William and Mary

Undergraduate Program



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Majoring in Art History

Art History requirements are designed to give the student a satisfactory program having breadth, variety and a balance between lecture courses and seminars. A minimum of 39 credits in Art and Art History must be earned in the major; a maximum of 48 credits may be earned. Students majoring in Art History are required to take ART 211, 212 and ARTH 251, 252. In addition to these 12 hours, the student must choose three credits in each of the following five fields:

  1. Medieval (ARTH 351, 352, 353)
  2. Renaissance and Baroque (ARTH 360, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366)
  3. Modern (ARTH 370, 371, 372, 375)
  4. American (ARTH 381, 383)
  5. Non-Western (ARTH 392, 393, 394, 395)

In addition, Methods in Art History (ARTH 480) and another 400-level course are required.

Majors are also responsible for completing the Major Computing Proficiency and the Major Writing Requirement (see below).

Major Computing Proficiency (Art and Art History)

The Major Computing Proficiency will be fulfilled during the completion of the Major Writing Requirement. In the process of writing their research papers, students will be expected to do research using all of the databases and library resources that are computer accessible (World Wide Web, On-Line Journals, and Bibliographic Sources such as Art Index, Art Abstracts, RILA, RRA, BHA, Art Bibliographies Modern etc.) as well as to find and assess specific web sites related to their topic.

Major Writing Requirement (Art and Art History)

One art history course at the 300 or 400 level (including ARTH 490) will fulfill the requirement. ARTH 392, ARTH 393, and ARTH 394 cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

The Major Writing Requirement will be satisfied in the following way:

  1. When prospective majors, in consultation with their major advisor, fill the form required for a declaration of major, they will specify which two art history courses numbered three hundred or above in the chosen field are most appropriate to their area of special interest. These courses will satisfy the prospective major's Major Writing Requirement.
  2. At the time of registration for the specified course, the student will consult with the instructor to make all necessary arrangements for a schedule that allows for the opportunity to go through the stages of writing and reqriting that is part of the requirement.
  3. When the student has completed the courses with a grade of C or higher, the instructor will notify the department chair.
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