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

Learn more about the Bachelor of Art in Art History.

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:
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
Honors Italian Language II
Japanese Elements II
Korean Elements II
Latin 2
Basic II
First-Year Russian II
Basic II
Honors Basic II

Art History Major Requirements (minimum of 41 s.h.)

Introductory Level Courses
ARTH 1155Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 13003
or ARTH 1955 Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
ARTH 1156Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century3
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 3097Art History Capstone (WI)4
Electives
Three additional upper-level Art History electives numbered 2000-499912
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 Course3
Total Credit Hours41

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

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ARTH 1155
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 Hours16
Spring
ARTH 1156
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
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 Hours16
Year 2
Fall
Upper-Level 2000+ WI Art History Course 1 4
Foreign Language 1001 - first level 4
IH 0852
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 Hours17
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 Hours17
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 Hours14
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 Hours14
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 Hours16
Spring
Upper-Level 2000+ Art History Course 4
Upper-Level 2000+ Liberal Arts Elective 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours123

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.