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Overview

The art history major provides a foundation for answering key questions about what it means to be human as well as valuable skills for today’s workplaces. A specialized focus on images, objects, and the built environment promotes critical and creative approaches to analysis, problem-solving, writing and visual communication in a variety of media. Interdisciplinary collaborations encourage aesthetic, historical, economic, and ethical questions in order to produce new knowledge, sophisticated readers, engaged writers, critical viewers, independent thinkers, and confident cultural citizens who are well prepared to thrive in global society.

Through innovative research, teaching, and outreach activities, the Department of Art History takes a leading role in promoting visual literacy, emphasizing careful attention to continuities and differences across human history and world cultures. Examining expressive forms, from artifacts to new media, the department explores the ways in which art and visual and material culture are fully integrated into larger cultural histories.

Study Abroad

The department strongly encourages art history majors to participate in study abroad programs. Students gain firsthand experience of other cultures and languages and have the opportunity to study major artistic monuments. Credit for appropriate coursework can be applied toward the major after arrangements have been made with the study abroad program, or, in the case of non–UW study abroad programs, the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. For more information, see the Study Abroad website.

How to Get in

Students considering art history as a major should come to the department for advising as early as possible in their undergraduate careers. Upon declaration, students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with the undergraduate program advisor to ensure timely progress toward completion of the degree. Annual meetings with the director of undergraduate studies are also highly encouraged. More detailed information can be found at Declaring the Art History Major.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A Part B *

* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Mathematics Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework.
Language
  • Complete the fourth unit of a language other than English; OR
  • Complete the third unit of a language and the second unit of an additional language other than English.
LS Breadth
  • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include 6 credits of literature; and
  • 12 credits of Social Science; and
  • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include one 3+ credit Biological Science course and one 3+ credit Physical Science course.
Liberal Arts and Science Coursework Complete at least 108 credits.
Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level.
Major Declare and complete at least one major.
Total Credits Complete at least 120 credits.
UW-Madison Experience
  • 30 credits in residence, overall; and
  • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
Quality of Work
  • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison
  • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UW–Madison

Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major

Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.

Requirements for the Major

Foreign Language

Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work.

  • Complete the fourth unit of a foreign language; or
  • Complete the third unit of a foreign language and the second unit of an additional foreign language.

Level Requirements

Nine (9) courses in ART HIST as follows:

Intro-level ART HIST (two required)

Seeing Through Conspiracy Theories
The Art of Diversity: Race and Representation in the Art and Visual Culture of the United States
Have Brush, Will Travel: The Italian Renaissance from Florence to Rome
The Body, Sex, & Health in Art
Seeing Race: Anti-Racism and Visual Culture
History of Western Art I: From Pyramids to Cathedrals
History of Western Art II: From Renaissance to Contemporary
Survey of Asian Art
Global Arts
Survey of Photography: 1839 to 1989
A History of the World in 20 Buildings
The Modernist Revolution
Making the American Landscape
Introduction to African Art and Architecture
Introduction to Afro-American Art
Dimensions of Material Culture

300-level ART HIST (three required)

The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases
Greek Sculpture
Topics in Art History
The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
History of Islamic Art and Architecture
From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition
The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods
Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453
Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture
Italian Renaissance Art
From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy
Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel
Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art
Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art
Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
Study Abroad in African/Asian Art
Italian Baroque Art
British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present
19th Century Painting in Europe
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present
History of Photography
History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present
Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance
American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840
History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present
The Concept of Contemporary Art
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia

400-level ART HIST (two required)

Topics in Art History
Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece
Topics in Nineteenth Century Art
Topics in Twentieth-Century Art
Topics in Contemporary Art
Topics in Asian Art
Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History
Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs
Topics in Medieval Art
Topics in Italian Renaissance Art
Visual Cultures of India
Topics in Visual Culture
Topics in Theory
Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art
Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art
Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
Study Abroad in African/Asian Art
Art and Power in the Arab World
Art in Germany, 1900-1945
History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes
Frank Lloyd Wright
Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts
Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan
Art and History in Africa
Introduction to Museum Studies I
Introduction to Museum Studies II
Curatorial Studies Colloquium

500-level ART HIST (one required)

Proseminar: Special Topics in Art History
Proseminar in Ancient Art
Curatorial Studies Exhibition Practice
Proseminar in Islamic Art and Architecture
Proseminar in Medieval Art
Proseminar in Italian Renaissance Art
Proseminar in Northern European Painting
Proseminar in 19th Century European Art
Proseminar in 20th Century European Art
Proseminar in Material Culture
Proseminar in American Architecture
Proseminar in Japanese Art
Proseminar in Chinese Art
Proseminar in African Art

Electives to Meet Minimum Nine Courses Required

ART HIST 100-699

Chronological Distribution

Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from each area: 

Ancient to Medieval

The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases
Greek Sculpture
The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1
From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition
Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453
Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture
Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia 1
Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece
Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs
Topics in Medieval Art
Visual Cultures of India
Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art
Art and Power in the Arab World 1
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1
Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan

Early Modern (Circa 1400–Circa 1800)

