Learning Outcomes

Having completed the B.A. in Art History and Criticism, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of facts and accepted art historical terminology through the successful application of art historical terminology and factual information to critical discussions of works of art.

Demonstrate an understanding of the religious, intellectual, political, social, and cultural context in which works of art and architecture were made, and how those contexts affected the development and appearance of those works of art and architecture.

Demonstrate familiarity with the periodicity of art history by engaging with similarities and differences between works of art from different periods and cultures.

Recognize and employ, through oral and written work, a variety of art historical methodologies including, but not limited to, formal and stylistic analysis, iconography, and social history, in addition to more specialized methods of interpretation and criticism, in considering and discussing works of art and their history.

Recognize and employ art historical research methods, from using various technologies to discriminating among and critically considering types of sources and evidence.

Communicate effectively about art in writing and oral presentations, applying complex forms of analysis in essay-length papers using clear and concise prose and discipline-appropriate style and format, and presenting the same using multimedia tools.

Complete a final thesis project which uses and demonstrates the above skills by conducting art-historical research and integrating appropriate sources to analyze works of art through an original interpretation or argument.