ART HISTORY

The humanistic discipline of art history is dedicated to understanding works of art as meaningful components of the particular cultures (defined both chronologically and geographically) in which they were produced. Students are trained in theory and methods of historical research as well as in the practices of formal analysis and iconographic interpretation.

Students majoring in the history of art may concentrate in either the Western or Asian tradition of art. All majors are required to take the introductory course in Western art history (ARHA 101) and nine semester-length courses numbered 200 or above, including a minimum of two seminars. When students elect a 300-level seminar, they should previously have taken a 100- or 200-1evel course devoted to the art history of the period to be studied in the seminar.

For majors, at least five of their nine upper-level courses must be courses in the history of art taken at Wesleyan. One or two of the required nine upper-level courses may be relevant courses taught at Wesleyan outside the art history program in such departments as history, religion, classics, or anthropology. Majors who wish to transfer course credits from other universities or who wish to have other Wesleyan courses count toward their major in art history must have prior written approval of their faculty adviser.

Concentration in the history of Western art. The nine upper-level courses required of the major must include at least one course in each of the four chronological subdivisions of Western art (classical, medieval, Renaissance, and modern). Concentrators in Western art must take at least one course in non-Western art history (Asian or African), which may be a 100-level course.

Concentration in the history of Asian art. Students must take at least four Asian art courses, two courses in Western art history, and at least one departmental seminar treating Asian art. With the permission of the faculty adviser, either ARHA 180 or ARHA 185 may be counted as one of the four required Asian courses. Students who concentrate in the history of Asian art are strongly urged to take at least one course outside the department dealing with the history or culture of pre-modern Asia.

All art history majors are encouraged to take at least one course in archaeology as part of the major. Students working closely with the history of a particular medium may wish to take a studio course to enhance their understanding of that medium.

Honors. Honors in the history of art may be awarded by the program's faculty to those students whose course work in the major has been of consistently high quality and who have completed one of the following individual projects.

A Senior Thesis: a two-term project involving substantial research and writing on a topic agreed upon by the student in consultation with a faculty member who will serve as tutor for the thesis. To register for a senior thesis, the student enrolls in ARHA 409 and ARHA 410 as permission-of-instructor courses.

A Senior Essay: a one-term project of carefully directed research and writing on a topic agreed upon by a student with a faculty tutor. To register for a Senior Essay, the student enrolls in ARHA 401 (fall) or ARHA 402 (spring) as a permission-of-instructor course.

Both senior theses and senior essays must conform to the University's general requirements and deadlines for honors in the senior year, as administered through Honors College.

All majors who are candidates for honors are expected to present a twenty-minute public talk based on either their Senior Thesis or Senior Essay. These talks will normally be in the spring of the senior year and will be developed in consultation with a faculty tutor.

Proficiency is required in at least one foreign language for completion of the major in history of art. Proficiency is normally defined as successful completion of the Wesleyan intermediate-level course in the language (e.g., German 211, French 116, or Italian 113). These three modern European languages are considered to be the most generally valuable for studies in the history of art. Majors contemplating graduate study in history of art should acquire a reading knowledge of two of these languages before entering graduate school.

Students who are unusually well-prepared seek reputable foreign study as an adjunct to the major. The Sweet Briar College Junior Year in France provides opportunities for study in art history at the University of Paris IV and at the Ecole du Louvre. The Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome is also recommended to those students concentrating in Western art. Students whose area of concentration is Asian art are encouraged to consider the Kyoto program in Japan or a comparable program in China (see East Asian Studies) or in India (the University of Wisconsin College Year in India is especially recommended). Students planning study in architectural history may wish to consider Columbia University's "Shape of Two Cities" program in architecture, urban planning, and historic preservation held in New York and Paris.

Courses taken outside of Wesleyan may be awarded credit in art history when: 1) the student completes a Transfer of Credit form from the Dean's office prior to enrolling in the course and obtains the signature of the faculty person whose area of expertise corresponds most closely to the course, and 2) the student receives a grade of B or better.

In general, University regulations applying to Advanced Placement credits pertain to the major in history of art. Only one course credit will be awarded for students who have received a grade of 5 on the AP art history exam. AP credit does not exempt majors from ARHA 101.

Requirements for acceptance to the major. Students interested in the major should consult with the faculty person whom they would like to serve as their adviser, or with the Director of the Art History program if their prospective adviser is on sabbatical or leave. The student should complete the application for major status in the history of art. By the end of the sophomore year, a prospective major should plan to have taken an introductory course (either ARHA 101 for Western concentrators or ARHA 180 or 185 for Asian concentrators) and at least two other courses in art history. For admission to the major, the student must have a B average in courses taken in the history of art and a B average overall.