History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1
The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods 1
Italian Renaissance Art
From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy
Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel
Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art
Italian Baroque Art
Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance
American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 1
History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia 1
Topics in Italian Renaissance Art
Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1
Art and History in Africa

Modern (Circa 1800–Circa 1945) 

The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods 1
Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present 1
19th Century Painting in Europe
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1
History of Photography 1
History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present
American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 1
History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1
Cities of Asia 1
Topics in Nineteenth Century Art
Topics in Twentieth-Century Art
Visual Cultures of India
Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
Art and Power in the Arab World
Art in Germany, 1900-1945
History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1
Frank Lloyd Wright
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1

Contemporary (Post 1945)

Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present 1
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1
History of Photography 1
History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1
The Concept of Contemporary Art
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia 1
Topics in Twentieth-Century Art
Topics in Contemporary Art
Visual Cultures of India
Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art
Art and Power in the Arab World
History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1
Frank Lloyd Wright
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1
Art and History in Africa

Geographic Distribution

Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from three of these five areas:

Cross-Cultural/Diaspora

Introduction to Afro-American Art
History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia 1
Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History 1
Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs 1

Africa/Middle East

History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1
Study Abroad in African/Asian Art
Great Cities of Islam
Cities of Asia
Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History 1
Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs 1
Art and Power in the Arab World 1
Art and History in Africa

Asia

From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition
The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods
Study Abroad in African/Asian Art
Cities of Asia 1
Topics in Asian Art
Visual Cultures of India
Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts
Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan

Europe

The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece
Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases
Greek Sculpture
The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome
Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453
Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture
Italian Renaissance Art
From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy
Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel
Italian Baroque Art
British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present
19th Century Painting in Europe
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1
History of Photography 1
Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance
The Concept of Contemporary Art
Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece
Topics in Nineteenth Century Art
Topics in Twentieth-Century Art
Topics in Contemporary Art
Topics in Medieval Art
Topics in Italian Renaissance Art
Art in Germany, 1900-1945

The Americas

History of Photography 1
History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present
American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840
History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present
The Concept of Contemporary Art
Topics in Contemporary Art
History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes
Frank Lloyd Wright

Theory and Method Distribution

Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from: 
Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present
History of Photography
The Concept of Contemporary Art
Topics in Contemporary Art
Visual Cultures of India
Topics in Visual Culture
Topics in Theory
Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts
Introduction to Museum Studies I
Introduction to Museum Studies II
Curatorial Studies Colloquium
Mapping, Making, and Representing Colonial Spaces
History of Books and Print Culture in Europe and North America

Residence and Quality of Work

  • 2.000 GPA in ART HIST and major courses
  • 2.000 GPA on 15  upper-level major credits in residence2
  • 15 credits in ART HIST taken on the UW–Madison campus
  • AP Art History credits may count toward the nine (9) course minimum for the Art History major but not toward the 200-level requirement

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the Art History undergraduate advisor.

Honors in the Major Requirements

To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:

  • Earn a 3.300 University GPA
  • Earn a 3.500 GPA in all ART HIST courses
  • Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in ART HIST 681 and ART HIST 682, for a total of 6 credits.
  • Present an oral report on work in an undergraduate Honors colloquium during the senior year

Footnotes

1

Course is accepted in one or more Chronological or Geographical areas, but will only apply to one of of those areas.   Students with questions should consult the academic advisor for this program.

2

ART HIST courses numbered 300-699 are considered upper-level in the major.

University Degree Requirements 

Total Degree To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.
Residency Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.
Quality of Work Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Skill in visual analysis of single images and comparative analysis of multiple images and objects, evaluating a range of elements such as form, color, light, proportion, viewpoint, material, and narrative structure.
  2. Proficiency in interpreting images and objects in ways that take into account the historical contexts in which they were produced and received.
  3. Consolidation of knowledge across a range of time and geography to reach an understanding of the ways in which art and its meaning are rooted in culture.
  4. Ability to locate and enlist research resources in both print and digital form and assess the strengths and weaknesses of various types of resources.
  5. Knowledge and skills to interpret images and objects in ways that consider a variety of theoretical perspectives.
  6. Ability to assess and critique scholarly arguments and evaluate the strength of the visual and textual evidence presented.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A3Ethnic Studies4
Quantitative Reasoning A3Science Breadth 3
Foreign Language4Intro level Art History course3-4
Intro level Art History course3-4Foreign Language4
 14 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Quantitative Reasoning B4Communication B4
ART HIST 300-level4ART HIST 300-level3-4
Social Science Breadth4ART HIST 400-level3-4
Biological Science Breadth3Social Science Breadth3
INTER-LS 2101 
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Declare the Major (before 86 credits)ART HIST Theory & Method course3
ART HIST 400-level course3Science Breadth3
Physical Science Breadth3ART HIST elective3
Social Science Breadth3Social Science Breadth3
Electives6Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ART HIST 500-level course3ART HIST elective3
Electives6Literature Breadth3
Senior Thesis3Senior Thesis in major3
Literature Breadth3Elective6
 15 15
Total Credits 120

Advising and Careers

The Department of Art History individually mentors its majors toward careers in a wide range of fields. Our academic advisor and director of undergraduate studies are always available to discuss post-degree options. We also work closely with SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science to help students best apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the art history major in conjunction with other certificates or majors. We encourage majors to seek information from art history faculty and advisors — as well as from L&S Advising — about career paths and internships; preparation for the job search; and applying to graduate school. Both the department and L&S also provide networking opportunities with professionals in the field (employers and alumni).

