Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Coordinator: Floyd Martin
E-mail: fwmartin@ualr.edu
The bachelor of arts in art history is for students especially interested in the history, theory, and criticism of the visual arts. The major will provide a solid foundation for students who wish to pursue the master or Ph.D. programs in art history that are necessary for careers in university teaching, research, and the museum field. For those pursuing other interests, the major in art history, which is decidedly a liberal arts field, encourages development of analytical and critical viewing and writing skills useful in such careers as law, medicine, and business.
Students should plan carefully and check the long‐range schedule of course offerings with the art history coordinator if interested in a particular course. ARHA 2310 Survey of the History of Art I and 2311 Survey of the History of Art II are offered fall and spring. ARHA 2312, Survey of Non-Western Art, is usually offered in the fall. Upper‐level courses are normally offered once every two years.
Note: No grade less than C will be accepted in any art course required within any art major or minor.
Major Requirements
In addition to the core curriculum requirements of 44 hours*, the BA in Art History requires six hours of a foreign language at the 2000 or intermediate level, the 47-hour program of study listed below, a senior project, a minor, and electives to complete 124 credit hours. It is also recommended that Rhetoric 1311, 1312 and History 1311, 1312 be taken before or concurrently with Art History 2310 and 2311.
For complete descriptions of all Undergraduate Art History courses, please refer to Course Descriptions heading in the menu bar at left.
Survey Courses (9 total hours)
- ARHA 2310 Survey of the History of Art I
- ARHA 2311 Survey of the History of Art II
- ARHA 2312 Survey of Non-Western Art
Four courses from the following (12 total hours)
- ARHA 3304 Medieval Art
- ARHA 4304 Ancient Art
- ARHA 4305 Italian Renaissance Art or ARHA 4306 Renaissance Art in Northern Europe
- ARHA 4384 Baroque Art
- ARHA 4307 18th and 19th Century Art in Europe
- ARHA 4387 Late 19th and Early 20th Century Art in Europe or ARHA 4308 20th Century Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts Since 1945
One upper-level course in a non-western area (3 total hours)
One Seminar or Special Topics course (3 total hours)
Two Art History electives (6 total hours)
Studies in the History of Art (3 total hours)
Capstone—Art History 4297 (2 total hours)
Studio Art (9 total hours)
- ARST 1310 Basic Drawing
- ARST 1315 Two-Dimensional Design
- One additional studio elective
Minor (18 total hours)
General Electives (15 total hours)
Total hours for the major in Art History: 80
Senior Paper
Art history majors in the last semester of their senior year are required to write a senior paper, which will also be given orally. The paper must be approved by the student’s major advisor, academic advisor, and the art history coordinator. The oral presentation may be in the form of a public lecture, presentation to a class, or a paper at a scholarly meeting.
Senior Portfolio
Art history majors are required to prepare a portfolio of their senior paper and three other papers written for classes while at UALR. This portfolio must be approved by the major advisor and art history coordinator. The portfolio will be due one week before the last class day, and will become the property of the Department of Art.
The Senior Paper and Senior Portfolio are prepared while enrolled in the Capstone Art History course, ARHA 4297.
*For specific information on core requirements, see “Core Requirements for Bachelor Degrees” in the 2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog.
Art History Major/Studio Art Minor
Students may choose to major in art history and minor in studio art. Since ARST 1310 Basic Drawing, ARST 1315 Two‐Dimensional Design, and three studio elective credits are included in the art history major, students choosing this program will also complete ARST 2310 Figure Drawing, ARST 2315 Three‐Dimensional Design, and two upper‐level studio art courses. These hours may be in one discipline (e.g. Painting I, II) or selected concentrations (e.g. Painting I, Ceramics I).
For complete descriptions of all Art History and Studio Art courses, please refer to Course Descriptions heading in the menu bar at left.
Master of Arts in Art: Art History Concentration
Graduate Program
The Art History concentration requires 30 graduate credit hours, including 5300 Studies in the History of Art; nine additional 5000-level art history lecture hours; three hours each in Renaissance and Baroque, 18th- and 19thcentury, and 20th-century art; six approved elective hours; and a thesis with oral defense.
The thesis topic must be selected before completing 21 hours and must be approved by the thesis advisor and program coordinator before it is submitted to the Graduate School Dean. The thesis must demonstrate the candidate’s capacity for high-level, independent research. In addition, it must conform to the deadlines, requirements, and standards of the Department of Art and Graduate School. Thesis regulations are available from the program coordinator.
Students who intend to complete degree requirements during the summer must anticipate professional absences for at least part of the summer. In addition, students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. A reading knowledge of French or German is normally expected. Proficiency may be demonstrated by successful completion of undergraduate intermediate level II courses or departmental examination. This should be done as early as possible in the course of study.
The Advancement to Candidacy Exam must be taken when the student has successfully completed between 9 and 15 program hours. It includes slide identifications of major monuments from all periods and several essays covering material from various periods. Upon completion of the exam, the faculty may advise the student to continue in the program, repeat earlier course work, or the student may be dismissed from the program.
Sample Program
May be adapted to individual student’s qualifications.
- ARHA 5300 Studies in the History of Art
- ARHA 5305, 5306, 5384, 7315, or 7316
- ARHA 5307 or 7327
- ARHA 5308, 5387, or 7328
- 9 additional art history hours
- 6 elective hours (art history, studio art, or other approved)
- ARHA 7399 Thesis
For complete descriptions of all Graduate Art History courses, please refer to Course Descriptions heading in the menu bar at left.