Requirements for the Interdepartmental Major:
A minimum of eight courses in the Visual Arts Department, of which seven must be in Art History including four 100 or 200-numbered courses which must include three of the four cultural areas: The Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East/Central Asia; three courses from the 300 and 400 numbered upper level courses at least one of which must be a 400 level seminar. Students also take one course in Studio Art. All proposals for interdepartmental majors including Art History must be approved by the Art History faculty.
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.
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 100 or 200 numbered introductory Art History courses. 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-numbered courses: These courses are introductions to the study of Art History. They cover specific geographical and broad historical periods. Many are cross-listed or approved for credit in other disciplines or interdisciplinary programs. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and many of them carry General Education LCC credit. They may also serve as the prerequisites for many 300 and 400 numbered courses.
200-numbered courses: These courses are introductions to sub-fields within Art History. They may be medium-specific or thematic, and will facilitate learning across cultures. They are designed to be introductory and do not carry prerequisites. Many are cross-listed or approved for credit in other disciplines or interdisciplinary programs. These courses are suitable for first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and many of them carry General Education LCC credit; two currently carry SET credit.
300-numbered courses: These courses are advanced courses that concentrate on specific historical periods, geographic regions, or themes. They generally have prerequisites drawn from the 100 or 200 numbered Art History courses. These courses are generally suitable for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Pre-requisite: any art history course or permission of the instructor)
400-numbered courses: This will be a rotating seminar taught by different faculty or with a different topic each year. It is designed for majors in their junior and senior years, and will involve advanced work in a specific topic or theme. It is required for juniors who intend to write a thesis in the senior year, and for seniors to fulfill their WS requirement.
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.