Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art History and Visual Culture, BA


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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, Renaissance, Islamic, 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. 

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements 35
Major Preparation 15-17
Major Core Requirements 18
Major Electives 30
University Electives 20-22
Total 120

University Requirements for Graduation

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, and GPA requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements  section of the Policies and Procedures .

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.

General Education/American Institution Requirements

Courses that meet General Education/American Institution requirements are noted with area designation for required area. For legend please see General Education Attributes .

University Requirements (35 units)


Core Lower Division General Education (27 units)


Of the 39 units required by the university, 12 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3 or B4 must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education


Of the 9 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)


The 6 units of American Institutions (US123) coursework shown below also fulfills GE Areas D2 and D3. Other courses meet the American Institutions requirement, but may not include additional GE areas. The American Studies (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ) and Humanities Honors (HUM 1A /HUM 1B , HUM 2A /HUM 2B ) programs both offer larger integrated packages that meet this requirement. Consult with major advisor for details.

Complete One Sequence From:

Physical Education (2 units)


Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement


At SJSU, students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and a 100W course. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found at Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) .

A grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirement.

Area S Arts (3 units)


Complete one course from:

World Language/Art Foundation (6-8 units)


Complete 2 world language or 2 art foundation courses:

Major Requirements (48 units)


Core Requirements - General Art History (6 units)


Complete two courses from lower division Art History Survey:

Global Art Area V (3 units)


Complete one course from:

Critical Periods in Western Art (3 units)


Complete one course from:

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 three groups, with a minimum of 3 additional courses selected from one of the groups.

Capstone (3 units)


Complete one course from:

University Electives (20-22 units)


Total Units Required (120 units)


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