Art History Courses

Art History courses (designated with prefix ARTH) explore artistic traditions in various historical and cultural contexts. Our courses examine painting, sculpture, architecture, and work in other media from cultures across the globe from prehistory through the present day. Students learn to interpret works of art, their cultural meanings, their formal and material properties, the lives of the artists who made them, and the movements and traditions to which they belonged within appropriate historical, religious, political, and intellectual contexts.

The study of Art History complements and contributes to knowledge in many different disciplines, including American Studies, Anthropology, Classical Studies, Environment & Sustainability, Film and Media Studies, Global Studies, Religious Studies, History, and more. 

Open to All

While some Art History courses are restricted to our majors, most do not have prerequisites and are open to any interested student. Many of our courses have COLL designations and fulfill requirements in two of the knowledge domains: Arts, Letters, and Values (ALV) and Cultures, Societies, and Individuals (CSI). 

All Majors

Art History majors are required to take:

• ARTH 331 - The Curatorial Project
• ARTH 333 - Theory and Methods of Art History
• ARTH 493 - Senior Research Colloquium ("Capstone Seminar")
• ART 211 - Drawing and Color or ART 212 - Three-dimensional Design: Form and Space

Where to Start

You should complete the studio class (ART 211 or 212) before the end of your sophomore year. You should take The Curatorial Project (ARTH 331) in the semester after you declare your major (typically, the fall of your junior year). Enroll in the Capstone Seminar in your senior year.

The Undergraduate Catalog lists all our courses, and tells which semester a course will be offered (Fall or Spring). Not every course is taught each year, and the subjects covered in topics courses vary by semester. To see which ones are coming up next semester, or to see what topics will be taught in a topics course, do a Class Search for subject "ARTH" in William & Mary PATH. 

What to Expect

What type of readings are involved in first-and-second-year courses? (e.g. articles, textbook) How much reading should a student expect to do per week?

Students will read articles in journals, books, and online resources. Readings consist of approximately 30-40 pages per week.

What sorts of assignments should a student expect in first-and-second-year courses? (e.g. quizzes, group projects, presentations)

Short weekly memos responding to course material, quizzes, short papers, exams.

Beyond the required course texts, are there other course materials a student should be prepared to purchase for first-and-second-year courses?

We generally avoid requiring students to purchase textbooks; usually, all readings are provided online in Blackboard.

Is there anything else that is important for first-and-second-year students to know and/or expect from their courses?

Attendance and engagement in discussion are important.