Program Overview

Art and Architecture, History of (HAA)

The Art and Architecture, History of (HAA) program offers a comprehensive study of the visual arts, architecture, and material culture from around the world, spanning ancient to contemporary periods.

Course Descriptions

• HAA 101: Introduction to African Art: Explores the study of African art, including medium and color, portraiture, the artist and innovation, relationships with language, royal patronage, divination, gender, aesthetics, Othering, and authenticity.
• HAA 115: Introduction to Asian Art: Introduces major developments of art and architecture across Asia, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and East Asia, with emphasis on religious arts of Buddhism and Hinduism.
• HAA 130: Introduction to European Art: Examines art historical methods and their application to a broad chronological survey of European art and architecture from pre-history to the twentieth century.
• HAA 145: Introduction to Arts of the Americas: Surveys the principal developments in art history from the ancient indigenous cultures to the modern art movements across the sovereign nations, including the United States and Canada.

Advanced Courses

• HAA 200: Special Topics on the Art Institute: Exploits the University's partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago to teach students about specific collections or exhibitions.
• HAA 201: Ancient African Art: Surveys artistic traditions from across the African continent from the earliest attempts at visual representation to the Portuguese trading along the coast of West Africa.
• HAA 202: Classical African Art: Covers artistic traditions from the arrival of the Portuguese to the age of African independence in the 1960s.
• HAA 203: Post-Colonial African Art: Examines African art from the age of African independence to the present day, questioning the meaning of "contemporary" in African art.

Graduate Programs

• HAA 400: Chicago Architecture and Urbanism: Focuses on Chicago's architectural and urban development.
• HAA 401: Graduate Topics/History of Art & Architecture: Offers graduate-level investigations into topics from the history of art and architecture.
• HAA 402: Digital Mapping and Art History: Explores digital humanities in art history through digital mapping.

Special Topics and Internships

• HAA 397: Special Topics/History of Art & Architecture: Focused study on a specific topic from the history of world art.
• HAA 394: Museum Studies Internship: Provides students with valuable training in the museum field, working closely with professional museum staff on meaningful projects.

Senior Capstone and Independent Study

• HAA 390: Senior Capstone: The culminating course of the art history major, continuing critical thinking work and facilitating the expansion of a research paper.
• HAA 398: Independent Study: Allows for independent work in the student's field of study under faculty supervision.

Museum Studies

• HAA 391: The Evolving Museum: Histories and Contemporary Challenges: Examines the history and philosophy of museums, discussing their role in society and ethical considerations.
• HAA 392: Curatorial Practice: Introduces students to all aspects of curating, from collecting and acquisition to facilitating engagement, with theories, methodologies, and the history of curatorial practice considered.