Art History (BA, Minor)
The Art History program at Dominican is a significant component in the Arts and Humanities curriculum at the university and is positioned within the Department of Art, Art History, and Design.
Art History courses are designed to provide students with a solid understanding of the history of art from a comprehensive range of cultures and time periods. The program prepares students for advanced graduate training as professional historians of art, for careers in museum and gallery work, and for work in fields such as art appraisal, art criticism, and historic preservation.
Majors in Art History complete introductory survey courses on the lower division level followed by a series of upper division courses in historical eras, geographic and thematic areas. Courses geared to practical and experiential learning, such as museum studies, gallery management, and exhibition installation, are important components of the Art History curriculum. Internships are encouraged and are designed to provide students with additional career training.
Art History majors also complete three selected courses in Studio Art and thus simultaneously receive a Minor in Art. Both Art and Art History majors complete their degrees with a semester-long course in Art Writing. Art History majors conclude their studies with the creation of a Senior thesis research paper under faculty supervision. A Minor in Arts Management is also available for students wishing to combine their studies of the arts with selected Business courses.
Art History minors complete the introductory survey courses, 3 upper division courses (including Art Writing), and one course in Studio Art.
Program Learning Outcomes
The student will demonstrate:
- Fundamental skills and appropriate vocabulary for analysis and interpretation of works of art in their historical contexts.
- The ability to identify and compare the values (social, political, religious, artistic, intellectual) of diverse cultures through studies of the arts produced by these cultures.
- An understanding and appreciation of art and architecture directly through visits to museums, churches, galleries, studios, and historical sites, through internships, participatory and career-oriented courses.
- An experiential understanding of selected art media.
- Competency in the use of library resources; critical, creative, and original thinking; writing and oral presentation skills; the preparation and presentation of short and long papers and projects that describe or compare works of art, or exhibit knowledge in the development of a theme or thesis.