REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR IN ART HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY
(revised May 2007) Students who declare a major in Art History & Archaeology must satisfy the requirements listed below to qualify for graduation. 1. Declaring the major. Students should obtain and fill out a Declaration of Major form from the office of the College of Arts and Sciences, South Brookings 205. Arrange an orientation meeting (approximately 15 minutes) with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Art History and Archaeology, currently Professor Gwen Bennett, 935-4427, e-mail: gbennett@artsci.wustl.edu. 2. Introductory Courses. All majors should take the two one-semester “introductions” during their freshman or sophomore years. These courses serve as prerequisites for all upper-level lecture courses. They may be taken in any sequence. No substitutes will be accepted, except for certain transfer credits. AA111E Introduction to Asian Art (Spring) AA112E Introduction to Western Art (Fall) 3. Major credit hours. All majors must take at least 24 upper-level (300-400) Art History & Archaeology credits. One 200-level course may substitute for an upper-level course. Intro to World Archaeology (L52 200) does not count as an Ancient distribution (see no. 4 below) but may count toward the major. Courses taught in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts do not count toward an art history major unless they are cross-listed as Art History & Archaeology courses. Freshman seminars do not count toward the major. Courses for the major may not be taken with cr/ncr or p/f option. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all classes. 4. Distribution. Majors must take at least one upper-level course in three of the following four broad areas: (a) Ancient and Medieval (b)Renaissance and Baroque (c) Modern European and American (d)Asian. 5. Capstone Experience. Seminars are considered the “Capstone” experience for Majors in Art History & Archaeology. Seminars are listed as 400-level courses, consisting of small enrollments and focused on discussion and major research projects. Majors must take two seminars that are homebased in the Department of Art History & Archaeology (cross-listed courses based in other departments or schools, even if they are listed as 400-level, may count toward the major but will not count as seminars for this purpose). Lecture courses (300-level) usually serve as prerequisites for seminars. The two required seminars should be taken with different faculty members, although they may both be in the same distribution area. Seminars are usually taken in the senior year, but may also be taken in the junior year, if the student has the preparation appropriate to the course. We recommend that only one seminar be taken at a time, unless you are pursuing Seminar Honors (see no. 6 below), in which case two may be taken per semester in the senior year.
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6. Latin Honors. Exceptional students may be considered for Latin Honors in the major. Honors in Art History & Archaeology will be awarded to seniors who have completed the major with a 3.5 or better average; who have achieved at least a 3.5 overall GPA in the College of Arts and Sciences; and who have satisfactorily completed either the Seminar Honors option or the Honors Thesis outlined in the “Guidelines for Latin Honors in Art History & Archaeology.” Interested students should begin discussing topics with potential faculty advisors before the end of their junior year. 7. Languages and Fine Arts. Students contemplating graduate school in Art History & Archaeology are urged to take significant course work in foreign languages. There is no specific language requirement for the undergraduate major, although we encourage minors in a foreign language or double majors in languages and art history. Students are also highly encouraged to take courses in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts to learn more about the current and historical techniques and outlook of working artists and architects. 8. Internships. Students may pursue up to six hours of internship credit working in the arts community. These internship credits are cr/ncr and may not be counted toward the major. See the “Guidelines for Art History & Archaeology Students Considering Internships” for further details. 9. Study Abroad. Students interested in a study abroad program should consult with both the Departmental Study Abroad Advisor and The Office of Overseas Programs (Stix International House 201) as early as possible. Summer, semester and year-long programs are all possible. Students are reminded that at least 15 hours of their major course work must be completed in residence at Washington University, and that the final 30 units of their B.A. degree must be earned here as well. The Florence Program administered by Washington University is considered in residence for this purpose.