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Art History and Visual Culture

Faculty: Dr. Deborah Hutton, Dr. Lois Fichner-Rathus, Dr. Lee Ann Riccardi


The Department of Art and Art History offers a BA in Art History and Visual Culture and a minor in Art History and Visual Culture for students majoring in visual arts, art education, and any other discipline at TCNJ. Art History and Visual Culture Studies are scholarly, academic disciplines which sharpen critical thinking and strengthen both writing and analytical skills. The Art History and Visual Culture Program offers varied and exciting courses ranging from broad surveys of art from various geographical regions and chronological eras to problem-solving, issue-based and highly-focused topics courses. Students in a wide variety of majors may also use approved art history courses to fulfill liberal learning requirements.

 

Art History and Visual Culture Program

Art History and Visual Culture majors take Art History courses covering different time periods and geographical regions, as well as interdisciplinary courses dealing with Visual Culture from diverse perspectives. The program is flexible and inclusive, embracing a diverse range of methodologies applied to many types of visual and material culture. The program faculty utilize the varied resources of museums and collections in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C. with field trips and specialized object research. In order to promote cross-cultural exchange and exposure to art outside the area, Art History and Visual Culture majors are encouraged to enroll in a study-abroad program. TCNJ offers many options ranging from a three-week study-abroad course to full-semester or year-long programs. To graduate with a BA degree in Art History and Visual Culture, students must complete an approved study-abroad or internship experience. The art history curriculum culminates in a two-semester capstone sequence during which majors develop an original research project to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills.

Program Entrance, Retention, and Exit Standards

Every major program at the College has set standards for students to remain in that program, to transfer within the college from one program to another, and to graduate with a degree from a program. The following are the standards for art history. Minimum grades are noted in parentheses:

  • Retention in the Art History major is based on a minimum grade of C in all major courses.
  • Transfer into the Art History and Visual Culture major from another program within the College is based upon the completion of two AAH or AAV courses with a minimum grade of C.
  • Graduation requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0, completion of all departmental requirements and a minimum grade of C in all major courses, and completion of an approved study abroad experience or internship.

 

Internal Transfers to Art History and Visual Culture:

Applicants for internal transfer to Art History must meet the following requirements:

  • Grade of C or higher in any two AAH or AAV courses

Course Requirements

Required Core (3 course units)

  • AAV 102 Visual Thinking
  • AAH 498 Critical Issues in Art History
  • AAH 499 Senior Thesis/Capstone

Major Options: (7 course units, 3 must be at 200 level or above, 3 must be at 300 level or above)

5 AAH courses, with the following area distributions (note that the same course may be used to satisfy multiple requirements)

  • 1 course in art from Europe or U.S.
  • 1 course in art from Asia, Africa, Indigenous Americas, or Oceania
  • 1 course in gender and art
  • 1 course in pre-1400 art
  • 1 course in post-1400 art

1 course covering visual culture from approved list of offerings beyond AAH designated courses.

1 elective that may be either an AAH course or a course covering visual culture from list of offerings beyond AAH designated courses.

Total: 10 course units

 

Recommended First-Year Program of Study: Art History

First Semester

  • FYS (except those numbered 101-109) First Year Seminar – 1 course unit
  • AAV 102 – 1 course unit
  • Foreign Language* – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit

Second Semester

  • AAH 200 level course – 1 course unit
  • FYW 102/First Year Writing (if not exempted) – 1 course unit
  • Foreign Language* – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit

* Arabic 151 and 152, Chinese 151 and 152, and Japanese 151 and 152 are intensive courses and carry two course units of credit each. Students should take this into account when planning a normal four-course semester.

Total for year: 8 course units

 

Recommended Second-Year Program of Study: Art History

First Semester

  • AAH 200 level course – 1 course unit
  • Foreign Language* – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

Second Semester

  • 1 course exploring visual culture (any level) – 1 course unit
  • AAH 200 or 300 level course – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

* Arabic 151 and 152, Chinese 151 and 152, and Japanese 151 and 152 are intensive courses and carry two course units of credit each. Students should take this into account when planning a normal four-course semester.

Total for year: 8 course units

 

Recommended Third-Year Program of Study: Art History

First Semester

  • AAH 300-level – 1 course unit
  • 1 course exploring visual culture or AAH Elective (any level) – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

Second Semester

  • AAH 300-level course – 1 course unit
  • College Core – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

Total for year: 8 course units

 

Recommended Fourth-Year Program of Study: Art History

First Semester

  • AAH 498 Critical Issues in Art History – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

Second Semester

  • AAH 499 Senior Thesis/Capstone – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit
  • Elective – 1 course unit

Total for year: 8 course units

 

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