Art History Major (B.A.)

Universitywide Graduation Requirements

To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements (opens in a new window) .

College-Level Requirements for the College of Fine Arts

View the College-Level Requirements for the College of Fine Arts. (opens in a new window) 

College of Fine Arts (COFA) B.A. Degree Requirements

B.A. Degree and Requirements

General requirements for a B.A. are

1. a minimum of 120 semester hours;
2. 57 hours of coursework above the 1999 level;
3. the equivalent of two years of college-level foreign language;
4. at least 9 hours each of humanities, social sciences, and 6 hours of natural sciences coursework;
5. General Education Requirements (opens in a new window) —Tiers I, II, III; and
6. all requirements stipulated by the school for the chosen major.

Minors are optional.

B.A. Degree Language Options

B.A.: Students must complete 2120 (or its equivalent). Students taking the Spanish, French, or German placement test and who test into 3110 will have fulfilled their foreign language requirement. The placement exam does not count as college credit. Students who test into 3110 are encouraged to take the course they placed into for college credit. These higher-level courses will count as humanities courses (and A&S 2000-level or higher) as well as towards a minor or major in the field.

Students who have prior knowledge of one of the following foreign languages should contact the academic departments listed below for test-out and placement information:

American Sign Language - Contact person: Becky Brooks - saunderb@ohio.edu - 740.654.6711 - Lancaster Campus

French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, or Russian - Modern Languages - Gordy Hall 283 - contact: modern.languages@ohio.edu - 740.593.2765

Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Kikuyu, Khmer, Somali, Sudanese Arabic, Swahili, Thai, Twi, Vietnamese, Wolof, or Zulu - Linguistics - Gordy Hall 383

Greek or Latin - Classics and World Religions - Contact person: Bill Owens owensb@ohio.edu - Ellis 210

Students who have prior knowledge of a foreign language not offered at Ohio University can opt to take the NYU Foreign 12-Point exam (approximate cost $350) to complete their foreign language requirement: www.scps.nyu.edu/academics/departments/foreign-languages/testing/process.html

International Students

For international students whose first or native language is not English, and who completed high school where the first or native language was the one primarily used for instruction, the foreign language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating competence in English. This must be approved by the assistant dean in the College of Fine Arts, and it generally requires the successful completion of at least one or more courses in English as a foreign language.

You may also satisfy the foreign language requirement by taking a foreign language other than your own first language at Ohio University, or by successfully completing the NYU foreign language exam.

Enrollment in the beginning or intermediate level (under 3000) of your own first language(s) will be considered a noncredit course.

Please contact the Fine Arts Undergraduate Student Affairs office at 740.593.1808 for additional information.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements

Humanities Area Requirement*

The humanities requirement may be met by selecting 9 semester hours, excluding the major, from the following (if no courses are listed, all courses apply):

