Radha Dalal​, Ph.D.
Assistant professor and interim director

qatar.vcu.edu/arthistory

The Bachelor of Arts 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.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

  • Demonstrate a command of art historical terminology and the ability to identify key works of art in relationship to historical contexts
  • Demonstrate the ability to interpret works of art in relationship to the historical, cultural and/or geographical contexts in which they were made
  • Demonstrate the ability to read critically and apply art historical research methods in research papers
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct rigorous research and write papers that incorporate visual analysis and current scholarship in the interpretation of artworks

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 103Survey of Art I3
ARTH 104Survey of Art II3
ARTH 292Writing for Art History4
ARTH 293Professional Practices for Art History 2
ARTH 302Introduction to Museums 3
ARTH 390Art Historical Methods4
ARTH 490Senior Seminar in Art History4
• Additional major requirements
ARTH 260Islamic Art Survey3
• Major electives
Cluster A (select two courses from the list below)6
Cluster B (select two courses from the list below)6
Unrestricted ARTH electives (select any two additional ARTH course)6
Ancillary requirements
UNIV 101Introduction to the University1
ARBC 202Intermediate Arabic II3
or FREN 202 Intermediate French II
or GRMN 202 Intermediate German II
or ITAL 202 Intermediate Italian II
or SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II
Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR, PHTO, IDES, GDES, or FASH)3
HIST (any)3
HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course)9
Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD)9
Open electives
Select any course. 118
Total Hours120
1

Includes language (101,102 and 201, if needed)

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Major electives

Course Title Hours
Cluster A
ARTH 311Early Islamic Art in a Global Context3
ARTH 312Islamic Art in a Global Context 1200 to 1600 CE3
ARTH 321Islamic Art in a Global Context 1600 to 1800 CE3
ARTH 465Islamic Art in a Global Context 1800 to 1900 CE3
ARTH 466Modern and Contemporary Art in the Middle East3
Cluster B
ARTH 300Prehistoric and Ancient Art and Architecture3
ARTH 303History of Art Museums3
ARTH 304Art of Ancient African Cultures and Kingdoms3
ARTH 305Classical Art and Architecture3
ARTH 310Medieval Art and Architecture3
ARTH 315Renaissance Art and Architecture3
ARTH 320Baroque and Rococo Art and Architecture3
ARTH 32418th-century Art in Europe3
ARTH 32519th-century Art in Europe3
ARTH 335Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture3
ARTH 338Colonial Art and Architecture of Latin America3
ARTH 339Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture of Latin America3
ARTH 342African-American Art3
ARTH 344American Art History3
ARTH 347Studies in Asian Art3
ARTH 348Art of the African Diaspora3
ARTH 357Women, Art and Society3
ARTH 358African Art and Architecture3
ARTH 365Modern Art 3
ARTH 366Contemporary Art 3
ARTH 372History of Photography3
ARTH 374Studies in Film3
Miscellaneous
ARTH 201Banned! Art and Controversy 3
ARTH 291Special Topics 23
ARTH 359Studies in Aesthetics, Theory and Criticism of Art3
ARTH 361The Human Condition: An Arts Perspective3
ARTH 369Studies in Museum Methods3
ARTH 391Special Topics 23
ARTH 493Museum Internship3-6
ARTH 489Topics in Advanced Art History 23
ARTH 497Directed Research Project3
2

Students must seek department approval to apply ARTH 291 or ARTH 391 toward the appropriate required elective category.

Freshman year
Fall semesterHours
ARBC 101
Beginning Arabic I (or open elective if language requirement is met)
or Beginning French I
or Beginning German I
or Beginning Italian I
or Beginning Spanish I
3
ARTH 103 Survey of Art I 3
UNIV 101 Introduction to the University 1
UNIV 111 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry I Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
HIST (any) 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 16
Spring semester
ARBC 102
Beginning Arabic II (or open elective if language requirement is met)
or Beginning French II
or Beginning German II
or Beginning Italian II
or Beginning Spanish II
3
ARTH 104 Survey of Art II 3
UNIV 112 Play VideoPlay course video for Focused Inquiry II Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
General education courses 6
 Term Hours: 15
Sophomore year
Fall semester
ARBC 201
Intermediate Arabic I (or open elective if language requirement is met)
or Intermediate French I
or Intermediate German I
or Intermediate Italian I
or Intermediate Spanish I
3
ARTH 260 Islamic Art Survey 3
ARTH 302 Introduction to Museums 3
UNIV 200 Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) 3
HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course) 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
ARBC 202
Intermediate Arabic II (or open elective if language requirement is met)
or Intermediate French II
or Intermediate German II
or Intermediate Italian II
or Intermediate Spanish II
3
ARTH 292 Writing for Art History 4
ARTH 293 Professional Practices for Art History 2
HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course) 3
Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD) 3
 Term Hours: 15
Junior year
Fall semester
ARTH major electives 1 6
HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course) 3
Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR, PHTO, IDES, GDES or FASH) 3
General education course 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
ARTH 390 Art Historical Methods 4
ARTH major electives 1 3
General education courses 6
Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD) 3
 Term Hours: 16
Senior year
Fall semester
ARTH major electives 1 6
General education course 3
Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD) 3
Open elective 3
 Term Hours: 15
Spring semester
ARTH 490 Senior Seminar in Art History 4
ARTH major electives 1 3
Open electives 6
 Term Hours: 13
 Total Hours: 120
1

See degree requirements for course distribution.

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.