B.A. in Art History
Harrisonburg, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 6,434 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* regular admission | November 1st, 2022: early admission
** in-state tuition fee | $15,076: out-of-state tuition fee. Additional fees may apply
Key Summary
An Art History graduate can look forward to a career in museum curation, art advising, art law and enforcement, corporate consulting, appraising and more.
Art History students study the history of the visual arts in their cultural and social context. Students learn to describe, analyze, and interpret the form and content of works of art and become familiar with art history theory, methods of analysis and art criticism.
The Art History major requires 120 credit hours in general education, foreign language, philosophy and elective courses. Of these hours, 39 must be taken in Art History courses.
Students majoring in art history will develop a general knowledge of exemplary monuments, artists, art media, art periods and artistic styles. Students will also:
- Describe, analyze and interpret the form and content of individual works of art in relation to their cultures and historical contexts.
- Become familiar with art history theory and methods of analysis and criticism.
- Research and write about significant artists, artistic events, periods and artistic concepts.
Students in any degree program may study art history as a second major by completing the 39-credit art history requirement. Students studying art history as a second major do not need to complete the requirements for the B.A. degree if their first major will complete the requirements for a different baccalaureate degree. However, non-B.A. degree students completing art history as a second major are strongly encouraged to complete the B.A. foreign language requirement.
Required Courses
- General Education1 41 credit hours
- Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required)2 0-14 credit hours
- Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 credit hours
- University electives3 23-37 credit hours
- Major requirements 39 credit hours
Footnotes
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language, Literature and Culture’s placement test.
3 Depends on number of hours needed to fulfill the B.A. foreign language requirement. If they are completed in six hours, students should use the larger number of general electives to complete a second major or minor that complements art or art history or, for students intending to pursue graduate degrees, to gain reading knowledge of a second foreign language.
Major Requirements
The major in art history requires 39 credit hours in art history and studio courses, as the following chart shows. At least six of these credit hours must be 400-level art history courses.
Core courses at the 200 level are broad interpretive overviews of art history that combine lecture and discussion to permit students to learn the content and chronology of world art history; to learn how art historians collect, analyze and synthesize evidence; and to engage in introductory exercises in the discipline. They generally include short formal writing assignments and exams with essay sections.
Distributives at the 300 level also combine lecture and discussion, more narrowly surveying specific periods or cultures and addressing aspects of art historical methodology. These courses require longer formal writing assignments and include student research. Courses at the 400 level are seminars on specialized topics that center on advanced student research. A single course may not fulfill more than one distribution requirement.
Required Courses
- ARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 300. Art History Seminar Credits: 3.00 1
- ARTH 400. Art History Research Portfolio Credits: 0.00
Non-Western Electives (choose one of the following):
- ARTH 312. African Art: Sub-Saharan Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 325. Topics in Non-Western Art and Architecture Credits: 3.00-9.00
- ARTH 418. Modern and Contemporary African Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 419. Topics in African Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 425. Advanced Topics in Non-Western Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 484. Art of the Americas Credits: 3.00
Cross-Cultural Electives (choose one of the following):
- ARTH 326. Topics in Cross-Cultural Art Credits: 3.00-9.00
- ARTH 332. Islamic Art and Architecture Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 426. Advanced Topics in Cross-Cultural Art Credits: 3.00-9.00
- ARTH 440. City of Jerusalem Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 446. Renaissance Art and the East Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 488. African American Art Credits: 3.00
Pre-Modern Elective (choose one of the following):
- ARTH 312. African Art: Sub-Saharan Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 327. Topics in Pre-Modern Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 332. Islamic Art and Architecture Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 424. Arts of Ancient Egypt Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 427. Advanced Topics in Pre-Modern Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 440. City of Jerusalem Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 446. Renaissance Art and the East Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 484. Art of the Americas Credits: 3.00
Modern and Contemporary Elective (choose one of the following):
- ARTH 304. History of Photography Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 328. Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 360. Nineteenth Century Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 372. Modern Art From 1900-1945 Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 380. American Art to 1870 Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 382. American Art from 1870 Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 404. Topics in the History of Photography Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 406. Monticello Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 418. Modern and Contemporary African Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 419. Topics in African Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 428. Advanced Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 471. Commemoration and Controversy: Public Art in America Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 472. Modern Art Since 1945 Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 488. African American Art Credits: 3.00
Additional Courses
- Art history electives (300-400 level)1 12 credit hours
- Studio art and design electives (any level)2 6 credit hours
Footnotes
1 ART 305. A seminar in Aesthetics may count as an art history elective. A maximum of three credits from ARTH 490, ARTH 495 or ARTH 499 may count toward the major.
2 ART 200. Art in General Culture [C2VPA] may not count as studio art and design elective.
Recommended Schedule For Majors
First Year
- Choose one of the following: 3 credit hours
- ARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
or - ARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- Foreign language courses 6 Credit Hours
- Cluster One: Skills for the 21st Century 9 Credit Hours
- General Education course 3-6 Credit Hours
- General electives 6-9 Credit Hours
Second Year
- Choose one of the following: 3 credit hours
- ARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
or - ARTH 206. Survey of World Art II: Renaissance to Modern [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- ARTH 205. Survey of World Art I: Prehistoric to Renaissance [C2VPA] Credits: 3.00
- Choose a foreign language (if needed) or general electives 6 Credit Hours
- General Education courses 18 Credit Hours
- Studio Art elective 3 Credit Hours
Third Year
- Non-Western art history elective 3 Credit Hours
- Western art history electives 6 Credit Hours
- ARTH 300. Art History Seminar Credits: 3.00
- General electives 3 Credit Hours
- Studio Art elective 3 Credit Hours
- General Education courses 12 Credit Hours
Fourth Year
- Art History electives 12 Credit Hours
- General electives 18 Credit Hours
A successful career and a meaningful life is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an internship, a great first job or a top graduate school appointment, JMU Dukes make their dreams ignite. You will, too.
Here are current openings available to JMU students.
Jobs for JMU Students
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Internships for JMU Students
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Madison awards more than 400 one- to four-year scholarships each year to incoming students. The primary criterion for merit-based scholarships is exceptional academic performance. Other selection criteria may include leadership, involvement, and career goals.
The Madison Scholarships Hub is the application center for all JMU Foundation scholarships at James Madison University. To access the Madison Scholarships Hub, log in to MyMadison. Under the Applicant tab, click on the Madison Scholarships Hub logo.
All students are encouraged to fill out the General Application in the Madison Scholarships Hub to be considered for various scholarship opportunities. Qualifications for the majority of our scholarships are based on the General Application information as well as information pulled directly from your admissions application.
Review the criteria carefully for any recommended scholarship opportunities you are presented with and if you meet the qualifications, click apply to submit the additional required information. Deadlines vary across departments so be sure to complete the General Application as soon as possible to receive full consideration. Some scholarship opportunities become available starting in the fall while others open later so be sure to check back in January, February and March.
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