History of Art
Director of undergraduate studies: Craig Buckley; arthistory.yale.edu
Art history is the study of all forms of art, architecture, and visual culture in their social and historical contexts. The History of Art major can serve either as a general program in the humanities or as the groundwork for more specialized training. Unless otherwise indicated, all courses in History of Art are open to all students in Yale College.
Course Numbering
1000-level courses are broad introductory lecture courses that address basic art history from a number of thematic perspectives. Prospective majors are encouraged, but not required, to take these courses as early in their course of study as possible. Under certain circumstances, students who have taken the Advanced Placement test in art history may earn acceleration credit and, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), may substitute an upper-level class for one required 1000-level course.
Intermediate and advanced courses, numbered above 2000, encompass more specialized surveys and themes in art history.
Requirements of the Major
See Links to the attributes indicating courses approved for History of Art major requirements.
Twelve term courses are required to complete the major: two introductory courses at the 1000 level; four intermediate and advanced courses at the 2000 and 3000 levels; two seminars at the 3500-4497 level; a methods seminar, HSAR 4401; two electives; and the senior essay, HSAR 4499.
The major requires that the six intermediate and advanced courses must satisfy both a geographical and a chronological distribution requirement. These courses must be chosen from four geographical areas and four time periods. The geographical requirement is divided into five areas: Africa and the Pacific; the Americas; Asia and the Near East; Europe; and transregional. The chronological requirement is similarly divided into five segments: earliest times to 800; 800–1500; 1500–1800; 1800 to the present; and transchronological. A single course can fulfill both a geographical and a chronological requirement. Only classes originating in the History of Art department can fulfill the distribution requirements.
Junior seminar The methods seminar HSAR 4401, Critical Approaches to Art History, is a wide-ranging introduction to the practices of the art historian and the history of the discipline. It is to be taken during the fall or spring term of the junior year.
Credit/D/Fail courses No course taken Credit/D/Fail may be applied toward the requirements of the major.
Senior Requirement
The senior essay is a research paper written usually in one term in HSAR 4499. Students choose their own topics, which may derive from research done in an earlier course. The essay is planned during the previous term in consultation with a qualified instructor and/or with the DUS. It is also possible to write a two-term senior essay, however students wishing to do so must submit a petition to the DUS and the prospective adviser, normally by the first week after spring break of the junior year.
Advising
Electives may include courses from other departments if they have direct relevance to the major program of study. Approval of the DUS is required.
History of Art majors are urged to study foreign languages. Students considering graduate work should discuss with their advisers the appropriate language training for their field of interest.
Graduate courses Courses in the Graduate School are open to undergraduates with permission of the instructor and of the director of graduate studies. Course descriptions are available in the History of Art office in the Jeffrey H. Loria Center, 190 York St.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites None
Number of courses 12 term courses (incl senior req)
Specific courses required HSAR 4401
Distribution of courses 2 courses at 1000 level; 6 intermediate or adv courses, as specified, which must fulfill distribution requirements in 4 geographical and 4 chronological categories; 2 electives
Substitution permitted With DUS permission, electives from related depts
Senior requirement Senior essay (HSAR 4499)
Art history is the study of all forms of art, architecture, and visual culture. The History of Art major can serve either as a general program in the humanities or as the groundwork for more specialized training.
Courses in the department are organized into three levels. Courses at the 1000 level are broad introductory lecture courses that cover basic art history from several thematic perspectives. Majors are required to take two introductory courses and should consider taking them as early as possible. Courses at the 1000 level are normally not prerequisites for higher-level courses in the department. Intermediate courses are numbered 2000–3490. Courses numbered 3500-4497 are limited enrollment seminars.
Students with AP credit should consult the director of undergraduate studies (DUS).
Representative 1000-level courses include:
- HSAR 1110, Introduction to the History of Art: Global Decorative Arts
Representative 2000- and 3000-level courses include:
- HSAR 3247, Art and Myth in Greek Antiquity
- HSAR 3266, Introduction to Islamic Architecture
- HSAR 3293, Baroque Rome: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture
- HSAR 3347, Feminism and Contemporary Art
Representative 4000-level course:
- HSAR 4459, Contested Monuments
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF ART
Professors Carol Armstrong, Tim Barringer, Marisa Bass, Edward S. Cooke, Jr., Milette Gaifman, Jacqueline Jung, Pamela Lee, Jennifer Raab, Kishwar Rizvi, Nicola Suthor, Mimi Yiengpruksawan
Associate Professors Molly Brunson (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Craig Buckley
Assistant Professors Nana Adusei-Poku, Allison Caplan, Alexander Ekserdjian, Joanna Fiduccia, Morgan Ng, Quincy Ngan, Catalina Ospina, Justin Willson
See the Roadmap Library for a visual representation of the major.