Program Overview

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Art History, BA

Overview

Art History emphasizes the analysis of visual data in a historical context. Faculty expertise extends to many world regions—the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Mediterranean, South and Southeast Asia, China, and the Islamic world—and over all historical periods. Students apply what they learn through internship opportunities available in the Washington DC area, including the world-famous collections of the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institutions. Students go on to work in areas including museums, arts institutions, galleries, government and managerial positions. They also pursue further studies in fields including art history, library science, design technology, historic preservation, and fashion.

Policies

Students pursuing this degree must complete 33 to 34 credits within the major, with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Up to 6 credits in art history internships may be applied toward ARTH requirements for the major, with permission of the art history undergraduate director. A maximum of 6 credits of ARTH 398 Study Abroad in the History of Art may be applied to the major with permission of department.

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

All art history majors are encouraged to pursue internships in art history (ARTH 393 Art History Internships) in their junior or senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program. Students contemplating graduate study in art history should acquire a reading knowledge of French, German, or other appropriate research languages in consultation with an advisor.

Core Courses in the Major

• Select one 3-credit survey course from the following:
  • ARTH 200: History of Western Art I (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 201: History of Western Art II (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 203: Survey of Asian Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 204: Survey of Latin American Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 494: The Museum (Mason Core)
• Select 15 credits from ARTH courses at the 300 level
• Total Credits: 21

400-Level ARTH Courses

• Select 6 credits in ARTH at the 400 level or above:
  • ARTH 400: Historiography and Methods of Research in Art History (Topic Varies) (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 420: Advanced Studies in Ancient Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 430: Advanced Studies in Medieval or Islamic Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 440: RS: Advanced Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 460: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century European Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 471: Advanced Studies in Art of the United States (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 472: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century Latin American Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 474: Advanced Studies in Contemporary Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 482: RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 495: RS: Curating an Exhibit (Mason Core)
  • ARTH 499: Advanced Studies in Art History (Mason Core)

Art and Visual Technology Course

• Select one from the following:
  • AVT 103: Introduction to the Artist's Studio (Mason Core)
  • AVT 104: Two-Dimensional Design and Color (Mason Core)
  • AVT 222: Drawing I (Mason Core)
  • AVT 232: Painting I (Mason Core)
  • AVT 243: Printmaking I (Mason Core)
  • AVT 252: Darkroom Photography I (Mason Core)
  • AVT 253: Digital Photography I (Mason Core)
  • AVT 262: Sculpture I (Mason Core)
  • Total Credits: 3-4

Elective in the Major

• Select one 3-credit elective from any art history course
• Total Credits: 3

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in art history fulfill the university's writing-intensive requirement by successfully completing 3 credits in any 400-level ARTH course.

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

Upper Level Requirement

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.

College Level Requirements for the BA Degree

In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).

Philosophy or Religious Studies

• Select 3 credits from the following:
  • PHIL
  • RELI

Social and Behavioral Sciences

• Select 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences from the following (additional to the Mason Core social and behavioral sciences requirement)
  • ANTH
  • CRIM
  • ECON
  • GOVT
  • HIST
  • LING
  • PSYC
  • SOCI
  • Or choose from the following GGS courses:
    • GGS 101: Major World Regions (Mason Core)
    • GGS 103: Human Geography (Mason Core)
    • GGS 110: Introduction to Geoinformation Technologies
    • GGS 301: Political Geography (Mason Core)
    • GGS 303: Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
    • GGS 304: Population Geography (Mason Core)
    • GGS 305: Economic Geography
    • GGS 306: Urban Geography
    • GGS 315: Geography of the United States
    • GGS 316: Geography of Latin America
    • GGS 320: Geography of Europe
    • GGS 325: Geography of North Africa and the Middle East
    • GGS 326: Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia
    • GGS 357: Urban Planning
    • GGS 380: Geography of Virginia

Foreign Language

• Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language, fulfilled by:
  • Completing 3 credits in a foreign language (including American Sign Language) numbered 202 or higher taught in the language
  • Or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test

Non-Western Culture

• Select 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture (additional to the Mason Core requirement in global contexts)

Mason Core

Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Art History Sample Plan of Study

A sample four year graduation plan and degree planning worksheet can be found at students/advising/advising-sheets. The plan is a recommended sequencing of courses based on prerequisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor each semester and with their PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.

Honors in the Major

Eligibility

Majors who have completed 75 credits (a minimum of 15 credits in art history, with 6 credits taken at Mason) with an overall GPA of 3.50 and a GPA of 3.80 in art history are eligible to apply to graduate with honors in art history. Eligible students should apply to the undergraduate director by November 15 or April 15 with a statement of application including the names of two references from Mason art history faculty members. Transfer students should also submit transcripts. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed acceptance into honors in the major.

Honors Requirements

Students pursuing honors in the major complete ARTH 492 Honors Directed Readings and ARTH 493 Honors Directed Research, linked individualized courses that culminate in a research paper. Students must have completed at least 3 credits in the field (or with the professor) chosen for these honors courses. ARTH 492 Honors Directed Readings should be taken before ARTH 493 Honors Directed Research, but they may be taken concurrently. To graduate with honors in the major, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.50 in honors courses and a minimum GPA of 3.50 in art history courses applied to the degree. The two honors courses (6 credits) may be applied toward the requirement of 33- to 34-credits in art history, but they cannot replace the 6 required credits in the following:

• ARTH 400: Historiography and Methods of Research in Art History (Topic Varies) (Mason Core)
• ARTH 420: Advanced Studies in Ancient Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 430: Advanced Studies in Medieval or Islamic Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 440: RS: Advanced Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 460: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century European Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 471: Advanced Studies in Art of the United States (Mason Core)
• ARTH 472: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century Latin American Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 474: Advanced Studies in Contemporary Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 482: RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art (Mason Core)
• ARTH 495: RS: Curating an Exhibit (Mason Core)
• ARTH 499: Advanced Studies in Art History (Mason Core)
• ARTH 599: Special Topics in Art History

Program Outcomes

• Acquire visual analysis skills, including the understanding of formal elements, iconography, and historical context.
• Acquire visual literacy skills that are applicable to multiple disciplines or careers.
• Develop the ability to analyze technique, production, and artistic media within relevant historical contexts.
• Gain museum knowledge, including an understanding of the history, purpose, and function of museums as cultural and social institutions.
• Engage with the development, installation, and evaluation of exhibitions in the Curating course and our internship program.
• Develop research skills, including finding and using of a variety of primary and current secondary sources.
• Learn to critically read texts and assess textual and visual evidence.
• Enhance writing skills, including the crafting of an argument and mastering the mechanics of academic writing.

Bachelor's Degree (any)/Art History, Accelerated MA

Overview

Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MA in Art History in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.

See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Polices and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to the accelerated MA in Art History, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits and meeting with the Art History BAM coordinator, undergraduate director and graduate director.

Students who are accepted in the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.

Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements

Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:

• Minimum overall GPA of 3.50
• Completion of at least two 300-level art history courses with a minimum grade of B+ in each
• Successfully meeting Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:

• Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits)
  • ARTH 599 Special Topics in Art History (may be repeated for up to 12 credits when topic differs)
  • ARTH 595 Curating an Exhibit (may be repeated for up to 6 credits when topic differs)
• Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program
  • ARTH 599 Special Topics in Art History (may be repeated for up to 6 credits when topic differs)