Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History, offered by the Department of Art History, teaches students how to think critically and conduct research about the history of culture—all with a visual, interdisciplinary and global perspective—preparing students for a wide range of careers or further study at the graduate level.
The program is designed to foster a lifelong interest in and sensitivity to the arts as a fundamental form of human expression and communication, equipping students with strong skills in a world in which visual literacy is vitally important. Based at one of the nation's top art schools, Tyler's Art History major offers access to dynamic faculty members with a diverse range of interests; the resources of a large research university; study abroad programs in Rome and Tokyo; and opportunities for field trips, research, internships and enrichment in Philadelphia, a vibrant center of art, culture and history located near both New York and Washington, D.C.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-ARTH-BA
Admissions
For information on how to apply, please visit Tyler's Art History admissions page.
Study Abroad
Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.
Career Opportunities
Tyler Art History students find jobs in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, including museums, galleries, libraries, auction houses, publishers and more, and earn placements in the most competitive graduate programs. To prepare for careers in the arts, students are encouraged to participate in internships at museums and galleries.
Accreditation
Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors.
Contact Information
Jane DeRose Evans, Art History Department Chair and interim Undergraduate Advisor
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Tyler Building Administrative Suite, Room 210P
215-777-9738
jevans@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Summary of Requirements
The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Art History may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major.
Grades below a C- in Art History and General Education courses do not fulfill requirements for the degree.
University Requirements
Students must complete the requirements of the General Education (GenEd) program.
- Summer or semester study abroad will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement.
Program Requirements
- A minimum of 66 credits must be taken outside of Tyler departments to earn the degree
- A minimum of 45 semester hours in upper level courses (CLA 2000 to 4999; CST 2000 to 4999) must be completed with a passing grade.
- Two 2000+ courses (minimum 6 credits) must be taken from Social or Natural Sciences.
- Upper-level Art History courses are categorized as upper-level Liberal Arts (CLA) courses.
- Students must complete the second level of a foreign language:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language (Second Level) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Arabic Elements II | ||
| Chinese Elements II | ||
| Introduction to French II | ||
| Introduction to German II | ||
| Ancient Greek 2 | ||
| Elements II | ||
| Hindi Elements II | ||
| Italian Language II | ||
or ITAL 1902 | Honors Italian Language II | |
| Japanese Elements II | ||
| Korean Elements II | ||
| Latin 2 | ||
| Basic II | ||
| First-Year Russian II | ||
| Basic II | ||
or SPAN 1902 | Honors Basic II | |
Art History Major Requirements (minimum of 41 s.h.)
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Level Courses | ||
| ARTH 1155 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| or ARTH 1955 | Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | |
| ARTH 1156 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| or ARTH 1956 | Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | |
| Upper Level Lecture Course | ||
| Select one course from 4 of the 5 groups below: | 16 | |
| Earliest times to 600 | ||
| Art of Ancient Egypt and the Aegean | ||
| Roman Art and Archaeology | ||
| Topics in Ancient Art | ||
| Archaeological Excavation | ||
| Greek and Roman Sculpture | ||
| Art and Culture in Ancient Rome | ||
| Greek and Roman Sculpture (WI) | ||
| From Constantine to Mohammed: Art & Architecture of the Mediterranean from the 4th to 8th Century AD | ||
| 600-1400 | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture, 650-1250: From Mohammad to the Mongols | ||
| Topics in Medieval Art | ||
| Holy Image, Glittering Mosaic: The Art of the Byzantine Empire | ||
| Early Medieval Visual Culture | ||
| Art of the Global Middle Ages 1000-1400 | ||
| 1400-1800 | ||
| Topics in Renaissance Art | ||
| Masters of Renaissance Art | ||
| Early Renaissance Art in Italy | ||
| Art in the Age of Exploration: 1400-1600 | ||
| Italian Architecture 1400-1700 | ||
| Topics in Early Modern Art, 1400-1750 | ||
| Topics in Global Baroque Art | ||
| Early Modern Italy and Spain in the 17th Century | ||
| Northern and Global Baroque Art: Art in the Age of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer | ||
| Topics in Eighteenth Century Art | ||
| Michelangelo | ||
| High Renaissance Art in Italy | ||
| 1800-Present | ||
| History of Modern Crafts and Design: Design Movements from the Crystal Palace until Today | ||
| Cultural Heritage Preservation | ||
| Curatorial Methodologies | ||
| World Photography | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Topics in Arts Administration Practice | ||
| Topics in 19th Century Art | ||
| Art in the Age of Revolution | ||
| Transnational Impressionisms | ||
| Topics in 20th Century Art | ||
| History of Modern Graphic Design | ||
| Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art | ||
| Galleries and Studios of Rome | ||
| Modern Art, 1900-1945 | ||
| Post-War Art, 1945-1989 | ||
| Contemporary Art, 1989 to Present | ||
| Topics in International Cinema | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Graphic Design Theory | ||
| Modern Art in the United States | ||
| Art in the United States to 1900 | ||
| Revolution and Beyond: Modern & Contemporary Art in Latin America | ||
| Transhistorical | ||
| History of Printmaking | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture, 1250-1750: From the Mongols to the Mughals | ||
| Wonders of Rome: Art and Culture of the Baroque Era | ||
| Introduction to African Art | ||
| Introduction to Caribbean Art | ||
| Topics in American Art | ||
| Art and Environment in American Culture | ||
| Topics in the Art of Latin America | ||
| Southeast Asian Art | ||
| Chinese Art | ||
| Honors Counterfeiting, Looting and the Ethics of Collecting Ancient Art | ||
| Capstone | ||
| ARTH 3097 | Art History Capstone (WI) | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Three additional upper-level Art History electives numbered 2000-4999 | 12 | |
| Writing Intensive Course | ||
| Note: In addition to the Capstone requirement, one other Upper-Level Art History course (either as part of the 4 "categories" or electives) must be Writing Intensive (WI). | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Art History Writing Intensive | ||
| Art History Writing Intensive | ||
| Art History Writing Intensive | ||
| Greek and Roman Sculpture | ||
| Writing for Art History: Art History Writing Intensive Seminar | ||
| Studio Art | ||
| One Studio Art Course | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 41 | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.
Bachelor of Arts in Art History
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Level 2000+ WI Art History Course 1 | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 1001 - first level | 4 | |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Foreign Language 1002 - second level | 4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ Liberal Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Studio Art | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTH 3097 | Art History Capstone [WI] 2 | 4 |
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ CLA Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ CLA Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ Liberal Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Level 2000+ Liberal Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
All upper-level Art History courses are categorized as upper-level Liberal Arts courses.
- 1
ARTH 2897 is strongly recommended.
- 2
ARTH 3097 Art History Capstone is a senior-level course in historiography and research methods, offered only during Spring semesters. Students may take Capstone in either the third or fourth year, but should not enroll until after they have completed at least four upper-level art history courses.