BA degree in Art History
The study of Art history provides students the means of immersing themselves in cultural and aesthetic issues. Students learn to combine research and analysis, to present arguments with clarity and to write effectively. They also develop the ability to analyze images as carriers of meaning and to think critically. All of these skills are useful in a wide range of occupations including careers as curators or archivists at the many museums and galleries across the country. Others use art history to hone their intellectual abilities in art for careers in media, advertising, publishing, fashion or design. Some move into careers in business, government and other Nonprofit organizations.
We offer surveys of art from the ancient to the modern period, as well as a non-western course. In addition to survey courses, the art history faculty teaches upper division courses in Greek, Roman, Women in Antiquity, Medieval, and Renaissance art. Offerings in the areas of 19th- and 20th- century art include courses in Impressionism and contemporary art. All courses explore the cultural circumstances in which art is created. Opportunities for independent study in a student's area of interest are also available.
In addition to the General Education Requirements for the B.A. and courses for a minor or cognate, students who major in art history must complete three 100 level Art History Survey Courses:
- the lower level requirements:
- three 100 level Art History Survey Courses:
- ARH 100 Art History Survey: Ancient to Medieval
- ARH 101 Art History Survey: Renaissance to Modern
- ARH 103 Art History Survey: Art in Non-Western Traditions
- Any two 100 level Art Studio Courses
- One 200 level Art Studio Course
- the upper division requirements are:
- ARH 309 Contemporary Art and Issues
- Five additional Art History courses at the 300 level or above
- ARH 400 Art History Seminar
- One 300 level Art Studio course
BA in Studio Art
Students who are interested in a broad experience in a variety of disciplines as part of a liberal arts eduction and who want to choose a minor or cognate as part of their degree program may choose to pursue a BA in studio art. Those interested careers as art educators, gallery owners, or arts administrators or jobs in visual marketing, arts buissness and development may consider the BA the best option.
In the studio concentration students must choose to specialize in at least two of the studio areas: painting/drawing, graphic design, printmaking, or sculpture, and many take a cross-disciplinary approach. We encourage students to develop their work as individuals, to begin actively exhibiting and to become a part of the wider art community, locally, nationally and internationally.
In addition to the
General Education Requirements for the B.A. students who major in
studio art must complete.....
- lower level courses
- ARS 123 Two-Dimensional Design and Color Theory
- ARS 140 Three-Dimensional Design
- ARS 160 Introduction to Drawing
- ARS 260 Intermediate Drawing
- Plus three additional 200-level ARS courses.
The Art History requirements for the Studio discipline are two out of the following three 100-level ARH courses:
- Art History requirements
- ARH 100 Art History Survey: Ancient to Medieval
- ARH 101 Art History Survey: Renaissance to Modern
- ARH 103 Art History Survey: Art in Non-Western Traditions
- The upper division requirements include:
- ARH 309 Contemporary Art and Issues
- Five ARS courses at the 300 level
- Two ARS courses at the 400
level
These courses are offered in all areas: Graphic Design, Painting/Drawing, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture and others.
BFA in Drawing and Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, Printmaking or Sculpture
Students who want to study intensely in a particular area of art may choose to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a major in one of the studio areas.
The BFA degree prepares a student well for graduate study, in particular for a Master of Fine Arts program. It will also help students who want to begin exhibiting straight out of their undergraduate experience, or in the case of Graphic Design, moving into the design profession with skill and confidence. The intensity of the studio work for the BFA includes courses in “cross-disciplinary” art and a professional practices class.
In addition to the
General Education Requirements[*] for the B.A. students who major in
studio art must complete.....
- lower level courses
- ARS 123 Two-Dimensional Design and Color Theory
- ARS 140 Three-Dimensional Design
- ARS 160 Introduction to Drawing
- ARS 260 Intermediate Drawing
- Four additional 200-level ARS courses in the major.
- Four 300-level ARS courses in the major.
- Four additional 200-level ARS courses.
- Four 400 level classes in the major
- ARS 390 and 490: Cross Disciplinary Studio
- ARS 494 Professional Practices
- Two 300 level studio electives
- One 400 level studio elective
The Art History requirements for the BFA:
- Art History requirements
- ARH 100 Art History Survey: Ancient to Medieval
- ARH 101 Art History Survey: Renaissance to Modern
- ARH 103 Art History Survey: Art in Non-Western Traditions
- The upper division requirements include:
- ARH 309 Contemporary Art and Issues
- One ARH 300 level course before 1800
- One ARH 300 level course after 1800
- One ARH 300 level course any time period
Defining the Credit Hour
In the Department of Art, an undergraduate studio credit hour at UAH consists of at least 1.66 hours of in class instruction with a minimum expectation of at least 1.33 hours of work outside of class each week. For a three credit hour studio art course this would equate to at least five (5) hours in class and at least four (4) hours outside of class per week during a 15-week semester. Time expectations for work inside and outside of class are minimums and may be higher depending on the nature and level of the course, and for outside work, also on the ability, commitment, and learning style of the student.
