The major in history of art & architecture requires the student to take eleven history of art & architecture courses, including one seminar plus at least four courses at the 300 level or above. All history of art & architecture majors are encouraged to select additional courses in related fields in consultation with their advisor.

Principal Courses

The eleven courses in history of art & architecture must include CAS AH 111 and 112 (Survey of Western Art), plus two surveys of other artistic traditions, to be chosen from AH 215 (Arts of Africa); AH 220 (Islamic Art and Architecture); AH 222 (Art and Architecture in Ancient America); and AH 225 (Arts of Asia). Of the remaining seven courses, at least four courses must be taken at the 300 level or higher, including at least one seminar at the 400 or 500 level. Courses taken beyond the four introductory surveys must include one course each from the following four groups: A) Ancient, Medieval, and Ancient American, B) Asian, African, and Islamic, C) Renaissance, and Baroque and eighteenth century, D) nineteenth and twentieth century, including American.

Students receiving a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Art History must take eleven courses at Boston University as listed above, but are exempt from the requirement to take CAS AH 111 and AH 112.

Seminar

One seminar at the 400 or 500 level, preferably taken in the second half of the junior year or the first half of the senior year, is required. A second seminar is recommended.

Related Courses

The department encourages all history of art & architecture majors to select additional courses in related fields in consultation with their advisor.

Language

The department also strongly recommends that history of art & architecture majors planning to pursue graduate study acquire reading knowledge of a second foreign language in addition to the one language required for graduation by the College.

Grades

A grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade for a major in a department course.

For information about the major, see the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

All students choosing a minor in history of art & architecture are encouraged to take courses in both Western and non-Western Art, and in architecture as well as painting and sculpture, but the options listed below allow students to concentrate in one of three major areas as follows:

Option 1 (Western Art, 1004)

One course chosen from CAS AH 111, 112, 210; plus four other history of art & architecture courses, including at least two Western Art classes and at least two courses at the 300 level or higher.

Option 2 (Non-Western Art, 1005)

One course chosen from CAS AH 215, 220, 222, 225; plus four other history of art & architecture courses, including at least two non-Western Art classes and at least two courses at the 300 level or higher.

Option 3 (Architectural History, 1006)

CAS AH 205; plus four other history of art & architecture courses, including at least two architectural history classes and at least two courses at the 300 level or higher.

Students receiving a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement test in Art History may select any of these options, and to complete the five-course requirement must take three courses in Western Art (1004), non-Western Art (1005), or Architectural History (1006), plus any two other history of art & architecture courses. At least two of the five courses must be at the 300 level or higher.

Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses taken toward the minor. For information about minors, see the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

History of art & architecture majors, minors, and others interested in careers in art history should consider the London and Paris Internship Programs in Art and Architecture sponsored by Boston University. Courses in British and French arts prepare students for professional experience in architectural firms, galleries and museums, auction houses, preservation societies, and other cultural institutions. For further information, consult the general description of the London and Paris Internship Programs on this site.

Boston University also offers students interested in devoting a full semester to art history the opportunity to study at Britain’s preeminent art history institute, the world-renowned Courtauld Institute of Art, a division of the University of London. Students accepted into this program reside at the Boston University complex in South Kensington and attend classes there and at the Courtauld Institute on the Strand in Central London. Students earn 16 semester-hour credits in art history but are considered full members of the Courtauld student body and receive all of the privileges of Courtauld students, including membership in the student union, library privileges at the University of London, and Courtauld email addresses and identification cards. For further information, see Professor Fred Kleiner in the Department of History of Art & Architecture and www.courtauld.ac.uk.