B.A. in Art History

The B.A. in Art History is designed to provide students with the social history of art, communication skills, research techniques, and methods of critical inquiry that have become a vital part of contemporary life. Course offerings cover a wide range of art-historical topics around the world (Renaissance and Baroque Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Asian Art, Native American and African Art), encouraging students to become responsible citizens through an understanding of the aesthetic, cultural and ethical choices inherent in human development. Students successfully completing the B.A. in Art History are eligible to compete for admission to M.A. and Ph.D. programs and for entry-level positions in the art world and related fields.

Museum and Gallery Curator, Administrator, Professional Tour Guide, Art Conservator, Art Consultant, Art Development Worker, Art Law Enforcement Officer, Art and Estate Appraiser, Auction Worker, Artist Manager, Exhibit Installation Contractor, Exhibition Manager, Art Events Planner and Organizer, Heritage Preservation Officer, Heritage Site Guide, Cultural
Resources Manager, Media Executive, Designer, Researcher, College Professor, Educator, Writer, Journalist, Archivist

Art History Major - Requirements

1. Major requirements (57-58 units)

Lower-Division Requirements
ART 13, 14, 16; ARTH 10, 11, 12; World Language (3-4 units)

Upper-Division Requirements
 ARTH 180: Methods and Theories of Art and History.

• Renaissance and Baroque Art:
  Select two: ARTH 120, 122, 124, 126, 127, 128
  Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, Southern Baroque, Northern Baroque, Arts of Colonial Mexico, Arts of the Colonial Andes
• Modern/Contemporary Art
  Select two: ARTH 131, 132, 136
  Nineteenth-Century Modern Art, Twentieth-Century Modern Art, Contemporary Art 
• Asian Art 
  Select two: ARTH 140, 141, 142, 143 Arts of Southeast Asia, Arts of East Asia, Arts of South Asia, Kingdoms of Monsoon Asia
• Native American and African Art
  Select two: ARTH 160, 170, 173, 175  Africa, Native North America, Pre-Columbian Mexico, Pre-Columbian Andes

Upper-Division Art History electives
Select three additional 100-level Art History courses (9 units)

2. General Education requirements (49 units)

3. Other requirements (6 units) 
Upper-division writing and Multicultural and International (MI)

4. Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies) 
(See Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor.

5. Total (120 units)*

*G.E. and MI courses can be double counted with major requirements. The writing requirement may be met by taking the upper-division writing exam. This total indicates that courses in G.E. Breadth C1 and G.E. Breadth E1 may be applied to the art major. These courses include ARTH 10, 11, 12 (G.E. C1); and/or ART 13 (G.E. E1). Consult the department chair or faculty adviser for additional details.

Advising Notes

1. CR/NC grading is only permitted in ART 198, Internship.
2. General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see double major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty advisor for further information.

Courses 

ARTH 10. The Ancient Medieval Worlds

An introductory survey of the arts of the ancient and medieval worlds, beginning with the Paleolithic and including Near Eastern, Egyptian, and European (Aegean, Greek, Roman, medieval) traditions through the mid-14th century. G.E. Breadth C1.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: C1

ARTH 11. The Early Modern World

An introductory survey of Western art from the Renaissance through the 18th century, including Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism from the mid-14th century to the end of the 18th century. G.E. Breadth C1.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: C1

ARTH 12. Asian Art

An introductory survey of the arts of Asia from prehistory to the twentieth century, including but not limited to, art traditions of India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia. G.E. Breadth C1.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
GE Area: C1

ARTH 109T. Topics in Art History

Specific areas in art history not normally covered in the regular course offering. Possible topical areas include Arts of the South Pacific, Buddhism, Chinese Painting, Happenings, History of Modern Art through Film, Museums and Monuments of Europe, Fountains of Baroque Rome, Popes and Patrons of Renaissance Europe, 17th Century Holland, and the Rise of the Secular in Art.

Units: 1-3

ARTH 109T. Museum Studies

The course investigates historical, theoretical and practical issues of Museum Studies considering the history of museums, and the museum's main activities of collecting, exhibiting, and educating. Although the course looks specifically at art museums, the basic principles apply to other types of museums such as history, science and nature. The first part of the course focuses on the history of the museum investigating its social, cultural, and political role from its origin to the present day. The student gains insight into the museum's organizational structure and various museum careers. The second part of the course provides an understanding of museum collections and exhibitions. The discussions focus on the importance of the object, the building and managing of collections and the curating of exhibitions. The final part of the course considers the museum's educational programs in the context of its audiences and various interpretative methods. The course also includes a field trip looking behind the scenes of a local museum.

Units: 3

ARTH 120. Italian Renaissance

Artistic revival of classical antiquity in Italy between 1300-1550.

Units: 3

ARTH 122. Northern Renaissance

Painting and sculpture from the Netherlands, France, and Germany between 1300-1550.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 124. Southern Baroque

A comprehensive survey of the major artworks produced in Southern Europe (Italy and Spain ) from circa 1575 to 1700, within the context of the historical, religious, political, and social changes that transformed early modern Europe.  

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 126. Northern Baroque

Diffusion of Italian Baroque art to the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, and Austria between 1600-1750.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 127. Arts of Colonial Mexico

(ARTH 127 same as CLAS 177) A comprehensive survey of the major artistic and architectural manifestations of colonial Mexico and other territories of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (ca. 1519-1820s). (Formerly ARTH 109T)

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 128. Arts of the Colonial Andes

A comprehensive survey of the major artistic and architectural manifestations of the colonial Andean region and other territories of the Viceroyalties of Peru (ca. 1532-1820s). (Formerly ARTH 109T)

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 131. Nineteenth Century Modern Art

A more developed critical look at modern art in its relationship to the needs of the social political context of the 19th century.

Units: 3

ARTH 132. Twentieth Century Modern Art

A more developed critical look at modern art in its relationship to the needs of the social political context of the 20th century, up to the mid-1950s.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 136. Contemporary Art

A comprehensive survey of contemporary art focusing on the issue of postmodernism from the mid-1950s onward.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 160. Africa

Sculpture, painting, architecture, festivals, and personal adornment of sub-Saharan Africa.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 170. Native North American

Arts of the indigenous North American cultures from the Arctic to the American Southwest.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Spring

ARTH 173. Pre-Columbian Mexico

Art of the Olmec through the Aztec cultures.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 175. Pre-Columbian Andes

Art of the Chavin through the Inca cultures.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 180. Methods and Theories of Art History

Prerequisites: ARTH 10 and ARTH 11. It is strongly recommended that students complete at least 2 upper-division (100-level) Art History courses before enrolling in ARTH 180. Methods and theories of art historical research and interpretation.

Units: 3
Course Typically Offered: Fall

ARTH 190. Independent Study

See Academic Placement - Independent Study. Approved for RP grading.

Units: 1-3, Repeatable up to 6 units
Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring