Art History, B.A.

Program Code: ARTH_BA

Program Description

The art history major is designed to provide students with a dynamic and comprehensive education in the history of art. The histories of diverse forms of visual culture - including painting, sculpture, architecture, design, the graphic arts, and the decorative arts - are examined in relation to their social and cultural contexts. Students who pursue the Bachelor of Arts in art history will acquire a thorough humanistic education that involves writing, speaking, and participating in group discussions, as well as developing a facility in at least one world language. Majors are also encouraged to pursue a study abroad experience.

The major provides students with an excellent liberal arts background and prepares then for a range of career paths as well as for graduate study in art history. With a B.A. in art history, graduates have found employment in museums, galleries, publishing, arts agencies, visual resources, archives/libraries, archaeology, historic preservation, and historic sites. Teaching at the college level or working in a museum (as a curator, educator, director, etc.) typically require graduate degrees.

What is Art History?

Art history is the exploration of art and architecture from pre-historic to contemporary times, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It's museum studies, historiography, iconography, art criticism, connoisseurship, and research. It's studying aesthetics, and the context, form, and social significance of art throughout time and place. Art history relates visual images back to questions of religion, politics, society, gender, economics, philosophy, and culture.

You Might Like this Program If...

  • Art, architecture, and/or other visual material makes your mind light up with questions such as "Who? Where? When? Why? How?"
  • If you are excited by the possibility of making a career out working with significant cultural objects and applying your critical insight.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

  1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
  2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 18
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements 24
Requirements for the Major 36

3 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes 3 credits of GA courses.

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if world language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Requirements for the Major

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
ARTH 350WUndergraduate Seminar in the History of Art3
Additional Courses 1
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 9 credits from the following (These nine credits must include one course in Western art and one course in non-Western art. ARTH 100 and ARTH 107N do not count for either the Western or non-Western requirement):9
Introduction to Art Keystone/General Education Course
Pictures and Power Keystone/General Education Course
Rocks, Minerals, and the History of Art Keystone/General Education Course
Ancient to Medieval Art Keystone/General Education Course
Ancient to Medieval Art Keystone/General Education Course
ARTH 111Z
Renaissance to Modern Art Keystone/General Education Course
Renaissance to Modern Art Keystone/General Education Course
Asian Art and Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
ARTH 120Z
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to the Art and Architecture of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas Keystone/General Education Course
Ancient to Medieval Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
Renaissance to Modern Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
ARTH 220Z
Supporting Courses and Related Areas 1,2
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits in studio art (0-499 level) 33
Select 9 credits of ARTH geographical distribution with one course from three of the following four geographic categories: chosen in consultation with the department or faculty adviser: 49
1) Africa and the Middle East
Islamic Architecture and Art Keystone/General Education Course
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Keystone/General Education Course
Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art Keystone/General Education Course
African Art Keystone/General Education Course
Late Antique and Early Christian Art
Topics in African Art
Topics in the Art of the African Diaspora
2) The Americas
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Keystone/General Education Course
Introduction to the Art and Architecture of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas Keystone/General Education Course
The Comic Book: A History of Sequential Art
American Art and Society Keystone/General Education Course
American Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
Art Since 1940 Keystone/General Education Course
Pioneers of Modern Architecture
The Skyscraper
Studies in American Art
Art and Empire: Aztec, Inca and Spanish
Studies in Latin American Art
Contemporary Art
3) Asia and the Pacific
Asian Art and Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
ARTH 120Z
Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Keystone/General Education Course
Architecture and Art of South and Southeast Asia Keystone/General Education Course
Chinese Art Keystone/General Education Course
ARTH 220Z
Monuments of Asia
Oceanic Art
Contemporary Art
4) Europe and the Mediterranean
Ancient to Medieval Art Keystone/General Education Course
Ancient to Medieval Art Keystone/General Education Course
Renaissance to Modern Art Keystone/General Education Course
Renaissance to Modern Art Keystone/General Education Course
Ancient to Medieval Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
Renaissance to Modern Architecture Keystone/General Education Course
The Art of Marvel: Italy and Spain 1600 - 1750 Keystone/General Education Course
Sexuality and Modern Visual Culture Keystone/General Education Course
The Comic Book: A History of Sequential Art
A Chronological Survey of Photography
Egyptian and Mesopotamian Art Keystone/General Education Course
Pagans and Christians: Encounters in Early Medieval Art Keystone/General Education Course
Italian Renaissance Art Keystone/General Education Course
Romanticism and Revolution Keystone/General Education Course
Greek and Roman Art Keystone/General Education Course
Romanesque and Gothic Art Keystone/General Education Course
Northern Renaissance Art
Art in the Age of Rembrandt
Impressionism to Surrealism Keystone/General Education Course
Art Since 1940 Keystone/General Education Course
Greek Art and Architecture
The Illuminated Manuscript
Pioneers of Modern Architecture
Taste and Criticism in Art
Roman Art
The Gothic Cathedral
ARTH 413
Russian Architecture
Studies in Medieval Sculpture
Studies in Italian Renaissance Art
Iconoclasm: Powerful Images and their Destruction
Studies in Baroque Art
Studies in Modern Art
Late Antique and Early Christian Art
The History of Photography
Renaissance and Baroque Palaces
The City 1600-1800
ARTH 464
Contemporary Art
Contemporary Women Artists
Select 12 credits of electives in ARTH12
1

