ARTH — Art History: Catalog Entries

9 catalog course(s) on file. Undergraduate courses are numbered 100–499; graduate courses 500–699. See the department page for faculty and program information.

ARTH 101 — Survey of Western Art I(3 cr.)

Surveys painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistory through the Gothic period. Students learn methods of visual analysis alongside the historical and religious contexts that shaped major works. No prior art history background is required.

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ARTH 102 — Survey of Western Art II(3 cr.)

Continues the survey of Western art from the Renaissance to the present day. Students trace stylistic developments alongside changing social and intellectual currents. The course emphasizes close visual analysis of major works.

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ARTH 210 — Art of Asia(3 cr.)

Introduces the arts of South, East, and Southeast Asia from antiquity to the present. Students examine painting, sculpture, and architecture within their religious and cultural contexts. Comparative discussion highlights exchange across Asian artistic traditions.

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ARTH 230 — Renaissance Art(3 cr.)

Examines painting, sculpture, and architecture in Italy and Northern Europe from roughly 1400 to 1600. Students study major artists alongside the patronage systems and humanist ideas that shaped their work. Close looking at original techniques and materials is emphasized throughout.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 101

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ARTH 250 — Modern Art 1850-1945(3 cr.)

Surveys the major movements of modern art from Impressionism through Surrealism. Students consider how industrialization, war, and new theories of perception reshaped artistic practice. Primary source readings from artists and critics accompany visual analysis.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 102

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ARTH 310 — Contemporary Art(3 cr.)

Examines global artistic practice from 1945 to the present, including painting, installation, and new media. Students engage critically with debates over identity, globalization, and the art market. Several class sessions include gallery or museum visits.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 250

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ARTH 330 — Museum Studies(3 cr.)

Introduces the history, theory, and practice of museums, including collection management, exhibition design, and audience engagement. Students complete a hands-on curatorial project using the university's teaching collection. Guest lectures from regional museum professionals supplement course readings.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 102

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ARTH 360 — American Art and Architecture(3 cr.)

Surveys painting, sculpture, and architecture in the United States from the colonial period to the present. Students consider how American art has engaged questions of national identity, race, and landscape. Case studies draw on major regional collections.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 102

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ARTH 495 — Senior Seminar in Art History(3 cr.)

Serves as the capstone course for art history majors, requiring an original research paper on a topic of the student's choosing. Weekly workshops develop skills in research methods, writing, and oral presentation. Students present their findings at the department's annual symposium.

Prerequisite(s): ARTH 310

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