2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Jun 27, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Art History Major

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Art History Overview

The art history program focuses on the visual arts and the social, cultural and historical context in which art is created. Majors may take courses in Ancient and Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, and Modern and Contemporary art history or other areas. For those considering teaching, museum and gallery work, arts conservation or arts management, the major is designed to meet the student’s needs and may include an internship at an appropriate institution.

For more information, please visit the Art History Program’s website.

Major Requirements

A total of 12 courses are required, 10 of which are art history courses. Students must earn a grade of C+ or better in all courses contributing to the Art History Major.

A typical path through the major:

1. A first-year student should explore the major, taking any 100-level lecture course(s) of interest offered in any area (Ancient & Medieval, Renaissance & Baroque, Modern & Contemporary, Non-Western). In the spring a first-year student interested in the major should also take ARTH 101, the introductory course that provides an excellent orientation to the discipline. A first-year student who is ready to declare the major should also enroll in VAPA 010 in the spring semester; this course introduces students to the interdisciplinary world of the arts at Clark.

2. A sophomore student should continue to explore the discipline, and can begin to take intermediate level courses that provide deeper exposure to selected topics. Specifically, a sophomore can take any 100-level lecture course in any area; can take ARTH 201, the intermediate PoP seminar offered in the fall; and should consider taking a 200-level seminar in any area beginning in the spring. Also, any student who has not taken ARTH 101 yet should take it in the spring as well as VAPA 010.

3. A junior moves firmly into deeper exploration of selected topics, with opportunities to act, in the form of researching independently and writing for a public audience. Specifically, a junior should take ARTH 201, the intermediate seminar offered in the fall; can take any 200-level seminar in any area; and should consider the possibility of studying abroad in the spring semester.

4. A senior has multiple opportunities for informed action as an art historian: researching, writing, and teaching. Specifically, a senior can take any 200-level seminar in any area (all of which provide opportunities for independent research, writing, and professional presentations); can take ARTH 201, the intermediate seminar offered in the fall; and must take the capstone course, VAPA 290 in the fall semester. The capstone course is required of all art history majors and double-majors to fulfill the capstone requirement. Students with a GPA of 3.4 or higher, in consultation with their advisor, may enroll in the 2-semester honors thesis project, which requires significant independent work in the areas of researching and writing.

I. Art History courses:

A. 4 Core Courses:

B. 7 Area Courses:

Courses are offered in the following areas: 1) Ancient/Medieval; 2) Renaissance/Baroque; 3) Modern/Contemporary; 4) Non-Western. A major must take 7 area courses, with no more than 2 courses in any given area. Of the 7 area courses, 3 must be at the 200 level.

Non-Western: ARTH 119 ARTH 120 ARTH 159 ARTH 161 ARTH 223 ARTH 225 ARTH 234

Ancient/Medieval: ARTH 110 ARTH 111 ARTH 119 ARTH 219 ARTH 223 ARTH 225

Renaissance/Baroque: ARTH 124 ARTH 125 ARTH 131 ARTH 230 ARTH 231 ARTH 239

Modern/Contemporary: ARTH 140 ARTH 142 ARTH 143 ARTH 144 ARTH 243 ARTH 245 ARTH 248 ARTH 249 ARTH 250

II. Related courses:

Students must take 1 course in Studio Art.

Double Majors

Because of its interdisciplinary nature, students may wish to double major in art history and another discipline. In such cases, the number of required courses is reduced to 10, consisting of 9 art history courses and 1 studio art course (students must earn a grade of C+ or better in all courses contributing to the Art History Major). It is configured as follows:

I. Art History courses:

4 Core Courses:

5 Area Courses:

Students must take at least 1 course in each area. Students must take a total of 3 courses at the 200 level.

Non-Western: ARTH 119 ARTH 120 ARTH 159 ARTH 161 ARTH 223 ARTH 225 ARTH 234

Ancient/Medieval: ARTH 110 ARTH 111 ARTH 119 ARTH 219 ARTH 223 ARTH 225

Renaissance/Baroque: ARTH 124 ARTH 125 ARTH 131 ARTH 230 ARTH 231 ARTH 239

Modern/Contemporary: ARTH 140 ARTH 142 ARTH 143 ARTH 144 ARTH 243 ARTH 245 ARTH 248 ARTH 249 ARTH 250

II. Related Courses:

Students must take 1 course in Studio Art.

Honors

Requires two sections of ARTH 297 (Honors in Art History), to be completed in the fall and spring of the senior year; these sections may count toward the required courses for the art history major. Students wishing to take honors in art history should identify an area of interest, choose an appropriate advisor, and apply for eligibility to the art history faculty before April 1 of their junior year. See the course description under ARTH 297 Honors in Art History, for details.

Art History Faculty

John Garton, Ph.D.

Naomi Pitamber, Ph.D

Kristina Wilson, Ph.D. - Director

Emeriti

Rhys Townsend, Ph.D.

Art History Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years