2023-2024 Catalogue
Art History (ARH) Course Descriptions
ARH 126: Art History I: Prehistoric to 16th Century.
Goal: To develop skills in critical analysis and interpretation through comparison and an awareness of history, culture, and iconography in art and architecture.
Content: Monuments of art and architecture to 16th Century. Methods of art historical analysis.
Gen. Ed. Category: Exploring; Historical Events; (FA).
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of College writing proficiency requirement.
Credit: 3 hours.
ARH 220: Visual and Curatorial Studies.
Goal: Introductory understanding of visual and curatorial studies within museum operations and emerging issues utilizing Wesleyan’s Art collection as a resource for hands-on experiences.
Content: Museums preserve, collect, display and study their collections for the good of society and the engagement of their community. Wesleyan’s Art collection will provide opportunities for professional experiences in documentation, collection care and conservation, research, storage, handling objects, interpretation and exhibition from development to evaluation methods. The Art collection will serve as primary sources for interpretation including reflections on the politics of race, class and gender as well as individual, community, and national identities to create meaning.
Prerequisite: None.
Credit: 3 hours.
ARH 230: Art History II: 16th to 20th Century.
Goal: To develop skills in critical analysis and interpretation through comparison and an awareness of history, culture, and iconography in art and architecture.
Content: Monuments of art and architecture from 16th to 20th century. Methods of art historical analysis.
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of College writing proficiency requirement.
Gen. Ed. Category: Exploring; Historical Events; (FA).
Credit: 3 hours.
ARH 354: Art History III: 20th Century to Contemporary
Goal: To acquire an understanding of art and architecture from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present.
Content: Study of art and architecture in the 20th and 21st centuries with an emphasis on global socio-political, environmental, and gender issues.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Women's Experiences; (FA).
Credit: 3 hours; cross-listed as WST 354.
ARH 396: Special Topics in Art.
Goal: To offer the student opportunities to pursue fields of study outside traditionally offered courses.
Content: An in-depth examination of a special area of art. Topics offered vary from time to time.
Prerequisite: Depends on course content.
Credit: 3 hours. A student may take a maximum of six to eight semester hours (two courses) of special topics in any one field.
ARH 451: Directed Independent Study.
Goal: To allow the student to explore a field of study not covered in the regular course structure. To allow a concentrated course of study for the serious and independent student.
Content: Independent work in any of the specialized art history or studio art areas.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and program director.
Credit: 1-6 hours.
ARH 452/199: Field Study.
Goal: To offer the student the opportunity to explore real-life training with local businesses.
Content: Student-initiated field studies in any of the specialized art history or art areas.
Prerequisite: Permission of the faculty sponsor and art faculty.
Credit: 1-12 hours.
ARH 499: Honors Thesis. (Fee required).
