Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
Art history is an interdisciplinary field, drawing upon philosophy, history, literature, religion, and mythology to examine works of art and their contexts.
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History provides a foundation in the history of art and architecture in its cultural and theoretical context. Aesthetic and historical issues have become increasingly central to the creation, display, and reception of art. School of Art and Design courses in Art History introduce tools for the making and analysis of art, including the history of works of art, the language of art, and the cultural context for works of art. In the final semester, the student will complete a senior research project on a topic selected by the student with the approval of the art history faculty.
Each semester, art history field trips travel to study works in regional museums. The Art Museum of West Virginia University provides first-hand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value, and introduces students to curatorial and museum practice. Guest artist and art historian lectures and exhibitions in the Mesaros Galleries are scheduled each semester.
Majors are encouraged to study abroad through several field study and study abroad programs. Art History courses are offered abroad in the Disegno Italia program, San Gemini Preservation Studies in Italy, and 19th Century Painting and Photography in France.
Art history majors are required to complete four semesters of a language other than English or pass a written translation competency exam.
Admissions
Students must meet the requirements for University admission. There are no additional entrance requirements (e.g., portfolio review) for the Bachelor of Arts programs in Art History, Art Therapy, Game Design and Interactive Media, or Technical Art History.
A research paper is recommended for applicants seeking scholarship consideration into the Art History program.
For further information, please consult the College's website or call the College's Recruitment Office at (304) 293-4339. Applicants can also visit the School of Art and Design's website: http://artanddesign.wvu.edu/academics or phone the School office at (304) 293-2552.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 2574
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations | ||
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
Total Hours | 31-37 |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 45 | |
School of Art and Design Requirements | 6 | |
Art History Major Requirements | 69 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
University Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 | 19 | |
ART 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
General Electives | 24 | |
Total Hours | 45 |
School of Art and Design Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A grade of C- or higher required in all ART and ARHS courses in the program requirements. | ||
ARHS 120 | Survey of Art History 1 (may fulfill GEF 6) | 3 |
ARHS 160 | Survey of Art History 2 (may fulfill GEF 8) | 3 |
Global Positioning Studies (GPS) Requirement * | ||
Writing Portfolio Requirement ** | ||
Total Hours | 6 |
- *
Global Positioning Studies (GPS) Requirement - At least one ART or ARHS course must fulfill the GPS requirement.
- **
The School of Art and Design values and supports written communication abilities and critical thinking skills developed through iterative writing experiences across the curriculum and within the discipline. To meet this goal students must pass with a B- or better a writing portfolio requirement that includes examples of academic, professional, and reflective writing they have produced in their regular courses. Please contact your advisor for more information.
Art History Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A grade of C- or higher required in all ART and ARHS courses in the major requirements. | ||
Studio (Any ART course) | 6 | |
Art History Core | ||
Prehistory to 1300: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
Greek and Roman | ||
Ancient Roman Art and Architecture | ||
Medieval | ||
Medieval Architecture | ||
1300-1750: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
Northern Renaissance | ||
Italian Renaissance | ||
Baroque | ||
ARHS Semester in Italy | ||
1750-Present: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
American | ||
Nineteenth Century | ||
Modern | ||
Modern Architecture | ||
Contemporary | ||
Art History Major Courses | ||
ARHS 240 | Research, Writing, & Methods in Art History *** | 3 |
ARHS 345 | Modern Art Theory | 3 |
ARHS 494 | Seminar | 3 |
ARHS 401 | Senior Project-Capstone | 3 |
ARHS 300/400 level (excluding Special Topics courses) **** | 9 | |
Cognate Areas ***** | ||
Foreign Language (fulfills GEFs 7 and 8) ****** | 12 | |
Cognate 1 | 9 | |
Cognate 2 | 6 | |
Cognate 3 | 6 | |
Total Hours | 69 |
- ***
ARHS 240 fulfills writing requirement
- ****
Excludes ARHS 411, ARHS 412, ARHS 413, ARHS 414
- *****
Recommended Cognate/GEF Depth/Minor Areas include: Art History Specializations; Chemistry/Physics/Forensics; Art Administration; Historic Presentation; History/Humanities/Classics/Archaeology/Anthropology; Literature; Museum/Curatorial; Native American/African Studies; Philosophy/Religion/Women's Studies; Studio Art/Theater/Music; Study Abroad/Off Campus; World Architecture
- ******
The foreign language requirement typically completes GEF areas 7 and 8. Students who elect to complete six hours of Latin (CLAS) coursework will complete GEF 5, contribute three hours to GEF 8, and will now need to fulfill GEF 7
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
Studio Arts | 3 | Cognate 1 Course | 3 |
ARHS 120 (GEF 6) | 3 | ARHS 160 | 3 |
