COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Art History requires students to complete 48 units of coursework designed to develop knowledge of global art traditions, historical analysis, and critical interpretation of visual culture. The program begins with 18 units of required lower division core courses that introduce students to fundamental concepts in art history and studio practice. These courses include Global Modern and Contemporary Art and Beginning Drawing, along with one lower division course in photography or another studio art medium besides drawing. Students must also complete introductory art history courses such as Art, Religions, and Power before 1400 or Art, Empires, and Cross-Cultural Exchange from 1400–1800. In addition, students select two courses from areas including History of Islamic Art, Traditional Asian Art, Modern and Contemporary Asian Art, European Visual Traditions, or Art of the Americas, helping them develop an understanding of diverse artistic traditions and historical contexts.The program also requires 21 units of upper division core coursework. Students first complete Introduction to Historical Skills, which develops research, analytical, and historical writing abilities. They then select courses from four thematic groups representing different geographic and historical areas of art history. These groups include courses such as Art of the Ancient Mediterranean, Medieval Art, Renaissance Art, and Baroque and Rococo Art; Asian art courses such as Art of India and Southeast Asia, Art of China and Japan, and Art of Korea; courses focused on the art of the Americas including Origins of American Indian Art, Latin American and Latino Art History, African American Art and Visual Culture, and Public Art in the Americas; and modern and contemporary art courses such as 19th Century Art, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, and the history of photography. Students must choose at least one course from each group and complete two additional courses from one group to create a specialization area.The curriculum also includes 3 units of upper division electives selected from a range of art history topics, ensuring broader exposure to global visual culture. Students further complete an advanced seminar course focusing on specialized topics in early modern, Asian, or modern and contemporary art. The program concludes with the Senior Seminar in Art History, where students conduct advanced research and present scholarly work. Overall, the curriculum prepares students with strong analytical, research, and interpretive skills for careers in museums, galleries, cultural institutions, education, and further graduate study in art history or related fields.