Art History
Major: Art History
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 180.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.0703
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-4011
About the Program
The history of art explores the meanings, values, and purposes of the visual arts within the historical cultures that create them. Works of fine and applied arts are understood not merely as aesthetic forms, but as expressions of the social, economic, scientific, religious, and political contexts that gave rise to them. The study of art history thus effectively serves the high purposes of a liberal education by equipping students with an understanding of world cultures and their histories from multiple disciplinary perspectives, and by encouraging the development of critical thinking, reading, research, and writing skills.
The art history program has a uniquely flexible curricular design in that it permits students to pursue art history as either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. The BA degree is intended for students wishing to become professional art historians or who wish to supplement the art history curriculum with other courses leading to a specific career path. The BS degree is designed to allow students to combine the art history major with another major or to tailor the curriculum to their specific interests and aspirations. Both the BA and BS degrees require a total of 180.0 credit hours.
Bachelor of Arts
The BA degree requires 60.0 credit hours of art history, 71.0-75.0 credit hours of General Education courses, and 46.0 credit hours of Free Electives. The BA degree requires a strong component of Arts and Humanities courses in order to prepare students to enter the professional world of art historians by exposing them to critical reasoning, philosophy, anthropology, literature, world cultures, and foreign languages. The 49.0 credit hours of Free Electives can be used under faculty advisement to take additional art history courses, develop special competencies and areas of interest (e.g., race and gender studies; the histories of technology, science and philosophy; Asian or Africana studies; writing, literature, and criticism; design history; museum studies, etc.), or gain competencies in various applied or technical areas. This BA program requires two 3-month co-ops.
Bachelor of Science
The BS degree also requires 60.0 credit hours of art history, but it only requires 35.0-39.0 credit hours of General Education courses, thereby freeing up 85.0 credit hours of coursework to accommodate another major or to design a personalized curriculum. The 85.0 credit hours of free electives provided by the BS degree permits the student to simultaneously pursue a second major, one or more minors, or simply explore the life of the mind by taking courses, with faculty advisement, in diverse fields. This program does not require a co‐op taken in addition to that which is required by the second major.
Degree Requirements (BA)
General education requirements | ||
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
Mathematics and Natural Science | 12.0 | |
ENGL: Western Literature Elective | 3.0 | |
ENGL: Non-Western Literature Elective | 3.0 | |
Required Arts and Humanities-students elect a minimum of 6 credits | 6.0 | |
HIST 161 | Themes in World Civilization I | 4.0 |
PHIL 101 | Introduction to Western Philosophy | 3.0 |
PHIL 105 | Critical Reasoning | 3.0 |
Select one of the following: | ||
HIST 162 | Themes in World Civilization II | 4.0 |
or HIST 163 | Themes in World Civilization III | |
Foreign Language | 12.0 | |
Social Sciences | 6.0 | |
ANTH 101 | Introduction to Cultural Diversity | 3.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
PSCI 120 | History of Political Thought | 4.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
Electives * | 46.0 | |
Art History requirements | ||
ARCH 141 | Architecture and Society I | 3.0 |
ARTH 101 | History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval | 3.0 |
ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
ARTH 150 | Art History Research Methods | 3.0 |
ARTH 200 | Principles and Methods of Art History | 3.0 |
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
ARTH 301 | Asian Art and Culture | 3.0 |
ARTH 313 | 20th Century Art | 3.0 |
or ARTH 314 | Contemporary Art | |
ARTH 325 | Ancient Greek and Roman Art | 3.0 |
or ARTH 327 | Italian Renaissance Art | |
ARTH 477 | Art History Seminar | 3.0 |
VSST 100 | Introduction to Art & Design | 3.0 |
or VSST 107 | Introduction to Design for Media | |
or VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | |
Art History Electives select 8 courses from the following | 24.0 | |
Media Arts & Design | ||
Art in the Age of Technology | ||
History of Costume I: Preclassical to Directoire | ||
History of Costume II: Directoire to World War I | ||
History of Costume: Post World War I to Present | ||
Film History I: Emergence | ||
Film History II: New Waves | ||
Film History III: Trends | ||
History of Photography I | ||
History of Photography II | ||
Graphic Design: 20th Century and Beyond | ||
Western Art: Ancient to Modern | ||
Early American Art | ||
Medieval Art | ||
Northern Renaissance | ||
Art of the 17th and 18th Centuries | ||
Modern/Contemporary/Theory/Criticism | ||
Twentieth Century American Art | ||
