Art History, BA BA
Students interested in examining history through the lens of paintings, sculptures, film, architecture, graphics, and decorative arts will find Art History to be an ideal major. Throughout time, humans have expressed their emotions, beliefs, and ideals through these mediums, and today's students can use these objects to understand culture, society, politics, economies, and religions and apply the lessons learned to modern issues.
What can you do with an Art History major? The answer turns out to be quite a bit. Art History majors follow a variety of career paths, and their skills are applicable to many types of jobs. Popular careers include teacher or professor, museum or gallery curator, art dealer, arts administrator, art appraiser, and historic preservation consultant, some of which require education beyond a bachelor's degree. Other students choose to branch out into related fields that require a broad knowledge of culture and communication such as journalism, law, marketing, administration, interior design, photography, library science, and cultural/heritage studies. Much of what happens after college depends on what a student does during college. A student who wants to work in a gallery should ensure the s/he gains hands-on experience during college through internships, volunteer work, and part-time jobs. Experiential learning is critical - it grounds what a student learns in the classroom with the real world.
Students who are more interested in the production of art (such as becoming a film maker or artist) should explore the majors offered through UWM's Peck School of the Arts within the College of the Arts & Architecture.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the Art History major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Art History Major Requirements
The major in art history consists of 30 credits in the department. A minimum 2.0 GPA is required in all ARTHIST courses attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Fifteen credits at the 300 level or above must be taken in residence at UWM.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ARTHIST 101 | Ancient and Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 102 | Renaissance to Modern Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 104 | African, New World and Oceanic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| or ARTHIST 105 | Asian Art and Architecture | |
| L&S research requirement | ||
| ARTHIST 501 | Colloquium in Method and Theory 1 | 3 |
| Distribution | ||
| 3 credits at the 300-level or above in each of the 4 Art Historical distribution areas: Ancient/Medieval; Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century; Modern/Contemporary; African, Asian, or Latin American. (See list below.) | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| 6 credits. At least 3 of the elective credits must be at the 200 level or above. | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Taken during their junior or senior year with permission from the instructor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art Historical Distribution Areas | ||
| Ancient/Medieval | ||
| ARTHIST 210 | The Art and Architecture of the First Cities: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| ARTHIST 220 | Introduction to Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 312 | Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 313 | Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 314 | Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 |
| ARTHIST 315 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTHIST 316 | Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 324 | Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 325 | Early Medieval Art in the West | 3 |
| ARTHIST 326 | Chivalry and Spirituality: French Gothic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 327 | Caliphs, Emirs, & Kings: Art & Architecture of Medieval Spain | 3 |
| ARTHIST 328 | Frankish Art of the Crusader Period in the Levant | 3 |
| ARTHIST 329 | Late Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 412 | Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| ARTHIST 413 | Greek Sculpture | 3 |
| Renaissance/Baroque/18th Century | ||
| ARTHIST 237 | Northern Renaissance Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 240 | Introduction to Prints and Printmaking: History and Techniques | 3 |
| ARTHIST 241 | Introduction to Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 250 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 255 | Survey of Italian Renaissance Painting and Sculpture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 323 | Age of Apocalypse: Western European Art after the First Millennium | 3 |
| ARTHIST 333 | High Renaissance Art in Italy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 342 | Art and Society in Renaissance Florence | 3 |
| ARTHIST 343 | Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 353 | American Art: Colonial Period - 1870 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 357 | Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 431 | Renaissance Architecture in Italy | 3 |
| Modern/Contemporary | ||
| ARTHIST 111 | Entertainment Arts: Film, Television, and the Internet | 3 |
| ARTHIST 205 | History of Film I: Development of an Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 206 | History of Film II: Development of an Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 261 | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 307 | Film Directors: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 308 | Film Styles: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 349 | American Postmodernism 1960-2000 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 354 | American Art: 1870 - Present | 3 |
| ARTHIST 355 | American Folk Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 358 | Realism to Post-Impressionism: European Art, 1850-1900 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 364 | Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 365 | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTHIST 366 | German Painting, 1800-1933 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367 | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 368 | History of Modern Design | 3 |
| ARTHIST 369 | Introduction to Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 370 | Trends in Contemporary Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 376 | History and Theory of New Media Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 447 | Topics in Early Modern Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 458 | A Comparative History of Architecture and Urbanism: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 462 | Frank Lloyd Wright | 3 |
| ARTHIST 463 | Cubism and its Inheritance | 3 |
| ARTHIST 465 | Dada and Surrealist Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 469 | American Artists Revealed: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 470 | Topics in American Art: | 3 |
| Asian, African, or Latin American | ||
| ARTHIST 105 | Asian Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 251 | Introduction to the Art and Architecture of Latin America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 270 | Pre-Columbian Art, Myth, and Legacy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 281 | Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367 | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 371 | African Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 372 | Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 |
| ARTHIST 373 | Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 375 | Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 |
| ARTHIST 380 | Chinese Painting | 3 |
| ARTHIST 382 | Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 383 | Japanese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 384 | Art and Immortality in Ancient China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 386 | Art, Ritual, and Ethnicity of China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 387 | Buddhist Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 474 | Maya Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 481 | Topics in Chinese Art: | 1-3 |
| ARTHIST 482 | Topics in Non-Western Art: | 3 |
The major is intended for students who are interested in obtaining a well-balanced approach to the study of art history. It provides an introduction to most major areas of inquiry in art history and to different scholarly approaches to study in this field. It is recommended especially for students who wish to continue into graduate studies in art history and to pursue careers in college teaching or museum or gallery work.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.