Requirements for Major
There are no prerequisites for entry into the department, but most students declare a major in art history after taking one or two or more of the department’s introductory survey courses (ARTH 101 and 102). None of these courses, however, is required for majors.
For a degree in art history, students must complete 30 credits above the 100 level. Courses taken at any time during the student’s career can be counted, including those earned while studying abroad, in summer session or in architectural history courses. By the time of graduation, a student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.000 in major courses. (A student who does not maintain an average of 2.000 or better in departmental courses will be put on probation, and may be dropped from the program.) No course graded below C- may count for major credit.
Distribution Requirements At least one course at the 200 level or above in each area (Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern, Non-Western); a minimum of two 400 level seminars (either one ARTH 401 and one ARTH 491, or two ARTH 491); and three electives within the department. At least one of the non-seminar courses must be at the 300 or 500 level. Courses in Architectural History at the 200 level or above may be substituted for any of the course requirements except the ARTH 491 seminars. One course in Studio Art at the 100 level or above may be substituted for one of the electives.
Requirements for the Minor
There are no prerequisites for a minor in art history. A student must complete 15 credits in the department, beyond the 100 level. Courses taken at any time during the student’s career may be counted toward the minor. At the time of graduation, a student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.000 in the minor courses.
Minors must take at least one course in four of the five areas: Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern, and Asian. One additional course is required, and this should be selected from advanced lecture courses at the 300-500 level, or sections of ARTH 491 (Seminar in the History of Art).
Distinguished Majors Program in Art History
To majors who wish to be considered for a degree of “distinction,” “high distinction,” or “highest distinction” in art history, the department offers a Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) of advanced courses and research culminating in a thesis of approximately fifty pages. Students should ordinarily apply for admission to the program by the end of their third year. To apply, students must submit a thesis proposal and have the approval of a faculty member to direct their research. A GPA of 3.400 in major courses and a cumulative GPA at or near 3.400 are required for admission. Application should be made to the undergraduate advisors for art history. In their fourth year, students in the program are required to take at least two courses at the 400 or 500 level and to enroll in ARTH 497-498 (Undergraduate Thesis). These are evaluated by a committee chaired by the undergraduate advisors that also considers the student’s work in the DMP based on the evaluations of teachers in the students’ advanced courses; the students’ performance in major courses; and the students’ overall GPA. The committee recommends either no distinction, distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction, and passes on its recommendation to the Committee on Special Programs.
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Undergraduate Advisor, McIntire Department of Art, Dell 1 & 2, P.O. Box 400872, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4130; (434) 924- 6123; Fax: (434) 982-4699;
www.virginia.edu/art.
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