The Major in History of Art is designed to give students a solid grounding in the artistic traditions, practices, and contexts that comprise historical and contemporary visuality. Equally it introduces the discipline’s history, methods, and debates. It prepares students to do independent research, to evaluate evidence, to create coherent and sustained arguments, and to develop skills in academic writing. In a series of increasingly focused courses—Lower division, Upper Division, Seminar, and Honors Program—the major provides a format for students to learn how to analyze and interpret visual, material, and textual evidence from specific cultural settings and historical circumstances. Major requirements are also designed to maximize exposure to different historical periods, geographical regions, and topics, while allowing flexibility for students to pursue their specific interests by selecting a Focus of Study.

41-48 units total

I. LOWER DIVISION (4 courses)

A. Three History of Art Courses (9-12 units)

Majors must complete 9 to 12 units of Lower Division course work in the History of Art. These units may come from courses taken in the Department, courses taken at other institutions granted transfer credit for the Major by the Department, or from AP Art History (score of 4 or 5). Courses that qualify for Lower Division requirements include:

 

        4 unit lecture courses: HA 10, 11, 34, 35, 51, 62, etc.
        3 unit lecture courses.    

 

Additional requirement: These three courses must include one course in Western art and one course in non-Western art.

 

B. One Art Practice/Materials Course (2-4 units)

Students must complete 2, 3, or 4 units in a course that introduces specific art making practices and/or the study of the materials of art. This course must be approved in advance by an Undergraduate Advisor in History of Art. It may be taken P/NP. Applicable courses are typically offered in the Practice of Art Department, College of Environmental Design, and program in New Media Studies. Students may also take courses that involve the making of art taught occasionally in the Department.

 

II. UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS (8 courses) 

In their Upper Division course work in History of Art (total 26-28 units; 8 of these units in seminars), each student must take courses in four of the following five Geographical areas and one course in each of the three Chronological periods.

     Geographical:                                             Chronological:
     A) Europe and the Mediterranean          I) Prehistoric – 1200
     B) Asia and the Pacific                               II) 1200 – 1800
     C) The Americas                                         III) 1800 – present
     D) Middle East and Africa 
     E) Trans-cultural

Upper Division lecture courses (3 or 4 units) and seminars (2 or 4 units) may fulfill these breadth requirements. Upper Division classes (lecture or seminar) can fulfill both a Geographical requirement and a Chronological requirement.

A. Five Lecture Courses (18-20 units)
Up to two of these courses may be 3 unit courses.

B. Seminars (8 units)

Students in the major are required to complete 8 units of seminar study, of which 4 units (incorporating a research paper component) must be in their Focus of Study. The remaining four units may be taken as follows:

            A second 4-unit seminar with research paper.
                            Or
            Two 2-unit seminars without research papers.

Individual faculty members will decide when a given seminar can be taken for 2 units. 2-unit seminars require active participation and completion of weekly readings and writing assignments. 4-unit seminars add a final research paper.

III. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT (1 course)

A. Theories/Methods (4 units)

All students in the major are required to take either HA100 or HA101. These courses, offered in fall and spring semesters, focus on historiography and theoretical/philosophical models in the History of Art, on practical methods of art historical inquiry, or a combination thereof. Students should take HA100 or HA101 early in their work in the major. Students intending to pursue graduate training in the History of Art or related disciplines are encouraged to take both courses.