History of Art and Architecture
Gain a critical understanding of art history
The History of Art and Architecture program focuses on the diverse visual traditions of different societies around the world. You will develop visual literacy by critically thinking about how art and architecture affect individuals and societies.
As an art history major, you’ll enhance your persuasive writing, research and oral communication skills and take advantage of Chicago’s extensive cultural resources. As you earn your art history degree, you’ll enrich your classroom experience though site visits to exhibits, museums, urban landscapes and architectural monuments around the city.
We offer the 3+3 BA/JD Program, which allows high-achieving first-year undergraduate students to be admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS) and the College of Law (LAW). You’ll complete your first three years in LAS and your final three years in LAW.
Classes
Coursework
- Arts of the Americas
- African Art
- Historical Research and Writing
- Art Historical Theory and Methodology
- Japanese Film Arts
- Northern Renaissance Art
- History of Photography
- Museum Studies
- Italian Renaissance
- Chicago Architecture
- Latin American Art
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Architectural conservation
- Art librarian
- Curatorial work
- Education
- Historic preservation
- Art conservation
- Research
94%
of History of Art and Architecture graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two 100-level HAA introductory courses of the following: | 8 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ARTS OF THE AMERICAS | ||
| Select five 200-level HAA courses selected from five categories focused on Asia and the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean to 1453, Early Modern Europe to 1800, and Modern Europe and the U.S. Students must complete one course from each category. | 20 | |
| HAA 290 | ART HISTORICAL THEORY AND METHODOLOGY | 4 |
| Select five 300-level HAA courses with three selected from each of the following three categories as well as two additional 300-level courses of the student's choice, selected from any category. The categories are Asia, Africa and Latin America, Early Europe and the Mediterranean, and Later Europe and the U.S. | 20 | |
| Select one additional HAA course at any level | 4 | |
| HAA 390 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | 4 |
200-Level Categories
Asia and the Middle East
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| CHINESE ART | ||
| JAPANESE ART | ||
| ARTS OF THE SILK ROAD | ||
| JAPANESE FILM ARTS | ||
| BUDDHIST ART | ||
| ISLAMIC ART | ||
| ANIME AND MANGA | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Africa and Latin America
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| ANCIENT AFRICAN ART | ||
| CLASSICAL AFRICAN ART | ||
| POST-COLONIAL AFRICAN ART | ||
| MAYA ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| AZTEC, MAYA, OLMEC: MESOAMERICAN ART | ||
| ART OF THE ANDES | ||
| ART IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN EMPIRE | ||
| MODERN LATIN AMERICAN ART | ||
| MEXICAN ART | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean to 1453
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| ART AND EMPIRE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
| CONQUEST & CONVERSION: THE ART OF THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES | ||
| AGE OF CATHEDRALS: THE ART OF THE LATER MIDDLE AGES | ||
| THE ART OF CRUSADING | ||
| BYZANTINE ART | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Early Modern Europe to 1800
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| RUSSIA: MEDIEVAL MOMENTS, IMPERIAL DAYS & WHITE NIGHTS IN NOVGOROD & ST. PETERSBURG | ||
| NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART | ||
| ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART | ||
| BAROQUE ART | ||
| PREMODERN ARCHITECTURE: ANCIENT SOCIETIES TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Modern Europe and the U.S.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ART: 1800 TO THE PRESENT | ||
| 19TH CENTURY EUROPEAN ART | ||
| ART FROM 1900-1945 | ||
| ART FROM 1945 - 1975 | ||
| AMERICAN ART | ||
| HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN | ||
| HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF FILM | ||
| MODERN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| MUSEUM PROFESSION AND PRACTICE: CHICAGO MUSEUMS AS CASE STUDY | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
300-Level Categories
Asia, Africa and Latin America
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| AFRICAN ISLAM: ISLAMIC ART & ARCHITECTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA | ||
| CAIRO: MOTHER OF THE WORLD (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| KYOTO (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| MEXICO CITY (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
Early Europe and the Mediterranean
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GODS AND MORTALS: THE ART OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS | ||
| ART AND POWER IN PAGAN AND EARLY CHRISTIAN ROME | ||
| OLD EMPIRES AND NEW GODS: CULTURAL CONFRONTATIONS IN LATE ANTIQUITY | ||
| THE POWER OF PIETY: ICONS, RELICS, AND MIRACLES IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD | ||
| ART OF THE CRUSADES: CRUSADES AS MEDITERRANEAN EXCHANGE | ||
| ROMANESQUE ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| ROME (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
Later Europe and the U.S.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MICHELANGELO | ||
| DUCHAMP AND DADAISM | ||
| ART SINCE 1975 | ||
| TOPICS ON WOMEN AND ART | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| HISTORIC CATHOLIC CHURCH ARCHITECTURE OF CHICAGO | ||
| PARIS AND VICINITY TO CIRCA 1870 (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| THE EVOLVING MUSEUM: HISTORIES AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
?Junior Experiential Learning
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSEUM STUDIES INTERNSHIP |
Open? Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.