Nineteenth Century Art | ||
Contemporary Art | ||
African-American Art | ||
Modern Art Theory and Criticism | ||
Asia, Africa, Latin America | ||
Art of India | ||
Art of China | ||
Art of Japan | ||
African Art | ||
Advanced Course Work | ||
Art History Senior Thesis | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
Independent Study in Art History | ||
Independent Study in Art History | ||
Architecture | ||
Architecture and Society II | ||
Architecture and Society III | ||
Architecture and Society IV | ||
History of Modern Architecture I | ||
History of Philadelphia Architecture | ||
Special Topics in Architecture | ||
Total Credits | 180.0 |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Degree Requirements (BS)
General Education requirements | ||
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 2.0 |
Mathematics and Natural Science | 12.0 | |
Arts and Humanities Requirement | 6.0 | |
Required Social Sciences-students elect a minimum of 6 credits | 6.0 | |
Free Electives | 85.0 | |
Art History requirements | ||
ARTH 101 | History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval | 3.0 |
ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
ARCH 141 | Architecture and Society I | 3.0 |
ARTH 150 | Art History Research Methods | 3.0 |
ARTH 200 | Principles and Methods of Art History | 3.0 |
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
ARTH 301 | Asian Art and Culture | 3.0 |
ARTH 313 | 20th Century Art | 3.0 |
or ARTH 314 | Contemporary Art | |
ARTH 325 | Ancient Greek and Roman Art | 3.0 |
or ARTH 327 | Italian Renaissance Art | |
ARTH 477 | Art History Seminar | 3.0 |
VSST 100 | Introduction to Art & Design | 3.0 |
or VSST 107 | Introduction to Design for Media | |
or VSST 110 | Introductory Drawing | |
Art History Electives: Select 8 courses from the following | 24.0 | |
Media Arts & Design | ||
Art in the Age of Technology | ||
History of Costume I: Preclassical to Directoire | ||
History of Costume II: Directoire to World War I | ||
History of Costume: Post World War I to Present | ||
Film History I: Emergence | ||
Film History II: New Waves | ||
Film History III: Trends | ||
History of Photography I | ||
History of Photography II | ||
Graphic Design: 20th Century and Beyond | ||
Western Art: Ancient to Modern | ||
Early American Art | ||
Medieval Art | ||
Northern Renaissance | ||
Art of the 17th and 18th Centuries | ||
Modern/Contemporary/Theory/Criticism | ||
Twentieth Century American Art | ||
Nineteenth Century Art | ||
Contemporary Art | ||
African-American Art | ||
Modern Art Theory and Criticism | ||
Asia, Africa, Latin America | ||
Art of India | ||
Art of China | ||
Art of Japan | ||
African Art | ||
Advanced Course Work | ||
Art History Senior Thesis | ||
Independent Study in Art History | ||
Independent Study in Art History | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
Special Topics in Art History | ||
Architecture | ||
Architecture and Society II | ||
Architecture and Society III | ||
Architecture and Society IV | ||
History of Modern Architecture I | ||
History of Philadelphia Architecture | ||
Special Topics in Architecture | ||
Total Credits | 180.0 |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study (BA)
Term 1 | Credits | |
---|---|---|
ANTH 101 | Introduction to Cultural Diversity | 3.0 |
ARTH 101 | History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval | 3.0 |
ENGL 101 or 111 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research English Composition I | 3.0 |
HIST 161 | Themes in World Civilization I | 4.0 |
PHIL 101 | Introduction to Western Philosophy | 3.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
Term Credits | 17.0 | |
Term 2 | ||
ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
ENGL 102 or 112 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing English Composition II | 3.0 |
HIST 162 or 163 | Themes in World Civilization II Themes in World Civilization III | 4.0 |
PHIL 105 | Critical Reasoning | 3.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
Natural Science Elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 17.0 | |
Term 3 | ||
ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
ARTH 150 | Art History Research Methods | 3.0 |
ENGL 103 or 113 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres English Composition III | 3.0 |
Arts and Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
Social science elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 4 | ||
ARCH 141 | Architecture and Society I | 3.0 |
ARTH 301 | Asian Art and Culture | 3.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
Foreign Language | 4.0 | |
Math | 3.0 | |
VSST requirement | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 16.0 | |
Term 5 | ||
ARTH 325 or 327 | Ancient Greek and Roman Art Italian Renaissance Art | 3.0 |
Foreign Language | 4.0 | |
Math | 3.0 | |
Natural Science | 3.0 | |
Arts and Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 16.0 | |
Term 6 | ||
ARTH 200 | Principles and Methods of Art History | 3.0 |
PSCI 120 | History of Political Thought | 4.0 |
ENGL (Non-Western Literature) | 3.0 | |
Foreign Language | 4.0 | |
Term Credits | 14.0 | |
Term 7 | ||
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
Art History elective | 6.0 | |
Free electives | 7.0 | |
Term Credits | 16.0 | |
Term 8 | ||
ARTH 313 or 314 | 20th Century Art Contemporary Art | 3.0 |
