Apr 19, 2025

DRAFT 2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Art History and Visual Culture, BA

The Art History and Visual Culture major, offered by the Department of Art and Art History , enriches the lives of its students by providing an in-depth knowledge of cultural traditions and creative accomplishment, and by providing the skills necessary for applying that knowledge in the service of our multicultural society. Course offerings include a wide range of themes and topics in Modern, Contemporary, Classical, European Renaissance, Asian, and Nineteenth Century art, architecture, and design. Examination of these diverse areas encourages students to become responsible citizens through an understanding of the aesthetic, cultural, and ethical choices inherent in human development. Students in this program acquire the communication skills, research techniques, and methods of critical inquiry that have become a vital part of modern life.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 25 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 0 (9 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units satisfied by ART100W)

Lower Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 3

Upper Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 2-4

Major Preparation: 15-17

Major Requirements: 48

University Electives: 15-19

Total: 120

2. Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

Complete a course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

4. Major Preparation (15-17 units)

ART 100W - Writing Workshop: Fine Arts 3 unit(s) (WID)
ANTH 160 - Mysteries of Ancient Civilizations 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)

Area S Arts (3 units)

Complete one course from:

CA 172 - The Arts in U.S. Society 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
RELS 191 - Religion in America 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
RTVF 110 - Media and Culture 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
URBP 101 - The City 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
WGSS 101 - Sex, Power, and Politics 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)

World Language/Art Foundation (6-8 units)

Complete 2 world language or 2 art foundation courses:

World Language Course 3-4 unit(s)
World Language Course 3-4 unit(s)
ART 12 - Two-Dimensional Design and Color Concepts 3 unit(s)
ART 13 - Three-Dimensional Design Concepts 3 unit(s)
ART 14 - Color 3 unit(s)
ART 24 - Drawing I 3 unit(s)

5. Major Requirements (48 units)

Core Requirements - General Art History (6 units)

Complete two courses from lower division Art History Survey:

ARTH 70A - Art History, Prehistoric to Medieval 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3A / Formerly Area C1)
ARTH 70B - Art History, Renaissance to Modern 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3A / Formerly Area C1)
ARTH 70C - Arts of Asia 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3A / Formerly Area C1)

Art History Methods (3 units)

Complete the following course:

ARTH 175 - Theories of Art History and Art Criticism 3 unit(s)

Global Art UD GE Area 3 (3 units)

Complete one course from:

ARTH 193A - Worlds of Art and Culture 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
ARTH 193B - East Meets West in Art 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)

Critical Periods in Western Art (3 units)

Complete one course from:

ARTH 187A - Art of the Italian Renaissance, Fifteenth Century 3 unit(s)
ARTH 190B - Early Modernist Art 3 unit(s)

Major Electives (30 units)

Complete 30 units from the coursework below. One course may be art studio. A minimum of one course from each of the following four groups, with a minimum of 2 additional courses selected from one of the groups.

Capstone (3 units)

Complete one course from:

ARTH 199 - Art History Capstone Seminar 3 unit(s)
ARTH 275 - Seminar in Twentieth Century Art 3 unit(s)
ARTH 277 - Seminar in Historiography 3 unit(s)

About

Art History and Visual Culture, BA

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Summary of Degree Units

2. Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

4. Major Preparation (15-17 units)

Area S Arts (3 units)

World Language/Art Foundation (6-8 units)

5. Major Requirements (48 units)

Core Requirements - General Art History (6 units)

Art History Methods (3 units)

Global Art UD GE Area 3 (3 units)

Critical Periods in Western Art (3 units)

Major Electives (30 units)

Area 1: World Art

Area 2: Ancient and Early Modern Art in Europe

Area 3: Modern and Contemporary Art

Area 4. Professional, Curatorial and Museum Studies

Capstone (3 units)

6. University Electives (15-19 units)

Total Units Required (120 units)