Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Art History, Bachelor of Arts (613)


Program Coordinator

Guy D. Jordan, guy.jordan@wku.edu, (270) 745-8865

The Bachelor of Arts in Art History provides WKU students with a broad and thorough understanding of the history and function of the visual arts from ancient times to the present day. Majors will critically analyze paintings, prints, sculpture, architecture, and other visual media to investigate a range of historical and philosophical issues with which the arts have been deeply involved. As such, majors will gain an understanding of how visual practices proactively articulate and motivate rather than simply illustrate, record, or reiterate history.

With an emphasis on reading, writing, research, and critical analysis the AB in Art History contributes experiences useful to a broad range of possible careers, including museum, gallery, and auction house curatorial duties, art appraisal, conservator and registrar positions, docent roles, archiving, and grant writing interests.

Program Requirements (36 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major requires courses to be taken across a range of chronological periods, ensuring that graduates possess a broad understanding of the field, yet it also allows students to focus their studies on particular historical periods or geographical regions that interest them. A minor or second major is required. No more than 6 hours in the art history major may count toward a student’s minor. No grade of “D” or below may be counted toward the major.

The program requires two introductory courses (ART 105 and ART 106) that provide foundational knowledge of the history of global art, one course (ART 130, ART 131, or ART 140) that familiarizes students with the fundamental concepts of art making, and a course in contemporary art that ensures students have a strong grounding in current trends. The two other required courses are a theory and methodology class (ART 405), and a capstone seminar (ART 494). To ensure significant breadth, among the six electives required for the major, at least one must be chosen from each of the five chronological categories. The remaining elective may be customized to accord with the research interests of the student, and allows for a significant degree of expansion into visually oriented coursework in other disciplines.

ART 105History of Art to 13003
ART 106History of Art Since 13003
Select one of the following:3
Two-Dimensional Design
Three-Dimensional Design
Drawing
ART 405Art Theory and Criticism3
ART 494Seminar in Art History3
ART 390Contemporary Art3
ART 325Art of Asia, Africa, and the Americas3
or ART 407 Islamic Art and Architecture
ART 305Ancient Greek and Roman Art3
or ART 316 Medieval Art & Architecture
Select one of the following:3
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Art of the Italian Renaissance
Northern Renaissance Art
Select one of the following:3
Art of the United States to 1865
European Art, 1700-1848
European Art, 1848-1900
ART 313Art of the United States Since 18653
or ART 410 European Art, 1900-1945
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Archaeology
Field Course in Archaeology
Graveyard Archaeology
Visual Anthropology
Museum Procedures and Preservation Techniques
Survey of Graphic Design
American Architectural History
Film Genres
Film Theory
Historic Preservation
American Architectural History
Vernacular Architecture
Topics in Francophone Cinema
German Literature and Film
Survey of Architecture and Interiors I
Survey of Architecture and Interiors II
History of 20th Century Fashion
Historic Textiles
History of Costume
Restoration of Historic Interiors
Enduring Questions: The Good and the Beautiful
Aesthetics
Hispanic Cinema
Total Hours36

Finish in Four Plan

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 1053ART 1063
ART 130, ART 131, or ART 1403HIST 101 or HIST 1023
ENG 1003MATH 1093
COMM 1453ENG 2003
Colonnade - Social & Behavioral3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ lab3
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 305 or ART 3163ART 314, ART 315, ART 401, or ART 4033
Colonnade - Social & Cultural3ENG 3003
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences w/ no lab3Colonnade - Local to Global3
World Language Requirement or Elective Course3World Language Requirement or Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Art History Restricted Elective3ART 312, ART 408, or ART 4093
Colonnade - Systems3ART 313 or ART 4103
ART 325 or ART 40732nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ART 3903ART 4053
ART 4943World Language Requirement or Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
2nd Major/Minor/Elective Course32nd Major/Minor/Elective Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 120