Program Overview

Art History Program

The Art History program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the visual arts and their role in human culture. The program covers historical perspectives on the visual arts, study of the methodologies of art history and critical theory, and consideration of contemporary issues in the practice and display of art.

Program Description

Art history is the study of art and architecture as manifestations of human creativity and as valuable forms of historical documentation. Art history students learn to appreciate the fundamental and varied roles the visual arts play in the lives of human beings, as they become familiar with major works in the Western and non-Western traditions. The program encourages broad, interdisciplinary exploration of artistic, aesthetic, and visual traditions in their social, historical, and cross-cultural contexts.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes for the Art History program are as follows:

• First Year:
  • Recognize and understand major monuments, artists, methods, and theories, and assess the qualities of works of art and architecture in their historical and cultural settings.
  • Describe works objectively and interpret works of art from a range of historical periods.
  • Demonstrate an effective knowledge of visual vocabulary appropriate for careers in the visual arts, architecture, and visual studies.
• Second Year:
  • Evaluate the aesthetic, historical, social, and ethical significance of the visual realm that is our present environment and the heritage of many cultures.
  • Construct plausible methods of analysis in the field of art history and visual culture.
  • Develop a broader and deeper understanding of how visual images inflect and change our understanding of historical events.
• Third and Fourth Years:
  • Identify the major debates that have shaped the discipline of art history and visual culture and situate methodologies and approaches within or without these historiographical contexts.
  • Locate, interpret, and analyze primary and secondary sources relevant to research questions.
  • Develop and implement the critical skills necessary for complex visual analysis.
  • Communicate ideas using visual, oral, and written arguments and presentation skills.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Art History program can pursue careers in:

• Advanced Graduate Studies in Art History and Visual Culture
• Cultural Resource Management
• Heritage Conservation
• Information Science
• Education
• Marketing and the Art Market
• Publishing
• Development
• Museums and Galleries

Major in Art History

The Major in Art History requires a minimum of 9.00 credits, including:

• Core Requirements:
  • ARTH*1510: Art Historical Studies I
  • ARTH*1520: Art Historical Studies II
• Additional Requirements:
  • ARTH*2220: The Visual Arts Today
  • ARTH*2480: Introduction to Art Theory and Criticism
  • ARTH*2540: Medieval Art
  • ARTH*2550: The Italian Renaissance
  • ARTH*2600: Early Modern Art
• 1.50 credits from a list of approved courses, including:
  • ARTH*2050: Modern Latin American Art
  • ARTH*2060: Aboriginal Arts in the Americas
  • ARTH*2070: Art of the USA
  • ARTH*2120: Introduction to Museology
  • ARTH*2150: Art and Archaeology of Greece
  • ARTH*2280: Modern Architecture
  • ARTH*2290: History of Photographic Media
  • ARTH*2580: Late Modern Art
  • ARTH*2950: Baroque Art
• 2.00 credits from a list of approved 3000-level courses, including:
  • ARTH*3010: Contemporary Canadian Art
  • ARTH*3060: Public Art
  • ARTH*3150: Space: Roman Art and Urbanism
  • ARTH*3200: Colour: Practice & Meanings in Western Art
  • ARTH*3210: Critical Issues in Art History
  • ARTH*3220: Nationalism & Identity in Art
  • ARTH*3320: Lives: Aspects of Western Art
  • ARTH*3330: Display: Visual Culture in Western European Art
  • ARTH*3340: Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art
  • ARTH*3520: Idea: Art Since 1950
  • ARTH*3600: Topics in the Long Eighteenth Century
  • ARTH*3620: Museum Studies
  • ARTH*3780: Gender and Art
  • EURO*3150: Topics in European Film
• 2.00 credits from 4000-level seminar courses, including:
  • ARTH*4310: Topics in Art & Visual Culture I
  • ARTH*4320: Topics in Art & Visual Culture II
  • ARTH*4330: Topics in Art & Visual Culture III
  • ARTH*4340: Topics in Art & Visual Culture IV
  • ARTH*4350: Topics in Art & Visual Culture V

Minor in Art History

The Minor in Art History requires a minimum of 5.00 credits, including:

• Core Requirements:
  • ARTH*1510: Art Historical Studies I
  • ARTH*1520: Art Historical Studies II
• Additional Requirements:
  • 4.00 additional credits in Art History, including at least 2.00 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Museum Studies

The Minor program in Museum Studies offers an introduction to museum culture from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The program requires a minimum of 5.00 credits, including:

• Core Requirements:
  • ARTH*1510: Art Historical Studies I
  • ARTH*1520: Art Historical Studies II
  • ARTH*2120: Introduction to Museology
  • ARTH*2480: Introduction to Art Theory and Criticism
  • ARTH*3330: Display: Visual Culture in Western Europe
  • ARTH*3620: Museum Studies
• Additional Requirements:
  • 2.00 additional credits in Art History.