This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2026-2027 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. 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.
Radha Dalal, Ph.D.
Associate professor and director
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 103 | Survey of Art I | 3 |
| ARTH 104 | Survey of Art II | 3 |
| ARTH 292 | Writing for Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 293 | Professional Practices for Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 302 | Introduction to Museums | 3 |
| ARTH 390 | Art Historical Methods | 4 |
| ARTH 490 | Senior Seminar in Art History: ____ | 4 |
| • Additional major requirements | ||
| ARTH 260 | Islamic Art Survey | 3 |
| • 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 courses) | 6 | |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| ARBC 202 | Intermediate Arabic II | 3 |
| or FREN 202 | French for Careers | |
| or GRMN 202 | Intermediate German II | |
| or ITAL 202 | Intermediate Italian II | |
| or SPAN 202 | Intermediate Spanish II | |
| UNIV 101 | Introduction to the University | 1 |
| Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR, PHTO, IDES, GDES, or FASH) | 3 | |
| HIST (any) | 3 | |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST courses) | 9 | |
| Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD) | 9 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. 1 | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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 311 | Islamic Visual Culture and Late Antiquity | 3 |
| ARTH 312 | Islamic Visual Culture in the Early Modern Era | 3 |
| ARTH 314 | Islamic Book Arts | 3 |
| ARTH 321 | Islamic Visual Culture in the Age of Empires | 3 |
| ARTH 355 | Indian Ocean Visual Cultures | 3 |
| ARTH 375 | Nineteenth-Century Islamic Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 376 | Modern Art of West Asia and North Africa | 3 |
| ARTH 377 | Contemporary Art of West Asia and North Africa | 3 |
| Cluster B | ||
| ARTH 304 | Art of Ancient African Cultures and Kingdoms | 3 |
| ARTH 306 | Art and Archaeology of Early Civilizations | 3 |
| ARTH 307 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Empires | 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 324 | 18th-century Art in Europe | 3 |
| ARTH 325 | 19th-century Art in Europe | 3 |
| ARTH 335 | Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 338 | Colonial Art and Architecture of Latin America | 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 357 | Art and Gender | 3 |
| ARTH 358 | African Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTH 365 | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTH 366 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTH 372 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTH 374 | Studies in Film | 3 |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| ARTH 201 | Banned! Art and Controversy | 3 |
| ARTH 369 | Studies in Museum Methods | 3 |
| ARTH 391 | Special Topics 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 493 | Museum Internship | 3-6 |
| ARTH 489 | Topics in Advanced Art History 1 | 3 |
| ARTH 497 | Directed Research Project | 3 |
Students must seek department approval to apply ARTH 391 toward the appropriate required elective category.
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.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| 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 course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| General education course | 3 | |
| HIST (any) | 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 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (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 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 |
| General education course | 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 French for Careers or Intermediate German II or Intermediate Italian II or Intermediate Spanish II | 3 |
| ARTH 292 | Writing for Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 293 | Professional Practices for Art History | 3 |
| 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 390 | Art Historical Methods | 4 |
| ARTH major elective 1 | 3 | |
| Fine arts studio (CRAF, SCPT, PAPR, PHTO, IDES, GDES or FASH) | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| HIST 3XX (any 300-level HIST course) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ARTH major electives 1 | 6 | |
| General education courses | 6 | |
| Humanities 3XX (AFAM, AMST, ANTH, ENGL, GSWS, HUMS, HUSI, INTL, PHIL, PSYC, POLI, RELS, SCTS, SOCY, WRLD) | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| 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 elective 1 | 3 | |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
See degree requirements for course distribution.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.