1. African American Studies: AAS 1060 (opens in a new window) , 1100 (opens in a new window) , 1500 (opens in a new window) , 2100 (opens in a new window) , 2110 (opens in a new window) , 2500 (opens in a new window) , 3100 (opens in a new window) , 3170 (opens in a new window) , 3500 (opens in a new window) , 3520 (opens in a new window) , 3530 (opens in a new window) , 3550 (opens in a new window) , 3560 (opens in a new window) , 3570 (opens in a new window)  
2. Art: ART 1100 (opens in a new window) , 1200 (opens in a new window) , 1210 (opens in a new window) , 1220 (opens in a new window) , 1230 (opens in a new window) , 1240 (opens in a new window) , 1600 (opens in a new window) , 2640 (opens in a new window) , 3660 (opens in a new window)  
3. Art History: AH
4. Classical Archaeology, except CLAR 2110 (opens in a new window) , 2120 (opens in a new window) , 2130 (opens in a new window) , 3650 (opens in a new window)  
5. Classics in English (CLAS)
6. College of Arts and Sciences: CAS 1110 (opens in a new window) , 2411 (opens in a new window) , 2405 (opens in a new window) , 2500 (opens in a new window)  
7. Communication Studies: COMS 3601 (opens in a new window) , 3602 (opens in a new window) , 3603 (opens in a new window)  
8. Dance: DANC 1010 (opens in a new window) , 1020 (opens in a new window) , 1040 (opens in a new window) , 1050 (opens in a new window) , 1700 (opens in a new window) , 2235 (opens in a new window) , 2700 (opens in a new window) , 2710 (opens in a new window) , 3150 (opens in a new window) , 3550 (opens in a new window) , 4550 (opens in a new window) , 4710 (opens in a new window) , 4711 (opens in a new window) , 4750 (opens in a new window)  
9. English: except ENG D150 (opens in a new window) , D160 (opens in a new window) , 1510 (opens in a new window) , 1610 (opens in a new window) , 4510 (opens in a new window) , 4520 (opens in a new window) , 4911 (opens in a new window) , 4912 (opens in a new window)  
10. Film: FILM 2010 (opens in a new window) , 2020 (opens in a new window) , 2030 (opens in a new window) , 3400 (opens in a new window) , 3430 (opens in a new window) , 4440 (opens in a new window) , 4710 (opens in a new window) , 4720 (opens in a new window)  
11. Fine Arts: FAR 1500 (opens in a new window)  
12. Foreign language courses other than those used to complete the foreign language requirement and except FR 1199 (opens in a new window) , 4640 (opens in a new window) , JPN 3410 (opens in a new window) , and SPAN 1199 (opens in a new window)  
13. History: HIST 1210 (opens in a new window) , 1220 (opens in a new window) , 2270 (opens in a new window) , 2530 (opens in a new window) , 2700, 2950 (opens in a new window) , 3111J (opens in a new window)  , 3140 (opens in a new window) , 3144 (opens in a new window) , 3146 (opens in a new window) , 3148 (opens in a new window) , 3224 (opens in a new window) , 3290 (opens in a new window) , 3291 (opens in a new window) , 3292 (opens in a new window) , 3293 (opens in a new window)  , 3390 (opens in a new window) , 3501 (opens in a new window) , 3520 (opens in a new window)  , 3531 (opens in a new window) , 3532 (opens in a new window)  , 3533 (opens in a new window) , 3540 (opens in a new window) , 3541 (opens in a new window) , 3542 (opens in a new window) , 3560 (opens in a new window) , 3562 (opens in a new window) , 3600 (opens in a new window) , 3860 (opens in a new window) , 3861 (opens in a new window) , 3864 (opens in a new window) , 3900 (opens in a new window) , 4536 (opens in a new window)  
14. Humanities: HUM 2070 (opens in a new window) , 2080 (opens in a new window) , 2170 (opens in a new window) , 2900 (opens in a new window)  
15. Interdisciplinary Arts: IART
16. International Literatures in English, International Literature: Linguistics, and International Literature: Modern Languages except ILL 3890 (opens in a new window)  
17. Jewish Studies: (all), JS 1000 (opens in a new window) , 2100 (opens in a new window) , 2900 (opens in a new window)  
18. Modern Languages: ML 2300 (opens in a new window) , 2950 (opens in a new window)  3210J (opens in a new window)  , 3270J (opens in a new window)  
19. Music/Music Literature: MUS 1200 (opens in a new window)  or 1250 (opens in a new window) , 1240 (opens in a new window) , 3210 (opens in a new window) , 3625 (opens in a new window) , 4210 (opens in a new window) , 4211 (opens in a new window) , 4212 (opens in a new window) , 4213 (opens in a new window) , 4214 (opens in a new window) , 4215 (opens in a new window) , 4216 (opens in a new window) , 4270 (opens in a new window)  
20. Philosophy: except PHIL 1200 (opens in a new window)  
21. Portuguese: PORT 3110 (opens in a new window) , 3120 (opens in a new window) , 3180 (opens in a new window) , 3190 (opens in a new window) , 4110 (opens in a new window)  , 4120 (opens in a new window)  
22. Theater: THAR 1390 (opens in a new window) , 1710 (opens in a new window) , 1730 (opens in a new window) , 2130 (opens in a new window) , 2390 (opens in a new window) , 2710 (opens in a new window) , 2711 (opens in a new window) , 3396 (opens in a new window) , 3397 (opens in a new window) , 3398 (opens in a new window) , 4710 (opens in a new window)  
23. University Professor: UP 1901 (opens in a new window) , 1901U (opens in a new window) , 4901U (opens in a new window)  (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)
24. Women’s and Gender Studies: except WGS 3910 (opens in a new window)   
25. World Religions: except CLWR 4340 (opens in a new window) , 4350 (opens in a new window)  

Social Sciences Area Requirement*

The social sciences requirement may be met by a selection of 9 semester hours, excluding the major, from the following (if no courses are listed, all courses apply):

