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History of Art Curriculum

The History of Art major offers a variety of courses in ancient to contemporary Western art and Asian art. The student may specialize in a given area and choose a faculty advisor who will guide his or her work. The Honors Program in art history requires the completion of a Senior Thesis written under the close supervision of an advisor and a faculty committee. Students may also receive academic credit for internships taken in off-campus museums and art galleries.

Requirements for Major in History of Art

  • Art history curriculum general requirements: 10 required courses from among the FA and cross-listed course offerings, plus two electives.
    1. FA 17a or one course each in ancient and medieval.
    2. FA 18b plus two electives in Renaissance through Modern or three courses selected from the following four fields: Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, Architecture/American.
    3. One course in Asian art.
    4. FA 197b, Seminar in Methods and Approaches in the History of Art.
    5. One research seminar. (FA 184-194: Studies in ...; or one research seminar (FA 98a or FA 98b [Independent Study in Art History] may be substituted in certain cases with permission of the instructor)
    6. Two semesters of studio work.
    7. The remaining elective courses may be selected from other art history (not studio art) and cross-listed offerings, or with permission of the faculty advisor and the other, may be taken in related areas outside of the department. Majors may take either FA 76a or FILM 100a for an elective, but not both. Prospective graduate students in the history of art are advised to acquire skills in foreign languages, which are necessary for graduate study.

  • Requirements for Minor in History of Art

  • A minor in art history is offered in addition to the major. This gives the student majoring in another department the opportunity to flexibly construct a program of six art history courses that reflect his or her own personal or academic interests.

  • Six courses are required in art history:
    1. One pre-Renaissance or Asian art course.
    2. Five additional art history courses, which may include FA 76a or FILM 100a, but not both.

  • Studio fine arts courses do not count toward the history of art minor.

  • No more than two courses taken abroad (or off campus) and no advanced placement courses may be counted toward the minor.

  • Art History Courses

  • Please see the Current Semester Course Listing to learn what courses are offered this term.

  • The current semester courses are listed at the Registrar's course registration site. A listing of all courses offered in rotation in the department may be found at the Registrar's site in the Brandeis Bulletin.