. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Study of European art between 1770 and 1900.
ARTH 333. Modern Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Thematic survey of 19th- and 20th-century architecture. Provides a foundational introduction to the sequence of styles and design principles as well as key materials and techniques. Considers the relationship between form and function and the expression of cultural meaning through architecture.
ARTH 335. Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of the major artistic traditions of ancient America (i.e., Maya, Aztec and Inca). The course concentrates on Meso-America and the Andean Region.
ARTH 338. Colonial Art and Architecture of Latin America. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of the major artistic traditions in Latin America from the 16th to the end of the 18th century.
ARTH 339. Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture of Latin America. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of 19th- and 20th-century art in Latin America focusing on the major movements and artists of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
ARTH 342. African-American Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of the art forms produced by Americans of African origin from the 17th century to the present with an emphasis on contemporary trends in black art. Crosslisted as: AFAM 342.
ARTH 344. American Art History. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Survey of American art from early encounters between Native Americans and Europeans to discourses of multiculturalism in recent decades. Course explores themes of nationhood, race, gender, sexuality, class and ethnicity in art of the United States.
ARTH 347. Studies in Asian Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of nine credits. Explores the development of Asian artistic traditions in a particular geographic region or specified period. Topics may be an art form or medium, a geographical area, a theme, a function, or a context. May focus on artistic contact and cultural interconnection within a global context. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 348. Art of the African Diaspora. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Course uses visual culture as means to explore the history and impact of the global spread of African peoples from slavery until the present day. Course examines a range of artistic practices from the visual culture of street festivals and Afro-Caribbean religions to the work of studio-trained artists of international repute.
ARTH 349. Body Adornment, Masks and Masking in Africa. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An in-depth examination of the body in Africa with regard to its ontological, biological and cultural significance; its embellishment for aesthetic and other purposes; and its partial or total concealment (through masking) to mediate between the spiritual and physical world.
ARTH 351. Oceanic Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Study of the indigenous arts of Oceania from prehistoric times to the present.
ARTH 357. Women, Art and Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A re-examination of a variety of issues concerning women, art and society: the position assigned women within the history of art as it relates to historical place and the aesthetic values of the canon, the gendering of style, patronage, audience, and gaze. Through a survey of images of and by women, as well as through an analysis of art historical and critical texts, this course addresses the question: "How are the processes of sexual differentiation played out across the representations of art and art history?" Crosslisted as: GSWS 457.
ARTH 358. African Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of African art and architecture from prehistoric times to the present. Special emphasis is placed on form, content, function and meaning, as well as the impact of African art on modern and African-American art. Crosslisted as: AFAM 358.
ARTH 359. Studies in Aesthetics, Theory and Criticism of Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of nine credits. An in-depth examination of selected topics. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 361. The Human Condition: An Arts Perspective. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Considers both the commonality of the human condition and differentiation among sociological and cultural experiences represented in selected artworks in the permanent collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
ARTH 365. Modern Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An in-depth examination of art, theory and criticism from 1900-50.
ARTH 366. Contemporary Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An in-depth examination of art, theory and criticism from 1950 to the present.
ARTH 367. German Expressionism. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Course examines “expressionism” as a generative concept that produced -- and continues to produce -- ways of organizing and understanding the words and pictures that circulated in the rapidly changing, socially and culturally turbulent Germany of the early 20th century.
ARTH 368. Pop Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Course examines pop art from its beginnings in 1950s England through its heyday in 1960s New York and Los Angeles. Course explores the movement’s wider effects in a variety of international contexts through analysis of early critical reception as well as contemporary theories of mass media, consumption and representation.
ARTH 369. Studies in Museum Methods. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. An in-depth examination of selected topics. Topics include museum administration, museum ethics, collections maintenance and management, curatorial and exhibition issues, and education. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 370. History of Animated Film. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The history of animation as an art form, from early experimental to popular culture to independent animation. Design, structure and technique are considered.
ARTH 372. History of Photography. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examines the history of photography from its invention in the early 19th century to the present. Provides a foundational introduction to processes and materials from analog to digital. Surveys principal artists and movements and examines the nature and cultural meanings of photographic representation through lecture and discussion.
ARTH 374. Studies in Film. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. An in-depth examination of selected topics in film. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 390. Art Historical Methods. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 2 research hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to art history majors. Course provides students with an overview of the history of art history through a chronological survey of key methods of analysis that have defined the discipline from its beginnings to the present. Students develop critical thinking and writing skills specific to art history through written assignments and discussion of readings. Students will produce an extended research project that culminates in a formal presentation and research paper.
ARTH 391. Special Topics. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of nine credits. An in-depth study of a selected topic in art history not included in the curriculum. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 439. Studies in 20th-century Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of selected art and issues of the period. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 440. Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture of Africa. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. A study of the impact on African art and architecture of Colonialism, urbanization and modernization. Special emphasis is placed on the search for a new identity by contemporary African artists. Crosslisted as: AFAM 440.
ARTH 444. Studies in the Art of the United States. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of selected art and issues of the period. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 449. Studies in Asian Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of selected art and issues of the period. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 452. Studies in Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of selected art and issues of the period. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 454. Studies in African Art. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of six credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth examination of selected art and issues of the period. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 465. Islamic Art in a Global Context 1800 to 1900 CE. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ARTH 260 and ARTH 292, both with a minimum grade of C, or permission of instructor. Examines the art and architecture of the Islamic world during the age of European colonialism.
ARTH 466. Modern and Contemporary Art in the Middle East. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: ARTH 260 and ARTH 292, both with a minimum grade of C, or permission of instructor. Focuses on art and architecture in the Middle East in the 20th and 21st centuries. Issues considered include the lives and work of selected artists, architects and designers; artistic media and themes; collecting; and the art market.
ARTH 489. Topics in Advanced Art History. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of nine credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 292 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. An in-depth study of a selected topic in art history not included in the curriculum. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
ARTH 490. Senior Seminar in Art History. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 2 research hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 390 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to art history majors. Course provides an in-depth study of a specific art historical topic, movement or theme in a seminar format. Students will produce an extended research project that culminates in a formal presentation and research paper. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each year.
ARTH 493. Museum Internship. 3-6 Hours.
Semester course; 9 to 18 studio hours. 3 to 6 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 12 credits. Prerequisites: ARTH 302 and 390, both with a minimum grade of C. Restricted to art history majors only. Fieldwork in a local or regional museum. Topics inlcude museum administration, museum ethics, collections maintenance and management, curatorial and exhibition issues, and education.
ARTH 497. Directed Research Project. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Prerequisite: ARTH 390 with a minimum grade of C. Advanced individual work on a subject to be formulated in writing by the student and the instructor.