专业描述

From the earliest Paleolithic cave paintings rendered over 30,000 years ago to the exuberant canvases of the late Modern Age, the visual arts offer a unique record of human civilization, expressing and preserving some of humanity's most vibrant, profound and cherished experiences, feelings, and beliefs. The study of art history is an investigation into this most essential, sophisticated, and enduring form of human communication. Beginning with a two semester survey of Western art and architecture from prehistory to the present, and followed with twelve more specialized courses, the art history major is introduced to a broad range of ancient, medieval, renaissance, baroque, modern and contemporary art works. In this process, the student is also introduced to a diversity of methodologies for understanding art objects formally and analytically in their social, political, and economic context. Among the required fourteen courses that majors must take, one is in drawing or painting; one is the Junior Seminar in critical methodologies and research skills in preparation for the advanced Senior Seminar, which culminates in the completion of a senior thesis. Philosophy of Art is also requisite in partial fulfillment of the university’s philosophy distribution requirement. Comprehensive examinations are given in the last semester of senior year. Students with an honors level grade point average, who wish to receive Departmental Honors in Art History, may apply to write a Senior Honor's Thesis. Progress in completing this Senior Thesis will be guided through the student's enrollment in a Senior Honor's Tutorial. Awards will be given to thesis projects that successfully demonstrate a high degree of scholarly achievement and self-motivation.