Art History courses

These are the courses currently in regular rotation in the academic Schedule.

ARTH 161: Art Appreciation (Offered in Fall)
Offers aid in development of appreciation of various forms and styles of art, to provide opportunity for aesthetic experiences and foundation for aesthetic judgments. Course is suggested for students from major disciplines outside of Art Department, Art Department majors are required to take other courses,

ARTH 162: Design Appreciation (Offered in Fall)
This class enables the appreciation of various forms of design within our local and global community. The class will address the role and importance of the designer, and the designer’s creation, within modern and historical context, providing opportunity for aesthetic experiences and a foundation for aesthetic judgments of design within modern society. Required course for all Graphic Design Majors and Minors.

ARTH 261: Survey of Western Art I (Offered in Fall)An introduction to the history of western art from the prehistoric through Gothic times, or a period ranging roughly from 25,000 BCE to 1400 C.E. The objective of the class is to study the works of art from the perspective of the people that made and used them and to understand their role in shaping the modern world.

ARTH 262 Survey of Western Art II (Offered in Spring)
An introduction to the history of western art from about 1400 C.E. to the present. Focusing on specific artists and their creative pursuits, the class introduces students to some of the major western artistic movements, including the Renaissance, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism.

ARTH 375 Art of West Africa (Offered in Spring)This course introduces students to the African visual arts through thematic, cultural, and critical frames with a focus on West Africa. In addition, pertinent trans-Saharan connections with North Africa, African diaspora, and contemporary arts will be considered. We will explore the arts through a variety of contexts, including aesthetics, society, culture, religion, politics, gender, and performance. African arts are multidisciplinary and therefore we will study a variety of arts including but not limited to oral history, music, poetry, and film. Students will learn the skills necessary to discuss the form, function, and meaning behind fundamental pieces of art. This course also serves to present new global perspectives and promote further appreciation of other cultures, beliefs, and diversity.