The art history major---
Course requirements: AHIS 101 and
102, AHIS 301;
a 300-400 level writing intensive seminar beyond
AHIS 301; one studio course;
and seven further courses in art history. These must be
distributed so that at least one is taken in each of the
following six categories: the Western classical/medieval
period, the Renaissance, 17th century-Europe,
18th-19th-century Europe, the 20th-21st century, and a
non-Western field. One of the above or a further course
must be an architectural history course that concentrates
on the analysis of architectural and urban form. All
students must complete a 300-400 level seminar beyond
AHIS 301.
AHIS 101 and
102 or a relevant introductory
200-level course are a pre-requisite for upper-level
seminars. The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is
fulfilled by AHIS 301.
All
majors must declare the major in consultation with the
chairman of the Art History Program by the spring sophomore
year deadline, but students are urged to seek an adviser as
early as possible to facilitate planning for study abroad.
A grade of C- or better in each course is required for major
credit, with the exception of the studio requirement, which
may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
General examination---
Senior general examinations are required for all majors,
except for honors candidates who choose to write a senior
thesis (AHIS 497). The general
examination is taken in May on the first of the two
officially stated general examination days after the end
of regularly scheduled classes. The general examination
questions are distributed to students at least three months
in advance of the exam.
Honors---All
seniors are eligible to compete for honors and may seek to
earn honors in the major by pursuing one of two options:
writing a senior thesis or taking the general examination.
Eligible students who wish to write a senior thesis must
have a GPA of 3.5 or better in the major, formulate a project
in consultation with a full-time faculty member, and petition
the department for admission to the thesis program before the
end of classes in the second semester of their junior year.
Students undertaking the senior thesis will receive a letter
grade for AHIS 497 in the spring of
senior year. Those whose grade is A or A- and who maintain a
grade point average in art history courses of at least 3.5
shall graduate with honors in art history. Students taking
the general examination who achieve a grade of high pass or
distinction on the general exam and maintain a GPA in art
history courses of at least 3.5 will graduate with honors
in art history. All students taking a general examination
will have their grade recorded on their transcript.
Authorized general examinations grades are distinction,
high pass, pass, low pass, fail.
Language Across the Curriculum---
Art and architectural history courses may be taken for an
additional .5 credit as part of the Language Across the
Curriculum Program (see Language and Culture Studies).
The studio arts major---
The studio arts major consists of 10 courses in studio arts
and two courses in art history. It is structured to provide
a foundation in drawing and design with an introduction to
the disciplines of painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing,
and photography; and opportunities for advanced study in each
of these studio areas. A grade of C or above is required for
major credit. The following introductory one-semester courses
are required for the studio arts major:
- STAR 121. Drawing I
- STAR 122. Painting I
- STAR 124. Sculpture I
- STAR 125. Printmaking I
- STAR 126. Photography I
These courses should be taken as
early as possible in the student's career. The intermediate
course STAR 221 and one course
out of the group of the following four (
STAR 222,
STAR 224,
STAR 225,
STAR 226) must also be taken.
Upon completion of the intermediate-level courses, studio
arts majors are required to declare a "studio concentration"
in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, or photography.
By special arrangement a studio concentration in intermedia
work can be structured. To complete the major,
STAR 321 and an additional 300-level
course in studio arts must be completed. The studio arts degree
culminates with the completion of a thesis in studio arts. Up
to two course credits transferred from another institution may
count towards the major. The studio art major must also
complete two 200-level or above art history courses. The
Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by
STAR 497.
The thesis
in studio arts is conceived as an independent studio project
that has as its goal the production of a solo exhibition
reflecting the student's grasp of content and critical issues,
as well as the student's mastery of the medium selected as the
studio concentration. The thesis project is conceived as the
integration mechanism for the major. It consists of works
presented as a solo exhibition; any additional artwork created
within the pre-arranged parameters of the project; an
8- to 10-page paper that should address the artwork created,
its antecedents, and the structure, ideas, and issues presented
in the work; and participation in the weekly seminar involving
group critiques, workshops, and discussions.
Focus in architecture---
Recognizing that studio arts provides a model for artistic
practice well suited to the pursuit of a career in architecture,
students may opt to modify the major so that it provides a
15-course "focus in architecture," as follows:
- Ten studio courses, as described above, with one of the
five studio areas identified as a studio concentration.
- AHIS 265. 19th-Century Architecture,
AHIS 286. 20th-Century Architecture,
and one 300-level seminar pertaining to architecture.
- ENGR 341. Architectural Drawing
and ENGR 342. Architectural Design,
which must be completed by the end of the junior year.
- Art created for a solo exhibition/thesis project will
be expected to address the subject of architecture either
through its content, or by virtue of its theoretical foundation.
Honors---The
awarding of departmental honors in studio arts will be based on superior
performance in the major, as evaluated by the entire studio faculty.
The minor in studio arts---
The studio arts minor consists of the following six course requirements:
the student must complete a track of 100, 200, and 300 levels of a
chosen discipline and take any three additional studio arts courses.