Major Requirements: History of Art

The concentration consists of a minimum of 10 courses (12 with honors project). With the help of a department advisor, each student will devise a program of study and a sequence of courses that must include:

  • One introductory course in the history of art
  • Two courses in the arts of Africa, Asia, or the Middle East
  • One course in European or American art before 1800
  • One course in European or American art after 1800
  • Two upper-level courses or seminars with research papers, one of which may be a course outside the department with a focus on visual arts in the student’s research paper
  • One Studio elective (preferably before Senior Year)
  • One additional Studio or related elective

Many of our courses could count for two of these requirements.  For example, an upper-level course in European art before 1800 with a required research paper will fulfill two of the requirements.  An introductory course in the arts of Asia will fulfill two of the requirements as well.

**Any major in the Art and History of Art department must take courses for an actual grade. Departmental regulations stipulate that all majors may not take ARHA classes on a Pass/Fail basis.

Honors: History of Art

Candidates for honors in this concentration will, with departmental permission, take ARHA 498-499 during their senior year. Students must apply and be accepted at the end of their third year, usually the last week in April.

Comprehensive Exam: History of Art

Majors in the History of Art must satisfy a comprehensive assessment by participating in an undergraduate student conference in the final semester of the senior year. Each student will be expected to prepare a brief presentation that will demonstrate how a text of their choice could expand and develop one research project completed to satisfy the requirements for the major. It should elucidate of the link between their work and future goals. Students seeking department honors will be expected to present on their senior thesis.

Major Requirements: The Practice of Art 

The Practice of Art concentration consists of a minimum of 10 courses (12 with honors project):

  • Three introductory level studio courses
  • Five additional studio courses, at least 2 of which must be at the intermediate or advanced levels, chosen in close consultation with advisor
  • One course in contemporary Art History
  • One additional course in art history

In consultation with their advisors, students in this concentration will be encouraged to take additional courses both in art history and other disciplines.  These courses should be broadly related to their artistic interests outside of the studio concentration, enriching their interdisciplinary understanding and engagement within a liberal arts curriculum. This expectation will be especially high for honors thesis candidates.

**Any major in the Art and History of Art department must take courses for an actual grade. Departmental regulations stipulate that all majors may not take ARHA classes on a Pass/Fail basis.

Honors: The Practice of Art 

Candidates for honors will, with departmental permission, take Art 498-499 during the senior year. Students must apply to be accepted at the end of their third year, usually the last week in April. In designing their year-long projects, students will be encouraged to explore the interdisciplinary implications and opportunities inherent in their artistic directions. Thesis students will also be required to develop a statement that ultimately places their body of work within a historical and cultural artistic discourse. There will be an exhibition of the bodies of work representing the honors theses in the Eli Marsh Gallery, Fayerweather Hall late April through commencement.

Comprehensive Exam: The Practice of Art 

Required of all studio concentration majors, except thesis students. This work should be done in consultation with your advisor. You should meet with them before thanksgiving break.

Creation in the senior year of an ambitious independent studio art project.  This project is designed and created independently by the student, can be in any medium or combination of mediums, and may also be interdisciplinary in nature.  Students will also develop a concise, written statement that addresses their conceptual concerns, process, choice of materials and media.  It should cite influences as well as place the work within a historical and artistic context. 

The work is to be hung in the exhibition space on the first floor of Fayerweather for a week-long group exhibition to be reviewed by the Studio Faculty at least one week prior to the registrar's due date for receipt of grades. The written component is due by email to the Department Coordinator at finearts@amherst.edu on the same day. Grades are due to the Registrar by the end of the 6th week of the student's final semester.