Foreign Language (GEF 7) | 3 | Foreign Language (GEF 8) | 3 |
ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
ART 191 (University Requirement) | 2 | GEF 2 | 4 |
GEF 4 | 3 | ||
17 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
Art History Core course | 3 | ARHS 240 | 3 |
Cognate 2 Course | 3 | Art History Core course | 3 |
Foreign Language (GEF 8) | 3 | GEF 3 | 3 |
ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | Foreign Language (GEF 8) | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | Cognate 3 Course | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Third Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ARHS 345 | 3 | Art History Core course | 3 |
Cognate 1 Course | 3 | ARHS Elective | 3 |
ARHS Elective | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | Cognate 2 Course | 3 |
Studio Art | 3 | Cognate 3 Course | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Fourth Year | |||
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
ARHS 494 | 3 | ARHS Elective | 3 |
Cognate 1 Course | 3 | ARHS 401 | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
General Elective | 3 | ||
15 | 12 | ||
Total credit hours: 120 |
Curriculum Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
University Requirements | 36 | |
School of Art and Design Requirements | 6 | |
Art History Major Requirements | 48 | |
Law Requirements | 30 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
University Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 | 19 | |
ART 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
General Electives | 15 | |
Total Hours | 36 |
School of Art and Design Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ARHS 120 | Survey of Art History 1 | 3 |
ARHS 160 | Survey of Art History 2 | 3 |
Total Hours | 6 |
Art History Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A grade of C- or higher required in all ART and ARHS courses in the major requirements. | ||
Studio (Any ART course) | 6 | |
Art History Core | ||
Prehistory to 1300: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
Greek and Roman | ||
Ancient Roman Art and Architecture | ||
Medieval | ||
Medieval Architecture | ||
1300-1750: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
Northern Renaissance | ||
Italian Renaissance | ||
Baroque | ||
ARHS Semester in Italy | ||
1750-Present: Select 1 from the following | 3 | |
American | ||
Nineteenth Century | ||
Modern | ||
Modern Architecture | ||
Contemporary | ||
Art History Major Courses | ||
ARHS 240 | Research, Writing, & Methods in Art History | 3 |
ARHS 345 | Modern Art Theory | 3 |
ARHS 494 | Seminar | 3 |
ARHS 401 | Senior Project-Capstone | 3 |
ARHS 300/400 level (excluding Special Topics courses) | 9 | |
Foreign Language (fulfills GEFs 7 and 8) | 12 | |
Total Hours | 48 |
Doctor of Jurisprudence Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
LAW 641 | Introduction to Legal Research | 1 |
LAW 675 | Introduction to the Profession | 1 |
LAW 686 | Civil Procedure | 4 |
LAW 700 | Legal Analysis, Research and Writing 1 | 3 |
LAW 703 | Contracts 1 | 4 |
LAW 705 | Criminal Law | 3 |
LAW 707 | Property | 4 |
LAW 709 | Torts 1 | 4 |
LAW 711 | Legal Analysis, Research and Writing 2 | 2 |
LAW 725 | Constitutional Law 1 | 4 |
Total Hours | 30 |
Once accepted to the College of Law, students will complete all of the requirements of the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree as are in effect when the student begins at the College of Law. The classes taken during the first year at the College of Law will count toward both the student's undergraduate degree and Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. During their second and third years at the College of Law, students shall be responsible for fulfilling all of the other requirements in order to graduate with the Doctor of Jurisprudence as in effect when the student began at the College of Law. Students should communicate with their undergraduate program during their 4th year of undergraduate/1st year of law school to coordinate graduating with their undergraduate degree in the August following the completion of their first year of law classes.
Major Learning Outcomes
Art History
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree is based on a breadth of general, liberal arts studies (humanities, natural and physical sciences, and social sciences) with a specialized focus in one area of the Arts.
- The ability to think, speak, and write clearly and effectively, and to communicate with precision, cogency and rhetorical force.
- An informed acquaintance with the mathematical and experimental methods of the physical and biological sciences, and with the main forms of analysis of the historical and quantitative techniques needed for investigating the workings and developments of modern society.
- An ability to address culture and history from a variety of perspectives.
- Understanding of, and experience in thinking about, moral and ethical problems.
- The ability to respect, understand and evaluate work in a variety of disciplines.
- The capacity to explain and defend views effectively and rationally.
Additional specific goals related to the art history degree:
- A general knowledge of the monuments and principal artists of all major art periods of the past, including a broad understanding of the art of the contemporary and modern periods and acquaintance with the art history of non-Western cultures.
- A general knowledge of the theory, modes of analysis, and criticism relevant to the discipline of art history.
- A general knowledge of world history.
- Knowledge of the tools and techniques of scholarship.
- Functional knowledge of the creative process.
- Adequate mastery of at least one foreign language to support research through the reading of primary source materials.