Gwen Frostic School of Art

B.A. in Art History

The Art History degree provides instruction in Art History and art criticism and is dedicated to a multi-cultural perspective. Course work is offered in Asian, African, Native American, and Western Art ranging from prehistoric to contemporary. The faculty combines expertise to ensure that students are broadly educated in a variety of art historical methods, including a traditional formalist approach, as well as more recent post-modern and post-colonial theories. The program, while housed in the Gwen Frostic School of Art, is interdisciplinary in nature and requires or encourages complementary course work in History, Anthropology, Languages, and other areas. Students receive a variety of classroom-related experiences, as well as opportunities for internships and study abroad.

CURRICULUM: BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ART HISTORY

2000-Level Survey Requirement (9 hours)

Choose Three (3)

ART 2200 - Caves to Cathedrals: 3 hours

ART 2210 - Modern and Postmodern: 3 hours

ART 2220 - Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Credits: 3 hours

ART 2230 - Introduction to Asian Art History Credits: 3 hours

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement (3 hours)

ART 3270 - Writing About Art History Credits: 3 hours

3000-4000 Level Requirement (15 hours)

Choose Five (5)

ART 3210 - Topics in Art History: Variable Topics Credits: 3 hours

(Repeatable for different topics)

ART 3830 - Medieval Art Credits: 3 hours

ART 3850 - Renaissance Art Credits: 3 hours

ART 3900 - Twentieth-Century Art: 1945 to Present Credits: 3 hours

HIST 4495 - Topics in European History and Culture (BW) Credits: 3 hours

Topic: Russian Art and Art Patronage

4000-5000-Level Requirement (7 hours)

Required Courses (4 hours)

ART 4990 - Senior Thesis Credits: 1 hour

ART 5270 - Art History Methods Credits: 3 hours

Choose One (1)

ART 5210 - Topics in Art History: Variable Topics Credits: 3 hours

ART 5220 - Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Art Credits: 3 hours

ART 5230 - Topics in Modern Art Credits: 3 hours

ART 5250 - Topics in Asian Art Credits: 3 hours

Electives (with faculty approval)

ART 5200 - Independent Study in Art History Credits: 2 to 3 hours

ART 5290 - Art History Internship Credits: 1 hour

Elective Requirement (9 hours)

Art History majors may fill the 9 hours of electives required in the major by taking course work in the following areas: Art History and Art Studio (major courses only), as well as courses numbered 3000 or above in the following departments: History; Comparative Religion; literature and creative writing courses in the Departments of English and of World Languages and Literatures; archaeology and cultural anthropology courses in the Department of Anthropology;

The following courses in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences:

FCS 2510 - Period Interiors I Credits: 3 hours

FCS 2520 - Period Interiors II Credits: 3 hours

FCS 3260 - History of Fashion Credits: 3 hours

The following course in the Department of Philosophy:

PHIL 3200 - Formal Logic Credits: 4 hours

World Language Requirement (8 hours)

Eight hours of one language other than English are required. French and German are recommended as research languages; however, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, or other languages approved by the Art History faculty can also be applied to the requirement. Students may test out of this requirement by placement in the 2000-level or above on a language proficiency examination. The language requirement credits are counted under Proficiency 4g of the General Education requirements.

Grading Requirement

Art majors and minors receiving a grade below a “C” in a required course must repeat the course.

Summary of Art History Major

Art Major—40 credits
General Education—37 credits
University Electives—45 credits
Total Credit Hours—122 credits

Students should consult the WMU catalog for the foundation art program course descriptions and requirements.

WMU Catalog