Art History

Illuminating contemporary ideas

Students from a variety of academic backgrounds can expand their speaking, writing and critical thinking skills by questioning how arts of the past illuminate contemporary ideas. Through interactive discourse, students investigate historical convention or controversy, ethical dimensions and the spirit of invention and expression across cultures.

Students will engage with a variety of art historical topics from ancient art to contemporary art. They will develop an understanding of materials, concepts, cultures and types of criticism that are relevant to the production, display and audience reception of art across time and culture. Through integrated research and hands-on making of art, students connect sensory perceptions and technical innovations of the past to current artistic expression.

In the real world

Students will enjoy a variety of experiences in the classroom including electronic venues, visits to local galleries and museums or international travel. Students will develop a personal aesthetic viewpoint and formulate valuing positions about artworks that arise from social circumstances in diverse global communities, arts organizations and media culture.

Students with a minor in art history bring expanded visual literacy, cultural awareness and research and writing skills to their careers. Critical thinking, creativity and experiential learning provide them with multiple perspectives on global aesthetics and visual communication of human meaning.

Required Courses - 9 credits

The Annual Crime and Fire Safety Report for Alverno College, which includes crime statistics and annual fire safety statistics, can be found online. A hard copy of the report is available upon request. Please send your request to Jason Pilarski, director of Campus Safety.

• AHS 210 – Ancient to Byzantine Art- 2 cr.
• AHS 252- Medieval to Modern Art - 4 cr.
• AHS 409 – Modern and Contemporary Art – 3 cr,

Plus Electives – choose 7-8 credits

• AHS 144/244- Art in the Museum – 1 cr. may be repeated at different museums
• AHS 250 - Asian Art - 4 cr.
• AHS 251 - Pages Through Time: Art of the Book – 4 cr.
• AHS 311 - Art Topics – 2 cr. (topics rotate, women artists, digital art and more)
• A 384/484 - Gallery Management and Social Media – 1 cr.
• CA 250 - Kick Start Creativity – 4 cr.
• CA 300 - Creativity and Careers – 4 cr.
• EN 252 - Fiction into Film- 4 cr.
• INS 300 – International Studies Course – 3 cr.
• MDIA 401 - New Media – 3 cr.

Required Assessment (final semester): AHS 494 -Portfolio Assessment – 0 cr.

Total = 16-17 credits