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Art History Major, B.A.

B.A. degree 

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

This degree program, which requires 40 credit hours, offers students a firm foundation in the history of art and its methodologies. This foundation not only provides a strong basis for all specialized area studies, but also prepares students for advanced degree programs. Students planning or considering a major or minor in Art History are urged to consult with an advisor as early as possible in their college careers.

Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.3 for all art courses counted toward the major. It is mandatory that all Art History Majors register for and complete four semesters of ART 096.

Courses taken on a credit/no credit basis, except for ART 096, may not be counted toward fulfillment of requirements for the Art History major or minor.

Art History majors are encouraged to participate in the CMU Semester Abroad program.

Art History majors and minors planning to do graduate work are strongly urged to take both the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) early in their senior year. This examination is generally required for admission to graduate schools.

ART 319 should be taken in either the second or third semester in the program, after completing 36 credit hours, including 6 hours of Art History courses. This course acts as a mid-point, preparing students for 300+ level courses. All 500-level courses have ART 319 as a prerequisite.

Students should enroll in ART 492 in the fall of their final year and ART 489 the following semester, where they will conduct independent research and produce a senior thesis. ART 589 requires one 500+ level Art History course as a prerequisite.

Program Requirements

Core Courses I (9 hours)

ART 096Art Event Attendance

0(0-0)

ART 283Introduction to Western Art, Part I

3(3-0)

ART 285Introduction to Western Art, Part II

3(3-0)

ART 287Introduction to Non-Western Art

3(3-0)

Core Courses II (7 hours)

ART 319The Methods of Art History

3(3-0)

ART 492Art History Professional Development

1(1-0)

ART 589Research Seminar in Art History

3(3-0)

Core Courses III (9 hours)

Select one course each from Groups 1, 2, and 3:

Group 1

ART 380Greek Art and Architecture

3(3-0)

ART 381Early Christian and Byzantine Art

3(3-0)

ART 389Art of the Ancient Near East and Egypt

3(3-0)

ART 480Roman Art and Architecture

3(3-0)

ART 481Western Medieval Art

3(3-0)

ART 580Seminar in Ancient/Medieval Art History

3-6(3-0)

Group 2

ART 387Baroque Art

3(3-0)

ART 388Eighteenth-Century Art

3(3-0)

ART 482Italian Renaissance Art

3(3-0)

ART 488Northern Renaissance Art

3(3-0)

ART 581Seminar in Early Modern Art History

3-6(3-0)

Group 3

ART 383Modern Architecture

3(3-0)

ART 385European Art from 1890-1940

3(3-0)

ART 386American Art

3(3-0)

ART 483Nineteenth Century European Art

3(3-0)

ART 485Art After 1945

3(3-0)

ART 582Seminar in Modern and Contemporary Art History

3-6(3-0)

Group 4

ART 312Special Studies in Art History

3-9(3-0)

ART 317Digital Art History and Archaeology

3(2-3)

ART 341History of Photography

3(3-0)

ART 363History of Design: 1750-2010

3(3-0)

ART 366Contemporary Design Issues

3(3-0)

ART 382/WGS 382Gender and Art

3(3-0)

ART 391African Art

3(3-0)

ART 486Independent Study in Art History

1-6(Spec)

ART 489Islamic Art

3(3-0)

ART 493Art History Internship

1-6(Spec)

ART 495Art History Study Abroad

1-9(Spec)

ART 586Special Topics Seminar in Art History

3-9(3-0)

Electives I (9 hours)

Select three (3) courses from Groups 1-4.

Electives II (3 hours)

Select one 500-level course not previously taken from Groups 1-4.

Electives III (3 hours)

Select one studio art course.

Total: 40 semester hours