Art History, BA

Students majoring in art history are expected and encouraged to:

Visit museum collections and special exhibitions
Take coursework in related areas such as history, literature, music and theatre
Present a comprehensive portfolio for 12-credit, junior and senior year reviews by the art history faculty
Have reading knowledge of a global language or languages
Study in an international off-campus program
Participation in the Graduating Senior Art Exhibition and the Grand Rapids Area Art History Symposium is expected in the spring semester of the senior year

Students planning on graduate studies in art history are recommended to have reading knowledge of French and German.

The art history major consists of 31 credits of coursework. ART 242 may not count toward both an art history major and a studio art major.

Required Art History

ART 111 - Introduction to Art History Credits: 3
ART 494 - Introduction to Theory and Methods Credits: 1-3

200-level Art History (5 courses)

ART 231 - 3rd through 14th Century Arts: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives Credits: 3
ART 232 - 14th through 16th Century Arts: Tradition, Innovation, and Global Exchange Credits: 3
ART 233 - 16th through 18th Century Arts: Splendor, Spectacle, and Cultural Encounters Credits: 3
ART 241 - Modern Art: Counter Cultures from the Turn of the 20th Century to the Post-War Period Credits: 3
ART 242 - Global Art Since 1960 Credits: 3
ART 245 - Introduction to the Arts of the Islamic World Credits: 3
ART 250 - Art, History, and Global Citizenship in Paris Credits: 3
ART 295 - Advanced Special Studies Credits: 1-3

Upper-level Seminars (9 credits)

3 of the upper-level seminar credits must be ART 360 or ART 361 . The remaining 6 credits may be either of those courses, or, any upper-level Arts and Humanities course.

Special Problems/Projects in Art History (3 credits)

ART 360 - Special Problems in Art History Credits: 3
ART 361 - Special Projects in Art History Credits: 3

Additional upper-level seminars (6 credits)

ART 360 - Special Problems in Art History Credits: 3 (repeatable for credit)
ART 361 - Special Projects in Art History Credits: 3 (repeatable for credit)
Any 300-level or higher Arts and Humanities course (DAN, ENGL, HIST, MUS, PHIL, REL, THEA, WGS, world languages)

Studio Art (1 course)

ART 105 - Basic Design Credits: 3
ART 112 - Color and Context Credits: 3
ART 113 - Basic Painting Credits: 3
ART 114 - Basic Drawing Credits: 3
ART 115 - Basic Sculpture Credits: 3
ART 116 - Basic Printmaking Credits: 3
ART 117 - Basic Ceramics Credits: 3
ART 118 - Watercolor Credits: 3
ART 119 - Basic Photography/Film Credits: 3
ART 120 - Basic Photography/Digital Credits: 3
ART 130 - Time-Based Media Credits: 3

Art History & French Double Majors

Students interested in majoring in both Art History and French should plan for a semester in Paris, Nantes, Rennes or Dakar. There are many off-campus programs available that will prepare a student for a variety of fields, including graduate work in art history, practicing fine artists, sculptors, painters, printmakers and photographers, graphic design, art gallery management and museum work, publishing and teaching at the high school and college levels. Programs may include:

French immersion courses administered by the program
French courses at the local universities
Housing in local homes as well as independent housing
Field trips connected with the program
Internships

Students interested in this should contact the Department Chairpersons of Art & Art History and World Languages and Cultures to be advised on the proper sequencing of courses.