Art History Major
Learning Goals
Art History majors will:
- Acquire knowledge of major art and architectural traditions across the globe and from antiquity to the present day
- Apply interdisciplinary methodologies, critical theories, and professional ethical codes to interpret art and architecture
- Develop the skills of visual, formal, material, and spatial analysis
- Conduct research in the field and in primary and secondary textual sources
- Demonstrate mastery of this knowledge and these skills in persuasively argued and clearly written essays and presentations
Requirements for the Art History Major
An Art History major consists of a minimum of ten units. Students considering a major in Art History should choose an adviser and devise a program of study with them. The minimum major must be constructed according to the following guidelines:
- ARTH 100 or WRIT 107. Advanced Placement or transfer credit will not be accepted in fulfillment of this requirement.
- One of the following courses in Studio Art: ARTS 105, ARTS 108/CAMS 138, ARTS 109, ARTS 112, ARTS 113, ARTS 165/CAMS 135.
- A minimum of eight further units in Art History to make a total of ten units. At least two of the eight units must be 300-level courses. Students may elect to pursue an ARTH 350, but may not substitute this course for one of the 300-level courses. Among the eight units must be courses that satisfy the following requirements:
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One course in the Americas: ARTH 206, ARTH 225, ARTH 231, ARTH 234, ARTH 236, ARTH 237, ARTH 245, ARTH 262, ARTH 267/ES 267, AFR 292/ARTH 292, ARTH 303, ARTH 309, ARTH 310, ARTH 314, ARTH 315, AFR 316/ARTH 316, ARTH 317, ARTH 318, ARTH 320, ARTH 321, ARTH 334, ARTH 336, ARTH 339, ARTH 345, ARTH 376, ARTH 378
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One course in Africa, the Middle East, or Europe: ARTH 110Y, ARTH 123, ARTH 203, ARTH 209, ARTH 212, ARTH 222/MAS 222, ARTH 224, ARTH 226/CAMS 207, ARTH 227, ARTH 228, ARTH 229, ARTH 235, ARTH 241, ARTH 242, ARTH 243, ARTH 244, ARTH 246, ARTH 247, ARTH 251, ARTH 256, ARTH 259, AFR 264/ARTH 264, ARTH 289, ARTH 290, AFR 292/ARTH 292, ARTH 299, ARTH 301, ARTH 303, ARTH 304, ARTH 309, ARTH 310, ARTH 312, ARTH 315, ARTH 321, ARTH 322, ARTH 323, ARTH 325, ARTH 326, ARTH 328, ARTH 330, ARTH 335, ARTH 336, ARTH 343, ARTH 347, ARTH 373/CLCV 373, ARTH 397, WRIT 149
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One course in Asia: ARTH 212, ARTH 229, ARTH 238, ARTH 239/SAS 239, ARTH 240, ARTH 248, ARTH 249, ARTH 255, ARTH 257, ARTH 337, ARTH 341, ARTH 346, ARTH 347, ARTH 397
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Three courses in the period before 1800: ARTH 110Y, ARTH 123, ARTH 200, ARTH 203, ARTH 206, ARTH 209, ARTH 217, ARTH 222/MAS 222, ARTH 227, ARTH 229, ARTH 235, ARTH 236, ARTH 238, ARTH 239/SAS 239, ARTH 240, ARTH 241, ARTH 242, ARTH 243, ARTH 244, ARTH 245, ARTH 246, ARTH 247, ARTH 248, ARTH 249, ARTH 251, ARTH 256, ARTH 259, ARTH 290, ARTH 304, ARTH 323, ARTH 325, ARTH 326, ARTH 328, ARTH 330, ARTH 336, ARTH 337, ARTH 341, ARTH 343, ARTH 345, ARTH 346, ARTH 347, ARTH 373/CLCV 373, ARTH 378
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One course in the period after 1800: ARTH 200, ARTH 206, ARTH 212, ARTH 224, ARTH 225, ARTH 226/CAMS 207, ARTH 228, ARTH 231, ARTH 234, ARTH 237, ARTH 245, ARTH 255, ARTH 262, ARTH 267/ES 267, ARTH 289, AFR 292/ARTH 292, ARTH 301, ARTH 303, ARTH 304, ARTH 309, ARTH 310, ARTH 312, ARTH 314, ARTH 315, AFR 316/ARTH 316, ARTH 317, ARTH 318, ARTH 320, ARTH 321, ARTH 322, ARTH 324/PHIL 324, ARTH 334, ARTH 335, ARTH 339, ARTH 345, ARTH 376, ARTH 377, ARTH 390, ARTH 391, ARTH 397
ARTH 100, the Studio courses, and both 300-level courses must be taken at Wellesley. However, if approved by the Registrar and the Department’s Transfer Credit Adviser, a maximum of two courses taken at other institutions may be used to meet other major requirements.
Although the Department does not encourage over-specialization, by careful choice of related courses a student may plan a field of concentration emphasizing one period or area. Students interested in such a plan should consult their advisers as early as possible. Majors are also encouraged to take courses in the language, culture, and history of the areas associated with their specific fields of interest.
Honors in Art History
A senior thesis in Art History involves substantial, independent, year-long research, normally resulting in a professional paper of between 50-100 pages in length. For students who have a clear idea of what they want to investigate, a well-considered plan of research, and a willingness to accept the responsibility of working independently, a senior thesis can be a rewarding experience. Candidates for departmental honors in Art History complete a senior thesis in two units of independent study/thesis (ARTH 360/ARTH 370) undertaken in the fall and spring of the senior year. Admission to the honors program in the Department is by application for students with a 3.5 GPA in the major and a minimum of five units in Art History above the 100 level. Four of the five units must be taken in the Department, and one of the five units must be at the 300 level (a 350 does not count). Further information is available on the Department website.
Graduate Study in Art History
Discuss your interest in graduate study in Art History, and how to prepare for it, with your adviser as early as possible during your time at Wellesley. Most graduate programs require students to pass foreign language exams in the language of their concentration within the first year, so you should take additional courses while at Wellesley to prepare for this.
Students interested in graduate study in conservation should investigate requirements for entrance into conservation programs. Most programs require college-level chemistry and a strong Studio Art background in addition to Art History cousrework.