Art & Art History Major
The major in art & art history offers a unique combination of specialization and flexibility. With concentrations in art
education, art
history, and studio
art, students are immersed in a curriculum of creativity, critical
thinking, and professional development.
The program begins with a core sequence of four courses (see Degree Requirements
below) in which students develop foundational skills and
knowledge in studio art and art history, including the following learning outcomes:
- Proficiency in two- and three-dimensional media
- Knowledge of major periods of artistic development and
corresponding stylistic movements
Once in their chosen concentration sequence, students develop into critical and creative thinkers, and adding these general learning outcomes:
- Understanding and use of specialized studio art and art history terminology
- Formulation of clear and focused oral and written arguments
- Ability to locate, analyze, and apply appropriate research sources
Specific learning outcomes for each concentration include:
- Art Education: Demonstrate competency in art education pedagogy and methodologies
- Art Education and Studio Art: Develop an increasingly sophisticated engagement with a single art medium, and produce and exhibit a focused body of creative work
- Art History: Produce a research project of substantial depth and complexity
At the conclusion of the professional sequence of the program, students are required to present:
- A refined portfolio of creative and/or scholarly work
- An understanding of key aspects of career and/or graduate school opportunities
The degree in art & art history requires a minimum completion of
39-credits (13 courses), though most students take additional
courses to expand the educational experience. Many students pursue a
second major or minor in another academic discipline, which further
broadens their skills and career potential. Because of the relatively
small size of the major—completed in as little as two years—it is ideal
for transfer students or students in another field who wish to add art
& art history as a second major.
The program is further enhanced by LVC's General Education
Program, which is grounded in a traditional liberal arts
curriculum to ensure that all graduates of the College are broadly
educated and prepared "to live and work in a changing, diverse, and
fragile world" (LVC Mission Statement). Students can also utilize Study Abroad
toward the art & art history major, as many of the courses offered
by LVC's partner institutions are in art history and studio art.
Required courses:
ART 103 Visual Thinking| This course introduces concepts and skills that are essential for artists, art historians, and art educators. The focus is on building foundational principles (such as the visual elements in works of art) and studio art methodologies (such as the creative process, problem solving, and critiques). Students in the course will work individually and collaboratively on a variety of studio projects, will undertake a semester-long creative journaling project, visit galleries and museums in the region, and interact with visiting professional artists and art historians. Prerequisite: Limited to art and art history majors and minors. 3 credits. |
| An introduction to art and architecture from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia and the pyramids of dynastic Egypt to the temples of ancient Greece and Rome, the mosaics of Byzantium to the illuminated manuscripts and soaring cathedrals of medieval Europe. Each artwork and architectural structure is situated within its historical, social, economic, religious, and cultural context. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 5 (Literature and Fine Art). 3 credits. |
| Beginning with the rediscovery of antiquity and concluding with rise of modernity, this course examines the rapid transformation of Western art and architecture. Key stylistics movements include the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Neoclassicism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Dada and Surrealism. Each artwork and architectural structure is situated within its historical, social, economic, religious, and cultural context. Fulfills general education requirement: Liberal Studies Area 5 (Literature and Fine Art). 3 credits. |
| An introductory survey course that focuses on the history, development, and cultural influences of non-Western art. The course will examine the traditions of art and architecture from various regions, including Africa, Arabia, India, China, Japan, the Americas, and Oceania. Geographically, the course moves from Africa through the Middle East and into central Asia, extending both south and east. The course then continues across the Pacific to examine the native North American region and the cultures within South America, including Mesoamerican and Andean. The course finishes with cultures on the western Pacific Rim, including the Australian Aboriginal and the New Zealand Maori. Fulfills general education requirement: Intercultural Diversity. 3 credits. |
Seven additional ART courses.
Students must choose one of the concentrations below in addition to the core.
Art History
Studio Art
Education