Major in Art History - Research Concentration
Students may select one of two concentrations in Art History:
- Research or
- Research/Studio
Most students who plan to go on to graduate school in Art History choose the Research concentration, while students planning on a career in the gallery or conservation fields often choose the Research/Studio concentration. Both concentrations require the two-course capstone experience: Research Methods in Art History and Seminar in Art History. In both of these options, advanced research skills, knowledge of the use of technology in both research and presentation, and well-developed writing skills are required.
The optional honors thesis also allows those students with a qualifying grade point average to pursue an individual research project with a faculty adviser which will result in the thesis. Students may also take ARTH 498, which allows them the opportunity to gain practical experience in the community. Towson University has been successful in placing Art History students in such venues as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Gallery, Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Art Place and the Contemporary Museum.
Art History Major Requirements
Students majoring in Art History must select one of two concentrations: Research, or Research/Studio. All Art History majors must complete the following required courses (15 units) in addition to the requirements of their chosen concentration (36-51 units) for a total of 51-66 units.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses | ||
| ARTH 221 | SURVEY OF WESTERN ART I | 3 |
| ARTH 222 | SURVEY OF WESTERN ART II | 3 |
| Multicultural Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| IMAGES OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, GREEK, AND ROMAN ART | ||
| EAST ASIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| ART OF CHINA | ||
| ART OF JAPAN | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN ART: 1800 TO PRESENT | ||
| WOMEN IN ART | ||
| Capstone Experience | ||
| ARTH 391 | RESEARCH METHODS OF ART HISTORY | 3 |
| ARTH 485 | SEMINAR IN ART HISTORY | 3 |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Research Concentration Requirements
This concentration is for those students who want to work in the curatorial, educational, public relations or registration areas of a museum or gallery or who wish to go on to graduate school in the art history field. Two years of either German or French are strongly recommended but not required.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Art History Electives | ||
| Select nine of the following: | 27 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO MUSEUM STUDIES | ||
| ORGINS OF WESTERN ART | ||
| MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY | ||
| MYTHS AND LEGENDS IN GREEK ART | ||
| IMAGES OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, GREEK, AND ROMAN ART | ||
| ART & ARCHITECTURE OF THE CLASSICAL WORLD | ||
| MEDIEVAL ART | ||
| ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| BAROQUE ART & ARCHITECTURE | ||
| MODERN ART I | ||
| MODERN ART II | ||
| HISTORY OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| A HISTORY OF MODERN INTERIORS | ||
| HISTORY OF MODERN DESIGN | ||
| ART, CULTURE AND POLITICS | ||
| RACE, SEXUALITY, AND GENDER IN ART | ||
| EAST ASIAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| ART OF CHINA | ||
| ART OF JAPAN | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN ART | ||
| ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNITED STATES I: COLONIAL TO 1900 | ||
| ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE U.S. II: 1900 TO PRESENT | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN ART: 1800 TO PRESENT | ||
| WOMEN IN ART | ||
| HISTORY OF PRINTS IN AMERICA | ||
| HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF NEW MEDIA | ||
| VISUAL ART AFTER MODERNISM | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ART HISTORY | ||
| SEMINAR IN ART HISTORY (repeatable) | ||
| STUDY ABROAD | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ART HISTORY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ART HISTORY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ART HISTORY | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN ART HISTORY | ||
| HONORS THESIS IN ART HISTORY | ||
| Upper-Level Electives | ||
| Select upper-level (300-400) courses in allied disciplines such as Anthropology, English, History and Philosophy in consultation with advisor. | 9 | |
| Total Units | 36 | |
Suggested Four-Year Plan
Based on course availability and student needs and preferences, the selected sequences will probably vary from those presented below. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ARTH 221 (Core 5) | 3 | ARTH 222 | 3 |
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 7 | 4 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 11 | 3 |
| Core 6 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ART 351 (Suggested Core 9) | 3 | ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 |
| ARTH 3xx: Any Multicultural Requirement2 | 3 | ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 |
| ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 | Core 12 | 3 |
| ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Core 8 | 3-4 | Elective | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 | ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 |
| ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 | ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 |
| Any 3xx/4xx: Allied Disciplines (ANTH, ENGL, HIST or PHIL)1 | 3 | ARTH 3xx/4xx: ARTH Elective3 | 3 |
| Core 13 | 3 | Any 3xx/4xx: Allied Disciplines (ANTH, ENGL, HIST or PHIL)1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Core 14 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| ARTH 391 | 3 | ARTH 485 | 3 |
| Any 3xx/4xx: Allied Disciplines (ANTH, ENGL, HIST or PHIL) | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Units 121-122 | |||
- Students will demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the history of art, including artists, titles, and dates of key works, as well as knowledge of the broader artistic circumstances from which those works emerged, and of the interrelationship of those circumstances.
- Students will demonstrate visual literacy (the ability to interpret the visual, formal aspects of an artwork) in the perception and discussion of art.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the cultural contexts from which art has emerged.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the cross-cultural and multicultural interaction that has influenced the development of artistic forms throughout the history of art and up to the present day.
- Students will prepare for career fields specific to art history, such as teaching, curatorship, and preservation.
- In written and oral work, students will demonstrate general skills associated with a liberal-arts education, such as the ability to find relevant sources, to use Chicago Manual or MLA guidelines or other well-established criteria in correctly formatting and citing information, to structure writing in a clear and logical manner, and to provide specific examples when necessary.