Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University Catalog

Art History, BA


About the Program


How do we interpret the narrative imagery of an Ancient Near Eastern sculptural relief? Why did the Spanish artist Salvador Dalí paint pictures in a dreamlike Surrealistic manner? These are examples of the types of questions art historians ask and try to answer by studying the visual arts of both the distant and more recent past. They seek to understand the cultural values expressed in a work of art, and to show how the latter fits into a larger context or tradition to which individual artists belong.  The result is that a painting, statue, building, or piece of jewelry comes to life and gives us a fresh insight into mankind’s ever-changing experience and ways of seeing the world.

Students are taught to think critically and do research, learn theoretical aspects of this field, and express themselves effectively in written and oral form.  Several of our courses contribute to interdisciplinary programs in Classical Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Italian Studies. Students with an undergraduate degree in Art History may go to graduate school to prepare for a future career in teaching, in the museum world, in art-dealing or in art journalism.  The major in Art History must be accompanied by a minor, which can be in any number of fields including fine arts, political and social history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, or a foreign language. It also is important to acquire a reading knowledge of German and/or French by the senior year, because of these languages’ value in any future art-historical study at the graduate level.

Please visit Art History for more information.

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Liberal Arts Curriculum


Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.

Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.

Departmental/Program Major Courses (39 credits)


A. A&D Courses (9 credits)


To be completed preferably by the end of the second year.

1. General Surveys of the History of Art (6 credits)


B. Art History Selectives (30 credits)


Select 30 credits from the following courses in Art History, with at least one course in each category.

Required Minor (12-15 credits)


This major requires a minor or another major. 

It is strongly recommended that students select a minor in one of the following fields: History, Literature, Political Science, Philosophy, Anthropology, or Art and Design Studio.

Undergraduate Minors  

Other Departmental - Liberal Arts Core For BFA, Professional, & Education (25-34 credits)


The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.

LA Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)


Proficiency through level IV in one world language

Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)


Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. 

  • Humanities - all approved courses accepted.
  • Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted.
  • Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted.
  • Science #1 - all approved courses accepted.
  • Science #2 - all approved courses accepted.
  • Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted.
  • Written Communication - all approved courses accepted.
  • Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted.
  • Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted.

Notes


  • Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories.
  • All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirement, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs.
  • “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core.

Electives (26-38 credits)


GPA Requirement


  • 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.

Non-Course / Non-Credit Requirements


  • It is recommended that by the end of the senior year, a student majoring in Art History achieve a reading knowledge of both French and German.

College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy


  • P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course).

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information


  • Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall 1st Year


  • World Language Level I - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Written Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15-16 Credits


Spring 1st Year


  • World Language Level II - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Behavioral/Social Sciences - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Humanities - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 2nd Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level III - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 2nd Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Requirement A: Studio Art Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • World Language Level IV - Credit Hours 3.00 (CLA Core III)
  • ​Required Minor Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Required Minor Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Information Literacy - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Required Minor Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science, Technology, Society  - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Minor Required Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours - 3.00

15 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Major Requirement B: Art History Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Minor Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00

15 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.