Oct 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Art History (BA)


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Art history is a field of study within the Humanities, which examines the visual and material culture of peoples in a wide range of contexts throughout human history. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art History at UNLV are introduced to both western and non-­western art in an open curriculum that encourages further study outside the discipline. Art history majors must complete a trio of survey courses, presenting an overview of primarily European, North American, and non-­?Western art from the prehistoric period to the present. This foundation knowledge is then expanded with elective Art History courses in areas of the students’ choice and in which they practice critical reading, writing, and analytical skills. Art History majors are also required to take four successive courses of foreign language study.

Please see the UNLV College of Fine Arts web page at www.unlv.edu/finearts for information about department programs, faculty and facilities.  Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at www.unlv.edu/degree/ba-art-history.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify major works of art from the time periods and cultures represented in courses taken this semester.
  2. Articulate the formal elements (e.g. line, color, composition, perspective, etc.) of works of art.
  3. Identify differences and similarities between works of art from the same or different historical moments.
  4. Apply theoretical concepts to works of art.
  5. Learn more about an historical period through studying works of art and artists from that period.
  6. Knowledgeably discuss art historical styles and movements.
  7. Articulate and respond to unfamiliar works of art based on skills developed studying known works.
  8. Understand career routes for art historians and prepare for postgraduate academic, internship, or job opportunities.

Career Possibilities

An Art History degree is an especially good preparation for students interested in further study at the Masters or Doctoral level in the Humanities. Graduates from the BA program in Art History go on to many different pursuits, including graduate study, teaching, administration, community service, and curatorial work. Employers are typically commercial art galleries or auction houses, antique galleries, museums, book and magazine publishers, local private and public arts agencies, and organizations needing grant writers.

Advising


Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Fine Arts Student Advising Center.

Modality: Blended


This program requires some In-Person courses to graduate, while other courses can be taken online. A blended student is one who has committed to pursuing their degree, minor, certificate, or microcredential through both in-person and online education.

Accreditation


For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements


Please see Graduation Policies  for complete information.

Art History (BA) Degree Requirements - Total Credits: 120


Offers the students program of study of cultural heritage in the visual arts. Prepares a student for a career or graduate studies in art history and related areas.

Of the 120 credits required, 42 of these credits must be in upper-division course work (300-400 level).

General Education Requirements - Credits: 37-40


First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3


English Composition - Credits: 6


Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3


Mathematics - Credits: 3


Distribution Requirements - Credits: 19


Please see Distribution Requirements  for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Social Science: 9 credits 
    • One course each from three different fields
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking: 10 credits
    • Two courses from Life and Physical Science;  at least one course must have a lab
    • Analytical Thinking 3 credit course 

Multicultural and International


Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to: www.unlv.edu/provost/multicultural-requirements.

Major Requirements - BA in Art History Credits: 60


General Electives - Credits: 17-20


It is recommended students satisfy electives with humanities courses.

Total Credits: 120


Notes


  1. ART 309   may be taken for Art History credit only.
  2.    may be taken only after completing at least one 400-level art history course with a B or better
  3. Please consult with an advisor regarding satisfying the Milestone Experience and Culminating Experience requirements. 

 

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