ARTH 477 | Art History Seminar | 3.0 |
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free electives | 6.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 9 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free electives | 12.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 10 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
ENGL (Western Literature) | 3.0 | |
Social science elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 12.0 | |
Term 11 | ||
Art History electives | 6.0 | |
Free electives | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 12 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free electives | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 12.0 | |
Total Credit: 180.0 |
Sample Plan of Study (BS)
Term 1 | Credits | |
---|---|---|
ARTH 101 | History of Art I: Ancient to Medieval | 3.0 |
ENGL 101 or 111 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research English Composition I | 3.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
Free elective | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 16.0 | |
Term 2 | ||
ARTH 102 | History of Art II: Renaissance to Romanticism | 3.0 |
ENGL 102 or 112 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing English Composition II | 3.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
Free elective | 6.0 | |
Term Credits | 13.0 | |
Term 3 | ||
ARTH 103 | History of Art III: Modern Art | 3.0 |
ARTH 150 | Art History Research Methods | 3.0 |
ENGL 103 or 113 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres English Composition III | 3.0 |
Free elective | 3.0 | |
Social Science elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 4 | ||
ARCH 141 | Architecture and Society I | 3.0 |
ARTH 301 | Asian Art and Culture | 3.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 0.0 |
Math | 3.0 | |
Natural Science | 3.0 | |
Social science elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 5 | ||
ARTH 325 or 327 | Ancient Greek and Roman Art Italian Renaissance Art | 3.0 |
Math | 3.0 | |
Natural Science | 3.0 | |
Free elective | 6.0 | |
Arts and Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 18.0 | |
Term 6 | ||
ARTH 200 | Principles and Methods of Art History | 3.0 |
Free elective | 12.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 7 | ||
ARTH 300 [WI] | History of Modern Design | 3.0 |
Art History elective | 6.0 | |
Free elective | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 18.0 | |
Term 8 | ||
ARTH 313 or 314 | 20th Century Art Contemporary Art | 3.0 |
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free elective | 6.0 | |
ARTH 477 | Art History Seminar | 3.0 |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 9 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free elective | 13.0 | |
Term Credits | 16.0 | |
Term 10 | ||
Art History elective | 6.0 | |
Free Elective | 3.0 | |
Arts and Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
VSST requirement | 3.0 | |
Term Credits | 15.0 | |
Term 11 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free elective | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 12.0 | |
Term 12 | ||
Art History elective | 3.0 | |
Free elective | 9.0 | |
Term Credits | 12.0 | |
Total Credit: 180.0 |
Co-op/Career Opportunities
Co-op Opportunities
Drexel's enviable geographical location in the northeast corridor of the United States provides a distinct advantage for an art history program because of the proximity of many important Museums, galleries, and auction houses. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Barnes Foundation, Rodin Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, and the Penn Museum of Archeology and Anthropology are all local and easily accessible. Museums, galleries and auction houses in New York, Washington, Baltimore and other east coast centers are all within a reasonable distance by train, bus, or car. These institutions will offer students an abundance of opportunities for first-hand study of the major collections of art, architecture, and design. Proximity to these institutions can also provide for many choice opportunities for cooperative education experiences.
Some possibilities include:
- Barnes Foundation
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
- American Philosophical Society
- Moderne Gallery
- Calderwood Gallery
- RagoArts Auction House, Lambertville, NJ
- Twelve Gates Gallery for Contemporary South Asian Art
- Newark Museum, NJ
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Brooklyn Museum
- Mural Arts Program
- Asia Society NY
- Christie's NY
Career Opportunities
A major in art history can prepare students for a wide variety of careers, as well as preparation for graduate school.
Possible career paths:
- Museum Administrator
- Gallery Director
- Curator
- Museum Registrar
- Museum Educator
- Art Consultant
- Art Librarian
- Editor
- Art and/or Intellectual Property Law
- Artist Representative
- Non-profit and governmental organizations
- Teacher (K-12)
- Teacher/Researcher (college and university)
As a particularly broad humanities discipline, art history serves as an outstanding pre-professional degree, providing excellent preparation for a wide variety of professions, such as law, medicine, education and library science.
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.