1. African American Studies: AAS 1010 (opens in a new window) , 1900 (opens in a new window) , 2020 (opens in a new window) , 2200 (opens in a new window) , 2250 (opens in a new window) , 2540 (opens in a new window) ,  3400 (opens in a new window) , 3410 (opens in a new window) , 3450 (opens in a new window) , 3460 (opens in a new window) , 3680 (opens in a new window) , 4400 (opens in a new window) , 4820 (opens in a new window)  
2. Anthropology: except ANTH 2010 (opens in a new window) , 3460 (opens in a new window) , 3550 (opens in a new window) , 4470 (opens in a new window) , 4480 (opens in a new window) , 4740, 4960 (opens in a new window) , and those listed as natural sciences below
3. Business Law: BUSL 2000 (opens in a new window) , 2550 (opens in a new window) , 3400 (opens in a new window)  
4. Classical Archaeology: CLAR 2110 (opens in a new window) , 2120 (opens in a new window) , 2130 (opens in a new window) , 3650 (opens in a new window)  
5. College of Arts and Sciences: CAS 1120 (opens in a new window) , 1415 (opens in a new window) , 1425 (opens in a new window) , 1605 (opens in a new window) , 2410 (opens in a new window) , 2411 (opens in a new window) , 2500 (opens in a new window) , 2600 (opens in a new window) , 4410 (opens in a new window) , 4911 (opens in a new window)  
6. Economics: ECON
7. Environmental and Plant Biology: PBIO 2170 (opens in a new window)  
8. Geography: GEOG except those listed under Natural Sciences (see below)
9. History: HIST except those listed under Humanities (see above)
10. International Studies: INST
11. International Literature: ILL 3890 (opens in a new window)  
12. Japanese: JPN 3410 (opens in a new window)   
13. Law, Justice, and Culture:  LJC 2000 (opens in a new window) , 3915 (opens in a new window) , 4945 (opens in a new window)  
14. Linguistics: LING
    Modern Languages ML 2400 (opens in a new window)  
15. Political Science: POLS
16. Psychology: except PSY 1110 (opens in a new window) , 2110 (opens in a new window) , 2210 (opens in a new window) , 3110 (opens in a new window) , 3230 (opens in a new window)  
17. Social Work: SW
18. Sociology: SOC
19. University Professor: UP 1901S (opens in a new window) , 4901S (opens in a new window)  (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)
20. Women’s and Gender Studies: WGS 3910 (opens in a new window)  
21. World Religions: CLWR 4340 (opens in a new window) , 4350 (opens in a new window)  

Natural Sciences Area Requirement*

The natural sciences requirement may be met by selecting 6 semester hours, excluding the major, from the following (if no courses are listed, all courses apply):

1. Anthropology: ANTH 2010 (opens in a new window) , 3460 (opens in a new window) , 3550 (opens in a new window) , 4470 (opens in a new window) , 4480 (opens in a new window) , 4740, 4960 (opens in a new window)  
2. Astronomy: ASTR
3. Biological Sciences: BIOS, BIOL 1010 (opens in a new window)  
4. Chemistry: except CHEM D015 (opens in a new window) , 1100 (opens in a new window) , 1150 (opens in a new window) , 1151 (opens in a new window) , 1152 (opens in a new window) , 3005 (opens in a new window) , 3006 (opens in a new window)  
5. Computer Science: CS 4160 (opens in a new window) , 3000 (opens in a new window)  
6. Environmental and Plant Biology: except PBIO 2170 (opens in a new window)  
7. Geography: GEOG 1100 (opens in a new window) , 2680 (opens in a new window) , 2710 (opens in a new window) , 3010 (opens in a new window) , 3020 (opens in a new window) , 3030 (opens in a new window) , 3040 (opens in a new window) , 3050 (opens in a new window) , 3150 (opens in a new window) , 3160 (opens in a new window) , 3580 (opens in a new window) , 3650 (opens in a new window) , 4035 (opens in a new window) , 4060 (opens in a new window) , 4070 (opens in a new window) , 4080 (opens in a new window) , 4090 (opens in a new window) , 4110 (opens in a new window) , 4130 (opens in a new window) , 4170 (opens in a new window) , 4660 (opens in a new window) , 4670 (opens in a new window) , 4712 (opens in a new window) , 4730 (opens in a new window) , 4760 (opens in a new window) , 4770 (opens in a new window) , 4941 (opens in a new window) , 4942 (opens in a new window) , 4943 (opens in a new window) , 4944 (opens in a new window)  
8. Geological Sciences: GEOL
9. Mathematics: except MATH D005 (opens in a new window) , 1060, 1090 (opens in a new window) , 1101 (opens in a new window) , 1102 (opens in a new window) , 1200 (opens in a new window) , 1300 (opens in a new window) , 1321 (opens in a new window) , 1322 (opens in a new window) , 4100 (opens in a new window)  
10. Physical Science: PSC
11. Psychology: PSY 2110 (opens in a new window) , 2210 (opens in a new window) , 3110 (opens in a new window) , 3230 (opens in a new window)  
12. Physics: PHYS
13. University Professor: UP 1901N (opens in a new window) , 4901N (opens in a new window)  (class subjects vary; check Course Offerings for more information)

