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. For more information, see the Study Abroad website.
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 |
* 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 Breadth and Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Students pursuing a bachelor of science 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. View a comparison of the degree requirements here.
Bachelor of Science DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
| Mathematics | Two (2) 3+ credits of intermediate/advanced level MATH, COMP SCI, STAT Limit one each: COMP SCI, STAT |
| Foreign Language | Complete the third unit of a foreign language Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work. |
| L&S Breadth |
|
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | 60 intermediate or advanced credits |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one (1) major |
| Total Credits | 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience | 30 credits in residence, overall 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit |
| Minimum GPAs | 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison 2.000 in intermediate/advanced 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 and do not need to complete the L&S breadth and degree requirements above. Please note that the following special degree programs are not considered majors so are not available to non-L&S-degree-seeking candidates:
- Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics (Bachelor of Science–Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics)
- Journalism (Bachelor of Arts–Journalism; Bachelor of Science–Journalism)
- Music (Bachelor of Music)
- Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)
Requirements in 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:
200-level ART HIST (two required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Art of Diversity: Race and Representation in the Art and Visual Culture of the United States | ||
| History of Western Art I: From Pyramids to Cathedrals | ||
| History of Western Art II: From Renaissance to Contemporary | ||
| Survey of Asian Art | ||
| Introduction to Visual Cultures | ||
| Global Arts | ||
| A History of the World in 20 Buildings | ||
| The Ends of Modernism | ||
| Introduction to African Art and Architecture | ||
| Dimensions of Material Culture |
300-level ART HIST (three required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Early Chinese Art: From Antiquity to the Tenth Century | ||
| Later Chinese Art: From the Tenth Century to the Present | ||
| Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Italian Art: 1250-1400 | ||
| Italian Art from Donatello to Leonardo da Vinci, 1400-1500 | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| The Painting & Graphic Arts of Germany 1350-1530 | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Northern Painting and Graphics from Bosch and Holbein to Bruegel | ||
| Netherlandish Painting of the 17th Century | ||
| 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 | ||
| 20th Century Art in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| European Architecture: The Modern Movements | ||
| American Indian Art History: Contemporary Issues | ||
| 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 | ||
| American Architecture: Colonial and Federal | ||
| American Architecture: The 19th Century | ||
| Chinese Painting | ||
| Arts of Japan | ||
| Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Later Japanese Painting and Woodblock Prints | ||
| Cities of Asia |
400-level ART HIST (two required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Race and Gender in Italian Early Modern Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| When Art Was Science: Western Europe c. 1400-1800 | ||
| Topics in Theory | ||
| Multiculturalism and the New Museology | ||
| 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 | ||
| Topics in Architectural History | ||
| Art in Germany, 1900-1945 | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes | ||
| Topics in American Material Culture | ||
| Dimensions of Material Culture | ||
| 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 |
500-level ART HIST (one required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Proseminar: Special Topics in Art History | ||
| Proseminar in Ancient Art | ||
| Curatorial Studies Exhibition Practice | ||
| 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 Art | ||
| Proseminar in American Architecture | ||
| Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts | ||
| Proseminar in Japanese Art | ||
| Proseminar in Chinese Art | ||
| Proseminar in African Art |
Electives to meet minimum nine courses required
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ART HIST 100-699 | ||
Chronological DISTRIBUTION
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from each area: Ancient to Medieval
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Early Chinese Art: From Antiquity to the Tenth Century | ||
| Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Italian Art: 1250-1400 | ||
| Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Chinese Painting 1 | ||
| Arts of Japan 1 | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | ||
| Topics in Medieval Art | ||
| 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 |
| 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. |
Early Modern (Circa 1400–Circa 1800)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Later Chinese Art: From the Tenth Century to the Present 1 | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Italian Art from Donatello to Leonardo da Vinci, 1400-1500 | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| The Painting & Graphic Arts of Germany 1350-1530 | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Northern Painting and Graphics from Bosch and Holbein to Bruegel | ||
| Netherlandish Painting of the 17th Century | ||
| 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 | ||
| Chinese Painting 1 | ||
| Arts of Japan 1 | ||
| Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Later Japanese Painting and Woodblock Prints | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Race and Gender in Italian Early Modern Art | ||
| Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 | ||
| Art and History in Africa |
| 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. |
Modern (Circa 1800–Circa 1945)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Later Chinese Art: From the Tenth Century to the Present 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 | ||
| 20th Century Art in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| European Architecture: The Modern Movements | ||
| American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 1 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1 | ||
| American Architecture: Colonial and Federal | ||
| American Architecture: The 19th Century | ||
| Chinese Painting 1 | ||
| Arts of Japan 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 in Germany, 1900-1945 | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1 | ||
| Topics in American Material Culture | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 |
