Major Code:  VA26

 

VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT

ART HISTORY/THEORY/CRITICISM MAJOR

 

The major in art history, theory, and criticism is designed both for students who desire a broadly-based education in the humanities and for those who plan to pursue a career in an art-related profession.  In both cases, the foundation for study is proficiency in the languages of artistic expression.  Through the study of art history, students learn to treat works of art as manifestations of human belief, thought, and experience in Western and non-Western societies from prehistory to the present day.  Courses in criticism review the theoretical approaches which are used to understand artistic achievement.  By combining art historical and critical study, the program promotes in the student an awareness of the cultural traditions which have shaped his or her intellectual outlook and provides a framework for informed judgment on the crucial issues of meaning and expression in contemporary society.

 

Majors are encouraged to take relevant courses in allied disciplines such as History, Communication, Anthropology, and Literature, and in such area programs as Classics and Italian Studies.  In addition, students who plan to apply to graduate schools are strongly advised to develop proficiency in one or more foreign languages, as is dictated by their area of specialization.

 

LOWER DIVISION                                                                 5

UPPER DIVISION                                                                13

TOTAL COURSES REQUIRED                                       18

 

ALL COURSES TAKEN FOR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE, AND ONLY GRADES OF C- OR BETTER WILL BE ACCEPTED. REFER TO COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR ENFORCED PREREQUISITES.

 

* Indicates Seminar

LOWER DIVISION

 

FOUNDATION LEVEL

(5 Courses Required)

 

VIS 20                Introduction to Art History

VIS 22                Formations of Modern Art

VIS 23*              Information Technologies in Art History

 

Choose one from:

 

VIS 21A             Introduction to the Art of the Americas of Africa

                                   and Oceania

VIS 21B             Introduction to Asian Art

 

Choose one from:

 

VIS 1, 2 OR 3    Introduction to Art-Making

VIS 60                Introduction to Digital Photography

VIS 70N             Introduction to Media

 

NOTE: Students should attempt to complete VIS 23 by the end of sophomore year or the first time it is offered after declaring as a junior or transferring into the program.

 

UPPER DIVISION

 

GROUP I:  Required Courses (2 Courses Required)

 

The following two courses are required of all art history and criticism majors:

 

VIS 111               Structure of Art

VIS 112*             Art Historical Methods

 

NOTE: Majors should complete VIS 112 by the end of their junior year and are strongly advised to do so as soon as possible.

 

GROUP II:  Distributional Requirement                        (6 Courses Required)

 

NOTE: Students must complete one from each area, A – F.

 

A.  European Pre-Modern:  Ancient and Medieval

 

VIS 120A              Greek Art

VIS 120B              Roman Art

VIS 120C              Late Antique Art

VIS 120D              Prehistoric Art

VIS 121AN     The Idea of Medieval Art

VIS 121B        Castles, Cathedrals and Cities

VIS 121D*      The Illuminated Manuscript in the Middle Ages

VIS 128A        Topics in Pre-Modern Art History

VIS 129A*      Seminar in Pre-Modern Art History

 

B.  European Early Modern:  Renaissance and Baroque

 

VIS 122AN     Renaissance Art

VIS 122CN     Defining High Renaissance Art

VIS 122D        Michelangelo

VIS 122F*      Leonardo’s La Gioconda

VIS 123AN     Between Spirit and Flesh: Northern Art of

                              the Early Renaissance

VIS 123BN*   Jan van Eyck

VIS 124AN     Baroque Art

VIS 128B        Topics in Early Modern Art History

VIS 129B*      Seminar in Early Modern Art History

 

C. Modern and Contemporary

 

VIS 124BN     Art and the Enlightenment

VIS 124CN     Nineteenth Century Art

VIS 125A        Twentieth Century Art

VIS 125BN     Contemporary Art

VIS 125DN*   Marcel Duchamp

VIS 125F              Latin American Film

VIS 128C        Topics in Modern Art History

VIS 129C*      Seminar in Modern Art History

VIS 158           Histories of Photography

VIS 159           History of Art and Technology (also ICAM 150)

