Art History, BA BA
Students interested in examining history through the lens of paintings, sculptures, film, architecture, graphics, and decorative arts will find Art History to be an ideal major. Throughout time, humans have expressed their emotions, beliefs, and ideals through these mediums, and today's students can use these objects to understand culture, society, politics, economies, and religions and apply the lessons learned to modern issues.
What can you do with an Art History major? The answer turns out to be quite a bit. Art History majors follow a variety of career paths, and their skills are applicable to many types of jobs. Popular careers include teacher or professor, museum or gallery curator, art dealer, arts administrator, art appraiser, and historic preservation consultant, some of which require education beyond a bachelor's degree. Other students choose to branch out into related fields that require a broad knowledge of culture and communication such as journalism, law, marketing, administration, interior design, photography, library science, and cultural/heritage studies. Much of what happens after college depends on what a student does during college. A student who wants to work in a gallery should ensure the s/he gains hands-on experience during college through internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. Experiential learning is critical - it grounds what a student learns in the classroom with the real world.
Students who are more interested in the production of art (such as becoming a film maker or artist) should explore the majors offered through  within the College of the Arts & Architecture.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the Art History major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Art History Major Requirements
The major in art history consists of 30 credits in the department. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all ARTHIST courses attempted at 51ÁÔÆæ. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Fifteen credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at 51ÁÔÆæ.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý | Asian Art and Architecture | |
| L&S research requirement | ||
| Colloquium in Method and Theory 1 | 3 | |
| Distribution | ||
| 3 credits at the 300-level or above in each of the 4 Art Historical distribution areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century; Modern/Contemporary; African, Asian, or Latin American. (See list below.) | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits. At least 3 of the elective credits must be at the 200 level or above. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Taken during their junior or senior year with permission from the instructor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art Historical Distribution Areas | ||
| Ancient/Medieval | ||
| The Art and Architecture of the First Cities: A Global Perspective | 3 | |
| Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 | |
| Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 | |
| Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 | |
| Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Early Medieval Art in the West | 3 | |
| Chivalry and Spirituality: French Gothic Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Caliphs, Emirs, & Kings: Art & Architecture of Medieval Spain | 3 | |
| Frankish Art of the Crusader Period in the Levant | 3 | |
| Late Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 | |
| Greek Sculpture | 3 | |
| Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century | ||
| Northern Renaissance Art | 3 | |
| Introduction to Prints and Printmaking: History and Techniques | 3 | |
| Introduction to Baroque Art | 3 | |
| Introduction to American Art | 3 | |
| Survey of Italian Renaissance Painting and Sculpture | 3 | |
| Age of Apocalypse: Western European Art after the First Millennium | 3 | |
| High Renaissance Art in Italy | 3 | |
| Art and Society in Renaissance Florence | 3 | |
| Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 | |
| American Art: Colonial Period - 1870 | 3 | |
| Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | 3 | |
| Renaissance Architecture in Italy | 3 | |
| Modern/Contemporary | ||
| Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet | 3 | |
| History of Film I: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| History of Film II: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| Modern Art | 3 | |
| Film Directors: | 3 | |
| Film Styles: | 3 | |
| American Postmodernism 1960-2000 | 3 | |
| American Art: 1870 - Present | 3 | |
| American Folk Art | 3 | |
| Realism to Post-Impressionism: European Art, 1850-1900 | 3 | |
| Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | 3 | |
| History of Photography | 3 | |
| German Painting, 1800-1933 | 3 | |
| Latin American Modernisms | 3 | |
| History of Modern Design | 3 | |
| Introduction to Contemporary Art | 3 | |
| Trends in Contemporary Architecture | 3 | |
| History and Theory of New Media Art | 3 | |
| Topics in Early Modern Art: | 3 | |
| A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism: | 3 | |
| Frank Lloyd Wright | 3 | |
| Cubism and its Inheritance | 3 | |
| Dada and Surrealist Art | 3 | |
| American Artists Revealed: | 3 | |
| Topics in American Art: | 3 | |
| Asian, African, or Latin American | ||
| Asian Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 | |
| Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 | |
| Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art | 3 | |
| Latin American Modernisms | 3 | |
| African Art | 3 | |
| Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 | |
| Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 | |
| Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 | |
| Chinese Painting | 3 | |
| Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Japanese Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Art and Immortality in Ancient China | 3 | |
| Art, Ritual, and Ethnicity of China | 3 | |
| Buddhist Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| Maya Art | 3 | |
| Topics in Chinese Art: | 1-3 | |
| Topics in Non-Western Art: | 3 | |
The major is intended for students who are interested in obtaining a well-balanced approach to the study of art history. It provides an introduction to most major areas of inquiry in art history and to different scholarly approaches to study in this field. It is recommended especially for students who wish to continue into graduate studies in art history and to pursue careers in college teaching or museum or gallery work.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at 51ÁÔÆæ, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.Â
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.Â
Currently enrolled students should use the  to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.