| 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. |
Contemporary (Post 1945)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Later Chinese Art: From the Tenth Century to the Present 1 | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present 1 | ||
| 20th Century Art in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| European Architecture: The Modern Movements | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1 | ||
| Chinese Painting 1 | ||
| Arts of Japan 1 | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Twentieth-Century Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1 | ||
| Topics in American Material Culture | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 | ||
| Art and History in Africa |
| 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. |
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from three of these five areas:
Cross-Cultural/Diaspora
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World 1 | ||
| Selected Topics in African Diaspora Art History |
| 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. |
Africa/Middle East
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Great Cities of Islam | ||
| 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 |
| 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. |
Asia
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Early Chinese Art: From Antiquity to the Tenth Century | ||
| Later Chinese Art: From the Tenth Century to the Present | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Chinese Painting | ||
| Arts of Japan | ||
| Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Later Japanese Painting and Woodblock Prints | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Asian Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | ||
| Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan |
| 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. |
Europe
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Italian Art: 1250-1400 | ||
| Italian Art from Donatello to Leonardo da Vinci, 1400-1500 | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| The Painting & Graphic Arts of Germany 1350-1530 | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Northern Painting and Graphics from Bosch and Holbein to Bruegel | ||
| Netherlandish Painting of the 17th Century | ||
| Italian Baroque Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present | ||
| 19th Century Painting in Europe | ||
| 20th Century Art in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| European Architecture: The Modern Movements | ||
| Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance | ||
| 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 | ||
| Race and Gender in Italian Early Modern Art | ||
| Art in Germany, 1900-1945 |
| 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. |
The Americas
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| American Indian Art History: Contemporary Issues | ||
| 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 | ||
| American Architecture: Colonial and Federal | ||
| American Architecture: The 19th Century | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes | ||
| Topics in American Material Culture | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright |
| 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. |
THEORY AND METHOD DISTRIBUTION
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from: | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| When Art Was Science: Western Europe c. 1400-1800 | ||
| Topics in Theory | ||
| Multiculturalism and the New Museology | ||
| Topics in Architectural History | ||
| Topics in American Material Culture | ||
| Dimensions of Material Culture | ||
| 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
| 2 | ART HIST courses numbered 300–699 are considered upper-level in the major. |
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.
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. |
- 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.
- Proficiency in interpreting images and objects in ways that take into account the historical contexts in which they were produced and received.
- 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.
- Ability to locate and enlist research resources in both print and digital form and assess the strengths and weaknesses of various types of resources.
- Knowledge and skills to interpret images and objects in ways that consider a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- Ability to assess and critique scholarly arguments and evaluate the strength of the visual and textual evidence presented.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | L&S Breadth | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | Intro level Art History course | 3-4 |
| Intro level Art History course | 3-4 | Foreign Language | 4 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 4 | Communication B | 4 |
| ART HIST 300-level | 4 | ART HIST 300-level | 3-4 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | ART HIST 400-level | 3-4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Declare the Major (before 86 credits) | ART HIST Theory & Method course | 3 | |
| ART HIST 400-level course | 3 | Natural Science Breadth | 3 |
| Natural Science Breadth | 3 | ART HIST elective | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART HIST 500-level course | 3 | ART HIST elective | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Senior Thesis | 3 | Senior Thesis in major | 3 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | Elective | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising
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 postdegree 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. The following courses may satisfy 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 are 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.
Career Resources:
L&S career resources
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers). In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.
SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.
Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit, targeted to first- and second-year students)—for more information, see Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Com B General Education Requirement)
- Handshake
- Learn how we’re transforming career preparation: L&S Career Initiative
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 new undergraduate certificate in Curatorial Studies, 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 of 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 12 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 1 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)
Professors Andrzejewski, Cahill, Casid, Chopra, Dale, Marshall, Martin, Phillips, Rosenblum (chair)
Associate Professors Li, Phillips-Court
Assistant Professors Nelson, Pruitt
Affiliate Professors Aylward, Clark, Kern, Nadler
Affiliate Associate Professor Abdu’Allah
Affiliate UW–Milwaukee Associate Professors Benyamin, Sen
Affiliate UW–Milwaukee Assistant Professor Moon
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.