 

 

D.  Arts of the Americas

 

VIS 126AN     Pre-Columbian Art of Ancient Mexico

                              and Central America

VIS 126BN     The Art and Civilization of the Ancient Maya

VIS 126C*      Problems in Mesoamerican Art History

VIS 126D*      Problems in Ancient Maya Iconography and         

                              Inscriptions              

VIS 126HN     Pacific Coast American Indian Art

VIS 126I         Southwest American Indian Art

VIS  126J        African and Afro-American Art

VIS 126K        Oceanic Art

VIS 126P        Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern 

                              (1890-1950)

VIS 126Q        Latin American Art: Modern to Postmodern

                              (1950-Present)

VIS 126R        Latin American Photography

VIS 128D        Topics in Art History of the Americas

VIS 129D*      Seminar in Art History of the Americas

 

E. Arts of Asia

 

VIS 127B        Arts of China

VIS 127C        Arts of Modern China

VIS 127D*      Early Chinese Painting

VIS 127E*      Later Chinese Painting

VIS 127F*      Japanese Buddhist Art

VIS 127G*      20^th Century Chinese Art

VIS 127N        20^th Century Art in China and Japan

VIS 127P        Arts of Japan

VIS 127Q*      Japanese Painting and Prints

VIS 128E        Topics in Art History of Asia

VIS 129E*      Seminar in Art History of Asia

 

F. Theory

 

VIS 113AN*   History of Criticism I: Early Modern

VIS 113BN*   History of Criticism II: Early Twentieth Century

                              (1900-1950)

VIS 113CN*   History of Criticism III:  Contemporary

                              (1950-Present)

VIS 117A*      Narrative Structures

VIS 117B*      Theories of Representation

VIS 117E*      Problems in Ethnoaesthetics

VIS 117F        Theorizing the Americas

VIS 117G        Visual Theory and Practice since 1980

VIS 117H        Constructing Gender in 5^th Century BC Athens and

                              18^th Century France

VIS 117I*       Western and Non-Western Rituals and Ceremonies

VIS 128F        Topics in Art Theory and Criticism

VIS 129F*      Seminar in Art Theory and Criticism

Students must take at least three upper-division seminars in addition to VIS 112. These three additional seminars may come from any area and be taken in fulfillment of the distribution requirements or as open electives. 

 

 

 

 

In accordance with standard university policy, the department requires that students take 2/3 of the upper-division courses in their major at UCSD. The distribution requirement must be fulfilled with courses taken at UCSD.  Courses taken abroad or at other US institutions do not count towards, and will not be substituted for, the 6 course distribution requirement.

 

Art history majors cannot enroll in more than one upper-division seminar without having completed Information Technologies in Art History (VIS 23) and Art Historical Methods (VIS 112).

 

GROUP III: Electives  (5 Upper-Division Courses Required)

 

At least three of these must be courses in Art History or Theory.  For the remaining two courses, choose from the following:

 

·    Any upper-division art history course(s) in history or theory

·    Any upper-division course(s) in media history and criticism

·    Upper-division courses in studio or media production

·   Two, 2-unit Curatorial Practices Workshop courses (VIS128P) count as one course towards the fulfillment of an elective

·   One upper-division course in a related department or program such as Anthropology, History, Literature, Critical Gender Studies (with permission of art history faculty advisor).

 

Honors Program in Art History

 

VIS 129G*      Art History Honors Seminar

VIS 129H*      Art History Honors Directed Group Study

 

The completion of both the Art History Honors Seminar and the Art History Honors Directed Group Study counts as one course towards the fulfillment of the Group III: Elective Requirement.

 

Students who meet the criteria may, with permission of the art history faculty advisor or the Art History Honors Seminar instructor, enroll in the Art History Honors Program during the last quarter of their junior year or as a senior.  This program is open to juniors and seniors who meet eligibility requirements.  Please consult with the departmental advisor for these requirements