*These listings must be used as the official guide for the completion of the Arts and Sciences area (distribution) requirements. Exceptions to the hour area distribution will be made only under the most unusual of circumstances and by petition only. Some courses from these categories may also be applied to the University Tier II requirements. However, the three area distributions differ in scope from the six Tier II groupings (Applied Science and Mathematics, Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Fine Arts, Humanities and Literature, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences). If you wish to select a course that will apply to both area distributions and Tier II requirements, take care to choose a course that has been approved for the desired category in both the College and the University listings. (The list of courses approved for Tier II categories appears in the General Education Requirements (opens in a new window)  section of the catalog.) Courses that can fulfill Tier I quantitative skills, the freshman composition requirements and the Tier III requirement do not apply to the three area distribution requirements, except for MATH 1350 (opens in a new window) . POLS 2800 (opens in a new window)  and PSY 2110 (opens in a new window)  .

Level-of-Study Requirement

Hours at the 200 level or above: Within the total hours applied to the degree, at least 57 semester hours of courses must be above the freshman level (numbered above 1999). These courses are listed earlier in this section under humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and include foreign languages, courses from the department major, and courses taught by faculty in the College of Fine Arts or Arts and Sciences intended to meet the junior composition or Tier III requirement.

Single Application of Credit and Exceptions

Excluding the exceptions listed below, no course may satisfy more than one of the three area distribution requirements in foreign language, humanities, social sciences, or the major requirement. For example, a theater major may not apply any courses in theater toward the humanities area distribution requirement. Courses that fulfill freshman General Education Tier I requirements or Tier III will not apply to the three area distribution requirements. Tier III-equivalent courses may fulfill both major and Tier III requirements.

Exceptions are:

• MATH 1350 (opens in a new window) , POLS 2800 (opens in a new window)  and PSY 2110 (opens in a new window)  (will fulfill the Tier I quantitative requirement, as well as the natural science area distribution).
• Junior-level advanced composition courses offered by departments within the College of Fine Arts or the College of Arts and Sciences  apply to the area distribution requirement except when they are required for the major.

School of Art + Design Requirements

All majors in the School of Art + Design (B.A. and B.F.A. degrees) require an accumulative 2.75 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major.

Introductory Art History

Complete the following courses: (Art History courses fulfill Tier II requirements.)

• AH 2110 - History of Art I Credit Hours: 4
• AH 2120 - History of Art II Credit Hours: 4
• AH 2130 - History of World Art Credit Hours: 4

World Art

Complete one of the following courses:

• AH 3310 - Pre-Columbian Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3320 - West African Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3400 - Asian Art History Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3410 - History of Chinese Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3430 - History of Japanese Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4161 - Arts of Medieval China (400-1300) Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4171 - Arts of Early Modern China (1500-1700) Credit Hours: 3

Pre-Modern Art

Complete one of the following courses:

• AH 3200 - Greek Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3210 - Roman Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3220 - Medieval Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3230 - Italian Renaissance Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3510 - Ancient Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3520 - Medieval Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3530 - Renaissance and Baroque Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4221 - Romanesque and Gothic Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4241 - Northern Renaissance Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4250 - Art of High Renaissance and Mannerism Credit Hours: 3

Modern Art

Compete one of the following courses:

• AH 3260 - Baroque and Rococo Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3270 - 19th-Century Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3420 - 20th-Century Art of China Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3540 - 19th-21st Century Architecture Credit Hours: 3
• AH 3610 - History of Photography Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4101 - Contemporary Art History Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4180 - Contemporary East Asian Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4331 - Central African Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4611 - 20th-Century Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4616 - Art Spaces Credit Hours: 3

Theory

Complete one of the following courses:

• AH 3600 - Modernist Theory and Criticism Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4111 - The Representation and Theorization of Gender in the History of Art Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4190 - Visual Culture of China Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4621 - Art and Theory Since 1945 Credit Hours: 3
• AH 4902 - Contemporary Art Theory and Criticism Credit Hours: 3

Methods in Art History

Complete the following course (fulfills Tier III requirement):

• AH 4711 - Methods in Art History Credit Hours: 3

Studio Course

Complete one of the following courses (only one will apply toward major hour requirements):

• ART 1200 - Description + Drawing Credit Hours: 4
• ART 1210 - Function + Practice Credit Hours: 4
• ART 1220 - Image + Design Credit Hours: 4
• ART 1230 - Structure + Space Credit Hours: 4

Electives

Complete at least 6 additional courses for a minimum of 18 hours of art history at 3000-4000 level. Independent study (AH 4930 (opens in a new window) ) may not be taken to satisfy this requirement.