Art History 30 credits

(30 credits plus 12 credits of experiential learning)

Emphasis in Modern and Contemporary Art

Students who major in Art History will gain insight into the complex and dynamic relationship between art and the society that produces it. Although the emphasis of the curriculum is on art of the last 150 years, students will achieve a thorough overview of the major periods and art works in the history of western art since the ancient world before engaging with the often-contentious roles of art and artists in the modern era.

Utilizing seminar style classes as well as lectures, students will gain a thorough grounding in theoretical and critical approaches to the study of art and will learn to discuss the subject cogently in written and oral presentations. In the final year they will have the opportunity to explore a topic in depth and to produce a thesis that meets the research, writing and documentation standards of the discipline.

Students who graduate with a degree in Art History will be eligible to pursue graduate study in the discipline or to take entry-level positions in museums and galleries, art publishing and related careers. Moreover, the knowledge and insights that they will have gained should enrich their understanding and enjoyment of art in their future lives, regardless of career path.

The Art History major will introduce students to the following:

• A thorough overview of the major periods and art works in the history of western art since the ancient world.
• A thorough grounding in theoretical and critical approaches to the study of art.
• The vocabulary and concepts that will allow them to discuss art cogently in written and oral presentations.
• The skills and knowledge necessary to explore a topic in depth and to produce a thesis that meets the research, writing and documentation standards of the discipline.
• The background to enable them to pursue graduate study in the discipline or to take entry-level positions in museums and galleries, art publishing and related careers.
• The knowledge and insights that should enrich their understanding and enjoyment of art in their future lives, regardless of career path.

Students who graduate with an Art History Major will be able to do the following:

• Demonstrate through course assignments insights into the complex and dynamic relationship between art and the society that produces it, including the often contentious roles of art and artists in the modern era.
• Demonstrate through course assignments their mastery of the vocabulary and concepts of critical analysis and a thorough grounding in theoretical and critical approaches to the study of art.
• Through the process of producing a thesis that meets the research, writing and documentation standards of the discipline, demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to explore a topic in depth.
• Demonstrate through course assignments and field-based experiences the background to enable them to pursue graduate study in the discipline or to take entry-level positions in museums and galleries, art publishing and related careers.

I. Required Core (18 Credits):

II. Art History (IAHIS) Electives (partial list of choices) (12 Credits):

At least 6 credits must be at the 4000 level

3 credits must be in Non-Eurocentric Art

3 credits must be in contemporary art (i.e. 1945 and later) indicated by asterisk *

III. Art History Professional / Experiential Component (12 Credits):

** Or any other 1000 level field-based course

Choose 3 credits from among the following:

A travel course or experience approved by the Art History Department chair (3 credits)

Any studio art class (3 credits)

IV. Other Requirements: Foreign Language Competency

Competencies in foreign language for the Art History Major are fulfilled by taking two semesters of either French, Italian or Spanish at the university level. Students who already have achieved an equivalent level of proficiency before entering Lesley University have the following options for satisfying this requirement:

• Before entering Lesley, students may take an AP language exam or CLEP exam and satisfy the foreign language requirement if they score a grade of four or higher (AP) or in the 50th percentile or above (CLEP).
• After entering Lesley, students who wish to demonstrate language competency will be referred to the Foreign Language Coordinator.
• Students may take a competency exam in any of the languages offered at Lesley under the supervision of the Foreign Language Coordinator. This exam will be equivalent to a final exam given to students in French II, Italian II or Spanish II. A grade of B or higher in this test will waive the language requirement; a grade ranging from C to B- will place student at the second semester level.
• Students who wish to demonstrate language competency in any other foreign language must take the CLEP or an equivalent exam as approved by the Foreign Language Coordinator.

IAHIS 1200

Art of the Western World I

3 credits

Semester begins with an introduction to the art of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages, and then explores European art from the time of Giotto until the beginning of the Romantic period in greater depth. Semester continues the story in Europe and America from the early nineteenth century until about 1960. The course considers the visual, social, psychological and aesthetic components shaping artistic expression through a chronological study of pivotal styles and artists. Knowledge and understanding of the history of art supports student's creative efforts. The course draws extensively on the rich visual resources of the Boston/Cambridge area.

IAHIS 1210

Art of the Western World II

3 credits

Semester begins with an introduction to the art of the Ancient World and the Middle Ages, and then explores European art from the time of Giotto until the beginning of the Romantic period in greater depth. Semester continues the story in Europe and America from the early nineteenth century until about 1960. The course considers the visual, social, psychological and aesthetic components shaping artistic expression through a chronological study of pivotal styles and artists. Knowledge and understanding of the history of art supports student's creative efforts. The course draws extensively on the rich visual resources of the Boston/Cambridge area.

IAHIS 2700

Theory and Methods Seminar

3 credits

This course is required for art history majors and is intended to equip them with the basic methodological and critical tools for pursuing advanced undergraduate studies in discipline. The seminar should be taken in the sophomore year after the introductory requirements are fulfilled, but before more specialized courses. Through seminar-style discussion and critical writing, students will explore the key theoretical approaches to the study of the history of art, including iconographic, formal, social and political, psychoanalytical and semi- logical. They will learn to locate the differences between theories and methods, and examine historiographical issues related to the study of art.

IAHIS 2800

Ancient and Medieval Art

3 credits

This course will explore the history of the visual arts (emphasizing architecture, scul- pture, and painting) from the Stone Age through the late Middle Ages, with emphasis on Western Europe.

IAHIS 3600

Art Since 1945

3 credits

This course explores the rapidly changing work of post-war art, emphasizing developments in the United States. After an introductory overview of the formative early modern period in Europe and America, in particular the rise of abstraction and the emergence of surrealism, the course examines such artistic movements as Abstract Expressionism, Pop, Minimalism, Earth Art, Realism, and Conceptual Art. In addition to the artistic movements themselves, the course also considers such issues as the place of art and the artist in contemporary society. Prerequisites: IAHIS 1200, IAHIS 1210 or permission of instructor.