Art History Undergraduate Courses

Some courses may not be offered every year. Check with the college or department office for current information about when specific courses are offered.

For course syllabi, see the departmental website.

ARH 141 WESTERN ART TO 1400 (3)

Surveys Western painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistory through the Gothic period. Letter grade only. Course fee required. CU

ARH 141H WESTERN ART TO 1400 - HONORS (3)

Surveys Western painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistory through the Gothic period. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Honors Student Group CU

ARH 142 WESTERN ART SINCE 1400 (3)

Surveys Western painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance through the twentieth century. Letter grade only. Course fee required. CU

ARH 142H WESTERN ART SINCE 1400 - HONORS (3)

Surveys Western painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance through the twentieth century. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Honors Student Group CU

ARH 143 INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS OF ASIA (3)

Explores a wide range of works of art produced in West, Central, South, and East Asia from prehistoric to modern times, as well as provides a basic introduction to the discipline of art history. Letter grade only. Course fee required. CUG

ARH 143H INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTS OF ASIA - HONORS (3)

ARH 145 THE ARTS OF NATIVE NORTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AND OCEANIA (3)

Surveys the arts of native North America, Africa, and Oceania, focusing on architecture, metalwork, painting, performance and masquerade arts, sculpture, and textiles. Letter grade only. Course fee required. CUG

ARH 145H THE ARTS OF NATIVE NORTH AMERICA, AFRICA, AND OCEANIA - HONORS (3)

ARH 199 SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3)

Foundations of intellectual inquiry. In-depth study of substantive problem. Letter grade only. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.

ARH 257 A CULTURAL HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY (3)

This course offers a history of photography with an emphasis on socio-cultural contexts. Letter grade only. Course fee required. AHI

ARH 269 ARTS OF CHINA (3)

In order to provide an introduction to the 5,000 year-old artistic heritage of China, this course focuses on the most important traditional media of visual arts and architecture. Letter grade only. AHIG

ARH 270 ARTS OF JAPAN: TRADITION AND MODERNITY (3)

This course focuses on the traditional media of Japanese visual arts and explores how long-established practices are integrated with modern forms and functions. Letter grade only. AHIG

ARH 300W WRITING ABOUT ART (3)

This course will provide art history majors with the opportunity to refine their visual literacy through the development of effective written and oral communications skills. Priority seating given to Art History Majors. Letter grade only. Course fee required. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher and 12 units of ARH-prefixed classes, 3 of which are at or above the 300-level JWRT

ARH 340 ETRUSCAN ART (3)

A historical survey of the major art forms produced by the Etruscans and their Iron Age ancestors, the Villanovan civilization. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher

ARH 341 GREEK ART (3)

Historical survey of the sculpture, architecture, and two-dimensional art of ancient Greece from the origins through the Hellenistic period. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group

ARH 342 ROMAN ART (3)

Historical survey of the sculpture, architecture, and two-dimensional art of ancient Rome from the origins through the late Empire. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group

ARH 343 MEDIEVAL ART (3)

Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture from the early Christian period through the Gothic. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group

ARH 344 ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART (3)

Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture from the fourteenth century through the seventeenth century in Italy. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 345 NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART (3)

Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture from the fourteenth century through the seventeenth century in northern Europe. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group

ARH 346 BAROQUE AND ROCOCO ART (3)

"Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture from the

seventeenth century through the third quarter of the eighteenth century. Letter grade only." Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 347 NINETEENTH CENTURY ART (3)

Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture of the nineteenth century, with an emphasis on France. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 350 MUSEUM STUDIES (3)

Introduction to the history of museums and museum practice. Letter grade only. Course fee required.

ARH 351 ART OF THE UNITED STATES (3)

Art and architecture of the United States from the colonial period (including unschooled artists) to the twentieth century. Letter grade only. Course fee required. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 352 TWENTIETH CENTURY ART TO 1945 (3)

Historical survey of the many movements in art from 1900 through 1945, with an emphasis on Europe. Letter grade only. Course fee required. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 353 TWENTIETH CENTURY ART SINCE 1945 (3)

Historical survey of the painting, sculpture, and architecture produced between 1945 and the present, with an emphasis on American art. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CU

ARH 355 MODERNIST ART THEORY & CRITICISM (3)

Theory and criticism written by modernist artists, critics, and historians. Letter grade only. Course fee required. Prerequisite: ARH 142

ARH 356 CONTEMPORARY ART THEORY & CRITICISM (3)

Theory and criticism written by artists, critics, and historians since the 1970's. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: ARH 142

ARH 360 TOPICS IN MUSEUM STUDIES (3)

This course addresses range of issues in museum studies including the New Museology, the rhetoric of museum display, the advent of virtual museums, and legal/ethical issues in museum practice. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: ARH 350 (Museum Studies)

ARH 361 HISTORY OF NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN ART (3)

This course covers the history of North American art from c.1500 to 1900. It also includes significant precontact cultures of the southwest and eastern woodlands (c.1000-1600). Cultural contexts are emphasized. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher ETNC

ARH 365 ART & ARCHITECTURE OF PRECONTACT MEXICO AND MAYA (3)

This course covers Mexican and Mayan arts and architecture from approximately 1200 BCE until the Spanish Conquest in 1521. We study these works from within their cultural context. Pass-fail or letter grade. Course fee required. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher CUG

ARH 370 BUDDHIST ART: VISUAL LANGUAGE AND RELIGIOUS CONTEXT (3)

Provides an in-depth study of the distinct Buddhist visual language in its form and content in relation to its religious context, seen through the activities of pilgrimage, faith, meditation, and ritual. Cross-listed with REL 352. Letter grade only. Course fee required. Prerequisite: ARH 143, REL 150 or Junior Status or higher AHIG

ARH 380 ISLAMIC ART: RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR ARTS OF ISLAMIC ASIA (3)

Survey of major themes and historical phases of Islam in connection with its artistic traditions, with attention to regional variety reflected in the art and architecture of Islamic Asia. Cross-listed with REL 332. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: ARH 143, REL 150 or Junior Status or higher AHIG

ARH 399 SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3)

In-depth study of an aspect, concept, or problem. Letter grade only. May be repeated for up to 6 units of credit. A specific topic may be offered under this course line no more than three times.

ARH 408 FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE (1-12)

Individualized supervised field experience in an appropriate agency or organization. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 units. Department consent required. Pass-fail only. Course fee required.

ARH 430 METHODS IN ART HISTORY (3)

Methodologies in and theories of the practice of art history. Letter grade only. Prerequisite: 6 units of 300-level ARH-prefixed classes

ARH 440 TOPICS ART HISTORY (3)

Examines selected topics in the history of art. Letter grade only. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 units.

ARH 440C TOPICS IN ART HISTORY (3)

Examines selected topics in the history of art. Letter grade only. May be repeated for a maximum of 9 units. Prerequisite: Junior Status or higher or International Exchange Student Group CAP

ARH 485 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (1-6)

Individualized original research under the supervision of a research adviser. Pass-fail only. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 units.

ARH 497 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-6)

Individualized approach to selected topics by guided reading and critical evaluation. Pass-fail only. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units. Department consent required.

ARH 499 CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS (1-3)

Examines recent trends and investigations in a selected area. Letter grade only. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 units.