Requirements for the Major:
Students take twelve courses, including: two of the three Western art history survey courses and one of the Asian art history survey courses, four other art history courses (which must cover at least three historical periods, cultures, or geographic regions), a minimum of two studio arts courses, and three additional advanced art history courses. One of these advanced courses must be AAH 400 , a seminar on methodology, which should be taken the winter term of a student’s junior year. Majors concentrating in art history are encouraged to continue the study of at least one foreign language at Union. Seniors should fulfill the WS requirement in an art history seminar or through the senior thesis.
To pursue a senior thesis, art history concentrators or interdepartmental majors must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 overall and 3.3 in their art history concentration. The student must have successfully completed a junior qualifying paper (“B plus” or above) in the context of an upper-level art history course with the approval of the faculty advisor, and have completed AAH 400 . The senior thesis topic must be approved by the faculty advisor in the third term of the junior year. All of these criteria must be met by the end of the junior year.
Requirements for Honors in Art History:
To qualify for departmental honors, a student must fulfill the following requirements: (1) cumulative grade point average of 3.3; (2) a grade point average of 3.3 in the art history concentration; (3) successful completion of a two-term senior thesis (“A” or “A-minus”); (4) approval by a second faculty reader; (5) an oral presentation at The Steinmetz Symposium in the spring term of senior year and (6) a copy of the thesis must be left with the department’s collection and archives. Having fulfilled the above, the student must then be nominated by the department for honors. Further guidelines for the senior thesis and departmental honors are available from the art history faculty.
Architecture Track:
Union offers a studio fine arts concentration with a recommended sequence of courses for students who plan to apply for graduate school in architecture as well as related fields of historic preservation, landscape architecture, and urban planning. While graduate schools in these areas don’t require a specific major, a thorough and strong Studio Art portfolio is essential and greatly enhanced by specific course work in engineering, art history, math, and science. Those interested should consult any of the studio advisors as early as possible for specific details. Advisors: Professors Benjamin, Duncan, Hatke, Orellana; Senior Lecturer Wimer
Course Selection Guidelines
Placement: Incoming first-year students who score a 4 or 5 on the AP exam in Art History may receive credit for one of the three introductory Art History courses (AAH 101 -AAH 103 ). Students who plan to major or minor in Art History are nonetheless encouraged to take the introductory courses as a way of deepening their backgrounds.
100-level courses: These courses are designed to be introductions to the study of Art History, and comprise either a chronological sequence of courses on Western art or two geographical introductions to Asian art. Though they are numbered sequentially, students may begin the sequence at any point. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors and many of them carry Common Curriculum (CC) LCC credit. They serve as the prerequisites for many advanced courses.
200-level courses: These courses are focused, thematic introductions to sub-fields within Art History. They are designed to be introductory courses and do not carry prerequisites. Many are cross-listed with other disciplines or interdisciplinary programs, and they may, with approval of the department, count as advanced courses for the major. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and many of them carry Common Curriculum (CC) LCC credit.
300-400-level courses: These courses are advanced courses that concentrate on specific historical periods, geographic regions, or themes. They generally have prerequisites drawn from the introductory Art History courses, and are designed for majors and minors. These courses are suitable for advanced sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Internships, Independent Studies, and Thesis: These courses are generally reserved for advanced Art History students, who must consult with the Art History program and arrange for academic sponsorship prior to registering for them.
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