Art History

Dean: Joseph Poshek
Academic Chair, Visual Arts: Terry Chatkupt
Faculty: Amy Grimm

Courses

The curriculum includes courses in art theory, appreciation, history and methodology, and museum studies. All courses are designed to incorporate the necessary components required in the academic development of a comprehensive art historical and methodological understanding. Art historical topics address the Western canon from antiquity to the post-modern world, as well as the art of Africa, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas. Most of the courses offered in the art history curriculum meet general education requirements in fine arts. They may also be taken to satisfy the requirements for the Associate in Arts degree in Art History (AA) and the Associate in Arts degree in Art History for Transfer (AA-T).

Major

Students majoring in art history at the lower-division level are provided with a rigorous and rich foundation in the history of art, critically examining the importance of artistic traditions in the study of human cultures. Through a variety of historical periods, students learn to identify, analyze, and interpret works of art and architecture as they reflect not only individual achievement but also the political, social, religious, and economic interests of the society from which they emerge. Students may enroll in the art history program to prepare for transfer into an upper-division program in art history.

For further information about the art history program students may log on to academics.ivc.edu/arts/visual/history or email ivcarthistory@ivc.edu.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the art history program, students will be able to

Successfully complete objective glossary quizzes that evaluate his/her developed vocabulary maturation as it relates to the discipline of art history.
Define and articulate appropriate art historical terminologies that are utilized in the analyses of aesthetic works of art and architecture.
Produce a written analysis of a work of art to demonstrate his/her ability to articulate knowledge of the subject matter and its relating social, economic, religious, political framework.
Identify and analyze the denotative characteristics in developing aesthetic works of art and architecture, as their subjects reflect the broader community’s cultural issues and preferences: social, economic, religious and political.
Recognize, articulate, and critically interpret the connotative qualities in aesthetic works of art and architecture as they reflect the issues of meaning and intellectual expression.
Participate in class discussion designed to evaluate their critical skills of aesthetic observation and academic articulation as it relates to the subject matter.
Complete written papers that reflect an understanding and appreciation of various art historical methodologies.
Demonstrate general knowledge of principal art historical personalities (artists, patrons, sponsors) in major periods and locations.
Demonstrate a rudimentary understanding of the technical processes involved in standard historical art making.
Through assigned readings, develop knowledge of foundational sources necessary to the construction of a critical perspective in the studies of art history and visual culture.

Potential Careers

Majors in art history are afforded opportunities in a number of art-related fields ranging from education to business. Examples of careers in art history and/or museum studies include the following:

Appraiser or Investor
Art Consultant
Art Educator
Art Publisher or Critic
Arts Librarian
Artist Representative
Conservator
Gallery Director
Legal Professional
Lobbyist or Organizer
Museum Curator
Museum Technician

Recommended Art History Tracks

Track One: Western

Pre-Modern to Early Modern

Year One, Fall: ARTH 4 , ARTH 104
   Year One, Spring: ARTH 24 , ARTH 25
   Year Two, Fall: ARTH 26 , ARTH 31
   Year Two, Spring: ARTH 27 , ARTH 30 , ARTH 32

Track Two: Western

Late Modern to Postmodern

Year One, Fall: ARTH 4 , ARTH 104
Year One, Spring: ARTH 25 , ARTH 32
Year Two, Fall: ARTH 26 , ARTH 29
Year Two, Spring: ARTH 27 , ARTH 28

Track Three: Non-Western

Prehistory to Postmodern

Year One, Fall: ARTH 4 , ARTH 104
   Year One, Spring: ARTH 22 , ARTH 25
   Year Two, Fall: ARTH 23 , ARTH 26
   Year Two, Spring: ARTH 24 , ARTH 27 , ARTH 28

Programs

Associate in Arts

Art History, AA

Associate in Arts for Transfer

Art History for Transfer, AA-T

Catalog and Student Handbook

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