|
Art History OverviewThe Program in Art History offers the opportunity to explore visual art and culture through courses across a broad range of periods and societies, and through close student-teacher contact. The program emphasizes learning how to look at and write about works of art, particularly in introductory courses. Bard’s proximity to New York City allows for visits to museums and galleries; courses are frequently designed in conjunction with current exhibitions. In addition, the art and architecture of the Hudson Valley provides a fruitful resource for original research. The program maintains close contact with local institutions so that students can study original documents and work as volunteer interns during the summer or January intersession. Advanced students may also work with faculty at the Center for Curatorial Studies on campus and at The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture in New York City.RequirementsStudents intending to major in art history should work with their adviser to develop individual study plans that reflect their interests and meet the program’s distribution requirements, which are intended to give the student the chance to encounter a wide range of artistic practices across cultures and time. Students need a total of four art history courses to moderate, including either Perspectives in World Art I or II (Art History 101, 102). Moderated students are required to take at least one program course per semester thereafter.Course requirements for graduation include (in addition to Art History 101 or 102): one course in studio arts, film, or photography; Art Criticism and Methodology (Art History 385, typically taken in the junior year); one non–Western civilization art history course; one course covering the ancient to 1400 c.e. period; one course covering the 1400 to 1800 c.e. period; one course covering the period from 1800 to the present; and at least two 300-level art history seminars (in addition to Art History 385). (Note: One course may satisfy both the seminar and period requirements, but no course may satisfy more than two requirements.) Before undertaking the Senior Project—a major thesis that examines an original art historical issue—the student is encouraged to demonstrate reading knowledge of a language other than English. Each May, seniors give a short presentation of their topics in an informal colloquium. Recent Senior Projects in Art History
|
