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  • Art History

    The B.A. degree program introduces students to the wide range of artistic styles and periods in the western world as well as art of the non-western world, art historical theory and criticism, and research methodology in the field. The curriculum covers five general areas of art history: ancient, medieval, renaissance/baroque, modern and non-western art.

    About This Major

    Overview

    Critical thinking, research and writing skills are cultivated in this program, which emphasizes visual literacy, an understanding of history as well as the social forces and cultural ideologies that shape and inform different periods and styles. Requirements include completion of at least one course in four of the five areas. Students who plan to enter graduate study in art history should take courses in all five areas.

    Critical Tracking

    To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements.

    Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

    Semester 1

    • 2.0 UF GPA for semesters 1-5
    • Complete 2 of 8 critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C: ARH 2050, ART 2305C, ART 2757C or ART 2701C, ARH 2051, beginning sequence of a foreign language appropriate to the study of art history (for advanced study, students should study French or German), one intermediate level of foreign language and one ARH course at 3000/4000 level

    Semester 2

    • Complete 3 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C
    • 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

    Semester 3

    • Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course with a minimum grade of C
    • 2.75 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

    Semester 4

    • Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C
    • 3.0 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework
    • Submit a one-page statement of goals for continuing as an art history major

    Semester 5

    • Complete all additional critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C
    • 3.0 GPA on all critical-tracking coursework

    Recommended Semester Plan

    To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. Students are required to complete HUM 2305 The Good Life (GE-H) in semester 1 or 2.

    Semester 1 Credits
    ARH 2050 Introduction to Principles and History of Art 1 (GE-H and N) * 3
    ART 2305C Drawing: Form and Space 3
    HUM 2305 What is the Good Life (GE-H)​ 3​
    Composition (GE-C, WR) 3
    Mathematics (GE-M) 3
    Total 15
    Semester 2 Credits
    ARH 2051 Introduction to Principles and History of Art 2 (GE-H and N) * 3
    ART 2757C Ceramics: 3D Conceptualization or
    ART 2701C Sculpture: Shaping Form and Space    		 3
    Foreign language ** 3-5
    Mathematics (GE-M) 3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 15-17
    Semester 3 Credits
    ARH art history elective, 3000/4000 level (GE-H) 3
    Elective 3
    Foreign language ** 3-5
    Humanities (GE-H) 3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 15-17
    Semester 4 Credits
    ARH 2500 Non-Western Art * 3
    ARH art history elective, 3000/4000 level (GE-H) 3
    Elective 3
    Foreign language (intermediate level) ** 3
    Humanities, 3000/4000 level (GE-H) 3
    Total 15

    * ARH courses required for the major (ARH 2050, ARH 2051 and ARH 2500) cannot be used to satisfy the general education humanities requirement.

    ** Students must take a foreign language appropriate to the study of art history (for advanced study, students should study French or German). Students who choose a language other than French or German to fulfill their language requirement must receive approval from art history, and this decision will be based on the appropriateness of the language to the student's focus in art history. Intermediate-level foreign language is also required and must be taken at UF with a minimum grade of C. The elementary level can be taken S-U. Substitutions or exceptions require adviser approval.

    Complete at least one course in 4 of the 5 areas for a degree in art history: ancient, medieval, renaissance/baroque, modern and non-western art.

    Semester 5 Credits
    ARH art history electives, 3000/4000 level (GE-H and N) 6
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Humanities elective, 3000/4000 level *** 3
    Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) 3
    Total 15
    Semester 6 Credits
    ARH art history electives, 3000/4000 level (GE-H) 6
    Elective 3
    Humanities elective, 3000/4000 level *** 3
    Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) 3
    Total 15
    Semester 7 Credits
    ARH art history electives, 3000/4000 level (GE-H) 6
    Humanities elective, 3000/4000 level *** 3
    Physical or Biological Science (GE-P or B) 3
    Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) 3
    Total 15
    Semester 8 Credits
    ARH 4931 Art History Seminar 3
    Art or art history electives, 3000/4000 level 6
    Electives 6
    Total 15

    ARH 2050, ARH 2051 and ARH 2401 cannot be used to satisfy the general education humanities requirement.

    *** Humanities electives may include 3000/4000-level courses in history, philosophy, anthropology, classics, history, literature, philosophy and religion. These electives cannot be taken in art history; they must be listed as humanities courses as indicated by the general education designation of (H).

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majors: art-history