Art History Courses

ARTH151: Intro to the Practice of Art & Design History

In this course, students will explore key works and moments of art and design across culture and time, while learning proper terminology and methodology for analyzing visual images, objects, and structures within the study of the discipline. Students will contextualize and interpret works recognizing that different interpretive frameworks can be used to analyze works of art and design. As a broad approach to the discipline, the course encourages inquiry, critical evaluation, and curiosity about the richness of art and design history. Students will acquire the analytical skills to navigate, translate, diagram, and express the complexities of visual culture and production.

Credits: 3.0
Prerequisite(s): None

ARTH212: History of Art Since 1850

In this fine arts, major-focused course, students will explore key works of art from 1850 to the present, while using proper terminology and methodology for analyzing works within the study of the field.  Students will contextualize and interpret works recognizing that different interpretive and cultural frameworks can be used to analyze works of art. As a concentrated approach to the discipline, the course is designed to encourage inquiry, critical evaluation, and curiosity about modern and contemporary art.  Through selected readings and discussions, students will broaden their awareness of art and artists from the recent past, and demonstrate their understanding through critical writing, research, and presentation.

Credits: 3.0
Prerequisite(s): ARTH151 or equivalent

ARTH213: History of Modernism-Design

The History of Modernism: Design outlines major styles and trends in communication design, illustration, industrial design, architecture and interior architecture & design, from the beginning of the industrial period to the present. Through intensive reading, writing, research and oral assignments, students have the opportunity to study the philosophical, social, cultural and commercial concerns of such primary movements as Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, Art Deco and Post Modernism within Europe, the United States and Japan.

ARTH213 will provide students with an historical perspective of the designer’s world since the beginning of the 19th century. Students will gain an understanding of the major figures, movements and styles in design that have emerged since the beginning of the modern industrial period, and of the social and cultural forces that are the basis of the evolving craft of the designer. While significant emphasis will be placed on design of the recent past, students will be required to demonstrate understanding of the relationship between recent trends in design and the traditions from which they emerged. ARTH213 emphasizes the critical process and stresses writing as a primary means of demonstrating knowledge in these areas. Strong emphasis will be placed on all manifestations of modern and contemporary design as it concerns both two and three-dimensional forms.

Credits: 3.0
Prerequisite(s): WRTG120 and ARTH151 or equivalencies

ARTH217: Contemporary Issues in Time-Based Media

ARTH318: Art History Elective

ARTH318 provides students the opportunity to give in-depth focus to a wide range of elective topics in Art History. Experience in the disciplines is broadened through intensive reading, writing, research and oral assignments. Among the topics which students may choose to study are courses such as: 19th Century American Masters; Early Chinese Art; Women, Art, and Society; The Bauhaus; The History of Industrial Design; and others.

ARTH318 is an advanced-level elective course in Art History. In ARTH318 students will undertake an in-depth and systematic investigation of one area of study in Art History. This topic may focus on the art of a geographic area or culture, a particular movement in the history of art, or on the life and work of one artist or group of artists. In each case, the course of study will include an extensive analysis of individual works of art, the cultures from which these emerged, and the critical discourse that helps us understand this art more clearly.

As an advanced-level course, ARTH318 is designed with the understanding that the coursework will feature interpretation, analysis and critical method rather than the mere assimilation and recall of factual material. Students will be presented with readings and lecture material from a variety of sources – and from a range of historic and critical literature on the topic under consideration. Each student will be expected to engage actively with course materials and methods.

Credits: 3.0
Prerequisite(s): WRTG200 and ARTH212/213 or its equivalences