Letters & Science graduates, and art history majors in particular, have unique perspectives, knowledge, and skills that make them highly desirable to today’s employers.   

Students who wish to continue on to graduate studies in art history or related fields, or who simply desire more advanced work in art history, are strongly encouraged to pursue Honors in the Major. Students should begin to plan honors work in art history with their honors advisor as early as possible in their careers and should check with the departmental undergraduate advisor at least once a year to seek guidance about planning the best possible Honors in the Major curriculum that reflects their special interests.

Notes about the major requirements

  • Art History AP credits with a score of 4 or higher and 100-level Art History courses count only toward the nine-course minimum but do not count toward distribution requirements.
  • Courses at the 200 level count only toward the nine-course minimum and 200-level requirements for the major (ART HIST 206 and ART HIST/​AFROAMER  242 are exceptions).
  • ART HIST/​AFROAMER  242 is the only 200-level course that counts toward any content distribution requirements.
  • All courses numbered between 200 and 680 count toward level requirements. 600-level courses generally count toward the 400-level requirement.  
  • Most courses at the 300 and 400 level, and some courses at the 600 level, count toward content distribution requirements.  (Example: ART HIST 305 may count in each of the following requirement areas: 1. 300 level and  2. Chronological—either Ancient to Medieval or Early Modern and  3. Geographic—either Cross-Cultural Diaspora or Africa/Middle East)
  • Proseminars generally do not satisfy distribution requirements.
  • Special topics (including ART HIST 600 Special Topics in Art History) and study abroad courses may satisfy one or more distribution requirements, even if they are not shown in Chronological, Geographic, or Theory and Method categories. In case of questions about how a course might count, students should consult the major advisor.
  • Courses footnoted in the Requirements section may meet more than one area of Chronological distribution, Geographical distribution, or both.  In nearly all cases, the degree audit (DARS) will select the most advantageous category for students to complete their requirement. In the rare case that an adjustment is necessary, consult the major advisor.

L&S Career Resources

Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities.  SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.

In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.

Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.

Art History Department Resources

  • Art History's internship course: ART HIST 697 Undergraduate Curatorial Studies Internship (Directed Study)

This directed study may serve as an elective for the material culture certificate program, or for a specific stand-alone project. The goal is to give students credit for applied learning experiences in museums and other curatorial settings. Students must identify internship possibilities and have them approved for credit by the faculty member who will serve as instructor of record, and oversee the academic side of the internship. The nature of the internship will vary according to the host institution, but to be accepted for credit, it must have a substantial research component. Examples include but are not limited to: assisting a curator or registrar with research for an exhibition or permanent collection display; producing wall texts and object labels in an exhibition or permanent collection display; researching and writing catalog entries or essays on an object or objects in an exhibition or permanent collection; preparing catalog entries for works in the permanent collection of a museum/historical society; assisting a curator preparing a dossier for acquisitions; researching conservation histories of objects; provenance research; preparing teaching materials associated with an exhibition or permanent collection either in print or online; preparing and giving public tours of exhibitions or permanent collections; participating in exhibition design. To fulfill a 3-credit internship, the student must average approximately twelve hours a week throughout the semester, including working at the host institution on individual projects, and performing any necessary research and writing outside the host institution. In addition, the student should meet with the faculty advisor for a minimum of one hour each month. Requires permission to work with faculty member to receive credit for internship project. 1–3 cr.

  • Links to relevant career preparation information listed on professional association websites: 

Career Alternatives for Art Historians
Careers by Major—Art & Art History (University of Toronto)

People

Professors Andrzejewski, Cahill, Casid, Chopra, Dale, De Ferrari, Marshall, Wolf (chair)

Associate Professors Li, Phillips-Court, Pruitt

Assistant Professors Bennett, Spaulding

Affiliate Professors Abdu’Allah, Aylward, Clark, Kern, Moskowitz, Nadler, Wolf

Affiliate Associate Professor Carter

Affiliate Assistant Professor Campbell

Affiliate UW–Milwaukee Associate Professors Benyamin, Moon, Sen

Wisconsin Experience

The Department of Art History promotes an understanding of art, architecture, objects, and ideas worthy of close visual analysis to be local, hemispheric, transnational, and international, and existing both within and outside of traditional institutions of display. In guiding our students to develop skills in visual analysis, close reading, historical contextualization, and communication and interpretation through writing about art, conducting research on objects in our museum collections, and organizing exhibitions, our department is committed to building an understanding of how humans perceive, create, and inhabit the world. Opportunities to work with and present collections to the public, both at the Chazen Museum and through internships at other Wisconsin institutions, afford our students the chance to connect with diverse audiences beyond the borders of campus.