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Art History

Requirements

Major Requirements

Twelve courses (eleven art history courses, plus one studio art course).  Specific course requirements:
· two semesters of introductory survey (History of Art 1011 & 1012)
· three courses from major periods (one each from three of the following):
1) Ancient
2) Medieval, Northern Renaissance
3) Italian Renaissance and Baroque
4) 18th and 19th century, American and Modern
· one course in non-Western art
· three art history 3000-level seminars which require an oral report and research paper (summer courses excluded)
· Seminar for Majors (ARH 3080)
· Senior Evaluation (a thesis, internship or special project, to be supervised by a member of the department)
· one studio art course

When a single course fulfills more than one requirement, the total of eleven art history courses may be completed by courses of the student’s choosing.  The minimum grade for major credit is C-.  While language study is not required for the major, students intending to enter graduate school in Art History are strongly urged to acquire a reading knowledge of German, French and, where relevant, Italian.

Departmental Honors
Departmental Honors in art history will be granted to a graduating senior by a unanimous vote of all full-time faculty members after review of the student’s Art History Honors Portfolio.  The Portfolio review is voluntary, and submission of a portfolio does not automatically guarantee that honors will be awarded.  Students who intend to go on for graduate study in the field of art history are urged to submit an Honors Portfolio for review. Students who choose to be considered for Honors in Art History must: 1) sit for an Interview with all three full-time faculty members; and 2) submit an Honors Portfolio.

The Honors Interview:
All three full-time faculty members will be present at the Interview.  The student will be asked to present an overview of his/her work in the department, to discuss his/her growth as a student, and to make the case for the awarding of Honors on the basis of the Honors Portfolio.

The Honors Portfolio:

• Proof of a 3.5 or better grade point average in major classes (with no less than a B+ in Seminar for Majors and in an approved Internship);
• Proof of successful completion of at least two semesters of study in one of the following four languages: French, Italian, German or Latin. In cases where students are enrolled in their second semester of language study during the Spring term of their senior year, proof of enrollment must be submitted. If honors are awarded, the award will be contingent upon successful completion of this second course.
• Three research papers in the field of art history that demonstrate a student’s scholarly potential, and growth as an art history student. Papers will be evaluated for:

- Demonstrated ability to conduct independent, meaningful research;
- Clarity and originality of thesis and conclusions;
- Elegance of writing;
- Clarity, consistency, and logic of methodological approach;
- Sophisticated integration of visual material into arguments.

Deadline: Students must submit their Honors Portfolio no later than April 15 of the Spring semester of their senior year, and must complete their Interview no later than April 30.
Notification: Students will be notified if Honors will be awarded no later than the first week of May.

Distinction in Art History, Major Field of Study
Students who choose to be considered for Distinction in Art History for the Major Field of Study must submit a written request to the Chair of the Department no later than April 15 of the Spring semester of their senior year.  The request must include proof of a 3.5 or better grade point average in major classes, with no less than a B+ in Seminar for Majors and successful completion of an approved Internship.

Students will be notified if Distinction will be awarded no later than the first week of May.

Minor Requirements

Five courses: both semesters of History of Art, one seminar (excluding summer school), and two other courses at any level.  The minimum grade for minor credit is C-.  In unusual cases, and with departmental approval, students who are unable to schedule History of Art I may substitute one course in Ancient or Medieval Art plus one course in Renaissance Art for this requirement.  Similarly, for those unable to schedule History of Art II, one course in non-Western Art plus one course covering a time period from the 17th to the 20th centuries may be substituted.  This alternative increases the number of courses required to complete the minor.