Art (Art History) - Bachelor of Arts
The art history program is designed to give the student a broad familiarity with the visual arts through the factual and theoretical study of aesthetics, cultural contexts, iconography, stylistic development and technical practices. Students explore a range of methodologies and theoretical lenses through which to study objects and images. Art history coursework opens up broader questions about structures of race, class, sexuality, gender, identity and power as it relates to art, with a particular emphasis on the unique lens of the border region in which we are located. Art history is fundamentally interdisciplinary, therefore, students should take related courses in anthropology, history, languages and literature, music history, philosophy, religion, and theatre history. Students are strongly encouraged to study at least one other language to prepare them for advanced research in the discipline, as the study of art is especially dependent on written sources in other languages. A degree in art history is excellent preparation for a range of careers, including in museum and galleries, education, travel and tourism, auction houses and estate sales, art and copyright law, equity analysis and public relations, arts correspondence and journalism, appraisal, libraries and archives, and more.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | 10 | |
English Composition - Level 1 1 | ||
English Composition - Level 2 1 | ||
Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Area II: Mathematics 2 | 3-4 | |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 10-11 | |
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 1 | ||
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (3 credits) 1 | ||
Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences Course or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course (4 or 3 credits) 1 | ||
| Area V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts | ||
| ARTH 2110G | History of Art I | 3 |
| General Education Elective | ||
| ARTH 2120G | History of Art II | 3 |
| Viewing a Wider World 3 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| Both ART 2110G and ART 2120G count towards Area VI and the General Education elective and Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| ARTS 1121 | STUDIO CORE I: Concept Development--Process and Play | 3 |
| ARTH 2136 | Writing in Art | 3 |
| ARTH 479 | Methodologies and Historiography of Art History and Art Theory | 3 |
| Choose one introductory ARTS course 4 | 3 | |
| Choose two 300-level art history courses 4 | 6 | |
| Choose two 400-level art history courses 4 | 6 | |
| Choose 9 credits of 300/400-level ARTH courses 4 | 9 | |
| Choose 9 credits of ARTS or ARTH electives | 9 | |
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 5 | 38-40 | |
While 6 credits can be either ARTS at any level or ARTH at upper-division level, 3 credits must be Upper-Division level ARTS/ARTH | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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A Mathematics General Education course is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter the course selected first.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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Please see the Courses tab of the Art Department page within this catalog to determine which courses are Studio Art (ARTS) and which are Art History (ARTH).
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Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.
A Suggested Plan of Study
This roadmap assumes student placement in ENGL 1110G Composition I . The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in Mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| Freshman | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I (C- or better) | 4 |
| ARTH 2136 | Writing in Art | 3 |
| ARTH 2110G | History of Art I | 3 |
| ARTS 1121 | STUDIO CORE I: Concept Development--Process and Play | 3 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 1 | 4 | |
| Area II: Mathematics Course (C- or better) 1 | 3-4 | |
| Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences Course 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | 7 | |
| Credits | 30-31 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| ARTH 2120G | History of Art II | 3 |
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Introduction to Communication Honors | ||
| Choose one from the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | ||
| ARTS Course (1000-2000 level) Course (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (300-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (300-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| Either a ARTS Course (2000/400-level) or an ARTH Course (300/400-level) (C- or better in either 3 | 3 | |
| Elective Courses(s) | 9 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Junior | ||
| Either an Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences Course or Social/Behavioral Sciences Course 1 | 3-4 | |
| ARTH Course (300/400-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| Either an ARTS Course (any level) or an ARTH course (300/400-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| Area V: Humanities Course 1 | 3 | |
| Viewing a Wider World 4 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (300/400-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (300/400-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| Elective Course(s) | 9 | |
| Credits | 30-31 | |
| Senior | ||
| Viewing a Wider World 4 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (400-level) (C- or better) 3 | 3 | |
| ARTH 479 | Methodologies and Historiography of Art History and Art Theory (C- or better) | 3 |
| Upper-Division ARTS/ARTH Elective Course (C- or better in either) 3 | 3 | |
| ARTH Course (400-level) (C- or bettter) 3 | 3 | |
| Elective Course(s) | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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Students must complete a Second Language requirement, see the Requirements tab for more information about the ways to complete this.
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Please see the Courses tab of the Art Department page within this catalog to determine which courses are Studio Arts (ARTS) and which are Art History (ARTH).
- 4
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.