Students should declare the major as early as possible and no later than the deadline for major declaration in the spring of the sophomore year. At the time of declaration, each student should schedule a personal appointment with the department chair to determine the assignment of an adviser, to review the major requirements, and to plan for study away.

LEARNING GOALS

The Art History Department’s learning goals can be found HERE.

REQUIREMENTS

The art history major requires 12 courses. No course will be accepted for major credit with a grade lower than C-.

Core courses: AHIS 101, 102, and AHIS 301; two 300-level writing intensive seminars beyond AHIS 301; one course in a non-Western field; plus six further courses in art history. These must be distributed in three groups as follows: 3 courses in Group II (Classical-1800), including the Western classical/medieval period, the Renaissance, 17th-century Europe, and 18th-century Europe; 2 courses in Group III (1800-present), including 19th-20th-21st century Europe and America; and 1 course in Group IV (Electives).

All students must complete two 300-level seminars beyond AHIS 301. AHIS 101 and 102 or a relevant introductory 200-level course are a prerequisite for many upper-level seminars. The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by AHIS 301.

Electives: Additional art history courses, studio arts, architectural drawing, and study away courses in art history not approved for specific distribution credit in the major.

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. Like other graduating seniors, students taking a general examination are required to take final examinations in courses.

General examinations are graded distinction, high pass, pass, low pass, and fail, and the grade is recorded on the student’s transcript. The general examination questions are distributed to students at least three months in advance of the exam. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major who receive a grade of high pass or distinction on the general examination will graduate with honors in art history.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study away: Rome program

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.