2023-2024 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts in Art History
The art history major at Grand Valley State University offers students a broad-based knowledge of visual culture, its social and historical contexts of production, as well as an introduction to theoretical approaches. The major uses an interdisciplinary model, which offers students opportunities for intensive study within the Department of Visual and Media Arts while allowing them to select from courses offered in other departments across the GVSU campus.
Requirements for a Major in Art History
All art history majors will earn a B.A. degree. Students are required to complete 39 credit hours in art history and studio art courses. Students will also meet the general education requirements, including third semester language proficiency.
Foundations Courses
There are six credit hours required. All art history majors are required to take two introductory courses to provide them with an overview of the chronology and methods of the discipline of art history.
Distribution Courses
There are 15 credit hours required. Art history majors are required to take classes covering a range of historical periods and cultures. Students take two courses in Ancient through Early-Modern Art as well as two courses in Modern and Contemporary Art categories for a total of 12 credit hours. In addition, one course is required from the World Art category for an additional three hours toward the distribution requirements.
Ancient through Early-Modern Art
Choose two courses:
- ART 322 - Goths to Gothic: Medieval Art (3 credits)
- ART 323 - Rethinking Renaissance Art (3 credits)
- CLA 250 - Classical Art and Archaeology (3 credits)
Modern and Contemporary Art
Choose two courses:
- ART 325 - Nineteenth-Century Art (3 credits)
- ART 327 - Art Since 1945 (3 credits)
- ART 421 - Surrealism (3 credits)
- ART 425 - Depicting a Nation: 19th Century American Art (3 credits)
World Art
Choose one course:
Studio Requirements
There are six credit hours required. Select two courses:
- ART 150 - Foundations: 2-D Design and Color (3 credits)
- ART 151 - Foundations: 3-D Design (3 credits)
- ART 152 - Foundations: Color and Design (3 credits)
- ART 153 - Foundations: Making and Meaning in Art and Design (3 credits)
- ART 155 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing I (3 credits)
- ART 157 - Foundations: Introduction to Drawing II (3 credits)
- 200-level studio course in any emphasis area
Capstone and Senior Thesis
There are six credit hours required. After completion of other art history requirements, students take a Capstone seminar, which offers them a discussion-intensive classroom experience. During their final semester, students complete a senior thesis with the assistance of their academic advisor.
Art History Electives
There are six credit hours required.
- ART 218 - Design History (3 credits) OR ART 219 - History of Illustration (3 credits)
- ART 322 - Goths to Gothic: Medieval Art (3 credits)
- ART 323 - Rethinking Renaissance Art (3 credits)
- ART 327 - Art Since 1945 (3 credits)
- ART 380 - Special Topics in Art and Design (1 to 3 credits) (art history emphasis.)
- ART 420 - Asian Art (3 credits)
- ART 421 - Surrealism (3 credits)
- ART 422 - Art and the Worlds of Islam (3 credits)
- ART 423 - Animals in Art (3 credits)
- ART 425 - Depicting a Nation: 19th Century American Art (3 credits)
- CLA 250 - Classical Art and Archaeology (3 credits)
- FVP 225 - Film Culture (3 credits)
- FVP 348 - Film Theories (3 credits)
- PHO 366 - History of Photography II (3 credits)
- PHI 220 - Aesthetics (3 credits)
- SOC 289 - Sociology of Art (3 credits)
Distribution of General Education Requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their advisors and create individual study plans appropriate to their area of interest in the major. These courses allow students to enrich their understanding of the cultural contexts for art production. Students may combine these courses to meet other requirements in the art history and general education programs. Some possible fields of exploration include sociology, anthropology, history, philosophy, literature, music history, theater history, and languages.
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Art History
Year One
Fall Semester:
- ART 221 - Survey of Art History I (3 credits)
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing (4 credits)
- First semester foreign language (4 credits)
- One general education elective (3 credits)
Winter Semester:
- ART 222 - Survey of Art History II (3 credits)
- Second semester foreign language (4 credits)
- Two general education electives (6 credits)
Year Two
Fall Semester:
- Two art history distribution courses (6 credits)
- Third semester foreign language (4 credits)
- One studio elective (3 credits)
- One general education elective (3 credits)
Winter Semester:
- Two art history distribution courses (6 credits)
- One Issues course (3 credits)
- Two general education electives (6 credits)
- Complete the second SWS course
Year Three
Fall Semester:
- One art history distribution course (3 credits)
- One art history elective (3 credits)
- One Issues course (3 credits)
- One studio elective (3 credits)
- One general education elective (3 credits)
Winter Semester:
- One art history elective (3 credits)
- Four electives: general education/additional art history/second major/minor (15 credits)
Year Four
Fall Semester:
- ART 495 - Issues in Art (Capstone) (3 credits)
- Four electives: general education/additional art history/second major/minor (12 credits)
Winter Semester:
- Complete senior thesis requirement (3 credits)
- Four electives: general education/additional art history/second major/minor (12 credits)