The goal of the majors offered by the Art History and Archaeology department is to explore the history of art and architecture across a broad historical, cultural, geographic, and methodological spectrum. Art history courses take advantage of the extraordinary cultural resources of New York City and often involve museum assignments and trips to local monuments. At the heart of the major is the colloquium, which introduces different methodological approaches to art history and critical texts that have shaped the discipline. The colloquium also prepares students for the independent research required in seminars and should be taken during the junior year. The lecture courses cover the spectrum of art history from antiquity to the present and introduce students to a wide range of materials in five distributional areas.
Seminars have a narrower focus and offer intensive instruction in research and writing.
The major readily accommodates students who wish to study abroad during junior year. Courses taken at accredited programs can generally count toward the major, but students must gain the approval of their adviser or the departmental representative. The requirements listed below reflect minor changes in the department s programs for the major and concentration, and take effect beginning with the Class of 2003. Art Humanities does not count toward the major, and no credit is given for Advanced Placement tests. Courses in which a grade of D has been received do not count toward the major or concentration requirements.