3 credits of major Additional or Supporting Courses must include Architectural History. Architectural history courses may be taken in satisfaction of any of the Additional, Supporting, or Elective requirements.

2

At least 12 credits of Supporting Courses must be take at the 400 level or higher.
At least 3 credits of Supporting Courses must be in Prehistoric-1600.

3

GA double count. Prerequisites for studio art classes may apply.

4

Courses that address multiple geographies may count for any one requirement from the geographic categories.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

World Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one world language in addition to English. This proficiency must be demonstrated by either examination or course work. See the Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, World Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; world language credits in this category must be in a second world language in addition to English or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language). Credits must be selected from the list of approved courses.

World Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the University Cultural Diversity (US/IL) requirement.​

Learning Outcomes

Art History teaches deep looking and analysis. It therefore develops the sort of visual literacy essential in today's world. The major also sharpens writing and verbal communication skills, and improves critical thinking.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Mary Sergeant
Academic Adviser
116 Theatre Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7586
mym7@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Art History, B.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ARTH 1S (Art History Support Elective/FYS)*33Additional Course*13
Additional Course*13Foreign Language4
ENGL 15, 15A, or 30H3General Education Course3
Foreign Language4General Education Course3
GQǂ3General Education Course3
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Additional Course*13Support Course Geographic Area*23
Studio Art (GA)*†43Support Course Art History Elective*33
Foreign Language4General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course3CAS 100ǂ3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Support Course Geographic Area*23ARTH 350W*3
Support Course Art History Elective*33B.A. Knowledge Domain (US)3
General Education Course3B.A. Knowledge Domain3
GQǂ3World Cultures3
B.A. Knowledge Domain (IL)3Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Support Course Art History Elective*33Support Course Geographic Area*23
ENGL 202ǂ3Elective3
General Education Course3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3 
 15 12
Total Credits 120
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

1

Additional Courses  - Select nine credits from the following list; ARTH 100, ARTH 105N, ARTH 107N, ARTH 111, ARTH 111U, ARTH 111H, ARTH 112, ARTH 112U, ARTH 120, ARTH 120Z, ARTH 130, ARTH 140, ARTH 201, ARTH 202N. These nine credits must include on e course in Western art and one course in non-Western art. ARTH 100 and ARTH 107N do not count for either the Western or non-Western requirement.

2

Supporting Courses - Select 9 credits of ARTH geographical distribution with one course from three of the following four geographic categories: Chose in consultation with the department or faculty adviser: 1) Africa and the Middle East, 2) The Americas, 3) Asia and the Pacific, 4) Europe and the Mediterranean. Courses that address multiple geographies may count for any one requirement from the geographic categories.

3

Supporting Courses – Select 12 credits in Art History Electives

4

Select 3 credits in studio art (0-499 level), Prerequisites for studio art classes may apply

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in World Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as World Cultures courses.

Advising Notes:

  • 3 credits of major Additional or Supporting Courses must include Architectural History. Architectural history courses may be taken in satisfaction of any of the Additional, Supporting, or Elective requirements.
  • At least 12 credits of Supporting Courses must be taken at the 400 level or higher; ARTH 495 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • At least 3 credits of Supporting Courses must be in Prehistoric-1600.

Career Paths

Art history provides students with a solid background in the liberal arts, as well as a strong foundation in the history of painting, sculpture, architecture, design, and the graphic arts. It opens the door for numerous careers, and is an excellent first step toward pursuing advanced degrees in art history.

Careers

Graduates of the art history program have found employment in museums, galleries, publishing, arts agencies, visual resources, archives and libraries, archaeology, historic preservation, and historic sites.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

The two most common careers for art historians are teaching at the college level, or working in a museum as a curator, registrar, or director (among other possibilities). These careers typically require a graduate degree, and the B.A. in art history is the perfect foundation for graduate study in the field.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF ART HISTORY
210 Patterson Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0444
exn30@psu.edu

https://arts.psu.edu/academics/department-of-art-history/