Full-Major Requirements

Minimum Requirement:

For students declared through 2009-2010: 13 c.u.
For students declared as majors in 2010-2011 and later: 14 c.u.

1. General Surveys:
For students declared through 2009-2010: 2 c.u.
Selected from the following list: ARTH 001, ARTH 002, ARTH 101, ARTH 102, ARTH 103, ARTH 104 and ARTH 106

For students declared as majors in 2010-2011 and later: 3 c.u.
Selected from the following list: ARTH 101, ARTH 102 (formerly ARTH 002), ARTH 103, ARTH 104 and
ARTH 106 (formerly ARTH 001).

Prospective majors are advised to take these surveys early in their undergraduate program and to discuss a course of study with the undergraduate chair when they begin to consider majoring in art history, preferably in the fall of sophomore year.

NB: College students are advised that these surveys taught as LPS courses (night courses) cannot be counted toward the College major; CLPS students may select from either the College or CLPS surveys.

2. Historical Distribution Areas: 5 c.u.
Courses numbered 200-level or higher. One course in five of the following six fields: Ancient I, Ancient II, Medieval, Renaissance/Baroque, Modern I, Modern II.

3. Geographical Distribution Areas: 1 c.u.
Course numbered 200-level or higher, one course from these four fields: Islamic, South Asian, East Asian, or African/Oceanic/North American.

4. Methods seminar: 1 c.u.

5. Seminars: 2 c.u.
Two seminars at the 300- or 500-level; may be double-counted (but not double-credited) toward the historical and geographical distributions.

6. Courses of Choice: 2 c.u. to 4 c.u. in selected fields of student’s interest.

7. Up to three courses for the distribution may be accepted as transfer credits, from Penn-approved study abroad courses, or from another department; these should be chosen in consultation with and must be approved by the undergraduate chair. Transfer credits must first be approved by the transfer credit officer.

Under NO circumstances will credit be given for ARTH 101, ARTH 102 (formerly ARTH 002), ARTH 103, ARTH 106 (formerly ARTH 001), or the Methods Seminar taken elsewhere.

8. Optional program for Honors:
For students declared through 2009-2010: Students writing honors theses are required to take a total of 14 c.u. in the major; 1 thesis credit in the Autumn and 1 thesis credit in the Spring semester.
For students declared from 2010-2011: Students writing honors theses are required to take a total of 15 c.u. in the major; 1 thesis credit in the Autumn and 1 thesis credit in the Spring semester.
See the "Honors" links on these pages for more information.

9. The Department of the History of Art does not require majors to enroll in specific major-related courses given in other departments or programs. Nevertheless, it is expected that majors will seek to broaden their comprehension of the cultural and historical origins of the arts with elective courses. The undergraduate chair assists majors in choosing electives suited to their areas of particular interest. Majors who intend to continue their studies in graduate school are encouraged to select electives in literature, history, and regional studies, among others.

10. Language requirements are not a formal part of the major, but all majors are strongly advised to achieve an advanced level in French, German or field-specific languages. A reading knowledge of French and German is useful for advanced work in many courses offered for the major and both are essential for graduate work in many fields. In addition, languages necessary to continue work in some fields should be acquired as early as possible (for example, ancient Greek, Latin, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit, among others).