The Art History major provides a foundation for answering key questions about what it means to be human as well as valuable skills for today’s workplaces. A specialized focus on images, objects, and the built environment promotes critical and creative approaches to analysis, problem-solving, writing and visual communication in a variety of media. Interdisciplinary collaborations encourage aesthetic, historical, economic, and ethical questions in order to produce new knowledge, sophisticated readers, engaged writers, critical viewers, independent thinkers, and confident cultural citizens who are well prepared to thrive in global society.
Through innovative research, teaching, and outreach activities, the Department of Art History takes a leading role in promoting visual literacy, emphasizing careful attention to continuities and differences across human history and world cultures. Examining expressive forms, from artifacts to new media, we explore the ways in which art and visual and material culture are fully integrated into larger cultural histories.
Read more about the skills you develop through the Art History major.
How to Get in
Students considering art history as a major should come to the department for advising as early as possible in their undergraduate careers. Upon declaration, students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with the undergraduate program advisor to ensure timely progress toward completion of the degree. Annual meetings with the director of undergraduate studies are also highly encouraged. More detailed information can be found at Declaring the Art History Major.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Mathematics | Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework. |
| Language |
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| L&S Breadth |
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| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | Complete at least 108 credits. |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level. |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | Complete at least 120 credits. |
| UW-Madison Experience |
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| Quality of Work |
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Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Foreign Language
Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work.
- Complete the fourth unit of a foreign language; or
- Complete the third unit of a foreign language and the second unit of an additional foreign language.
Level Requirements
Nine (9) courses in ART HIST as follows:
Intro-level ART HIST (two required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing Through Conspiracy Theories | ||
| The Art of Diversity: Race and Representation in the Art and Visual Culture of the United States | ||
| Have Brush, Will Travel: The Italian Renaissance from Florence to Rome | ||
| The Body, Sex, & Health in Art | ||
| Seeing Race: Anti-Racism and Visual Culture | ||
| History of Western Art I: From Pyramids to Cathedrals | ||
| History of Western Art II: From Renaissance to Contemporary | ||
| Survey of Asian Art | ||
| Global Arts | ||
| Survey of Photography: 1839 to 1989 | ||
| A History of the World in 20 Buildings | ||
| The Modernist Revolution | ||
| Making the American Landscape | ||
| Introduction to African Art and Architecture | ||
| Introduction to Afro-American Art | ||
| Dimensions of Material Culture |
300-level ART HIST (three required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | ||
| Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases | ||
| Greek Sculpture | ||
| Topics in Art History | ||
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | ||
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | ||
| The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | ||
| Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Italian Baroque Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present | ||
| 19th Century Painting in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present | ||
| Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance | ||
| American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present | ||
| The Concept of Contemporary Art | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia |
400-level ART HIST (two required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Topics in Art History | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Topics in Nineteenth Century Art | ||
| Topics in Twentieth-Century Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Topics in Asian Art | ||
| Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History | ||
| Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | ||
| Topics in Medieval Art | ||
| Topics in Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Topics in Visual Culture | ||
| Topics in Theory | ||
| Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World | ||
ART HIST 454 | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
ART HIST 469 | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | ||
| Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan | ||
ART HIST 479 | ||
| Introduction to Museum Studies I | ||
| Introduction to Museum Studies II | ||
| Curatorial Studies Colloquium |
500-level ART HIST (one required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Proseminar: Special Topics in Art History | ||
| Proseminar in Ancient Art | ||
| Curatorial Studies Exhibition Practice | ||
| Proseminar in Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| Proseminar in Medieval Art | ||
| Proseminar in Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Proseminar in Northern European Painting | ||
| Proseminar in 19th Century European Art | ||
| Proseminar in 20th Century European Art | ||
| Proseminar in Material Culture | ||
| Proseminar in American Architecture | ||
| Proseminar in Japanese Art | ||
| Proseminar in Chinese Art | ||
| Proseminar in African Art |
Electives to Meet Minimum Nine Courses Required
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ART HIST 100-699 | ||
Chronological Distribution
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from each area: Ancient to Medieval
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | ||
| Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases | ||
| Greek Sculpture | ||
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | ||
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | ||
| Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs | ||
| Topics in Medieval Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Study Abroad in Ancient/Medieval Art | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World 1 | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 | ||
| Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan |
Early Modern (Circa 1400–Circa 1800)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods 1 | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art | ||
| Italian Baroque Art | ||
| Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance | ||
| American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 1 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1 | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Study Abroad in Renaissance/Baroque/Northern Art | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 | ||
ART HIST 479 |
Modern (Circa 1800–Circa 1945)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods 1 | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present 1 | ||
| 19th Century Painting in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present | ||
| American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 1 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1 | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Nineteenth Century Art | ||
| Topics in Twentieth-Century Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World | ||
ART HIST 454 | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1 | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 |
Contemporary (Post 1945)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present 1 | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present 1 | ||
| The Concept of Contemporary Art | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Twentieth-Century Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Study Abroad in 18th-20th Century Art | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes 1 | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts 1 | ||
ART HIST 479 |
Geographic Distribution
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from three of these five areas:
Cross-Cultural/Diaspora
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Afro-American Art | ||
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History 1 | ||
| Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs 1 |
Africa/Middle East
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Islamic Art and Architecture 1 | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Mecca, Cairo, Istanbul, Delhi: Great Cities of Islam | ||
| Cities of Asia | ||
| Topics in African and African Diaspora Art History 1 | ||
| Art and Architecture in the Age of the Caliphs 1 | ||
| Art and Power in the Arab World 1 | ||
ART HIST 479 |
Asia
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| From Tomb to Temple: Ancient Chinese Art and Religion in Transition | ||
| The Tastes of Scholars and Emperors: Chinese Art in the Later Periods | ||
| Study Abroad in African/Asian Art | ||
| Cities of Asia 1 | ||
| Topics in Asian Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Japanese Ceramics and Allied Arts | ||
| Art and Religious Practice in Medieval Japan |
Europe
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | ||
| Myths, Loves, and Lives in Greek Vases | ||
| Greek Sculpture | ||
| The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | ||
| Icons, Religion, and Empire: Early Christian and Byzantine Art, ca. 200-1453 | ||
| Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| From Michelangelo & Raphael to Titian: The Arts in 16th Century Italy | ||
| Angels, Demons, and Nudes: Early Netherlandish Painting from Bosch to Bruegel | ||
| Italian Baroque Art | ||
| British Art and Society from the Eighteenth Century to the Present | ||
| 19th Century Painting in Europe | ||
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present 1 | ||
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| Gore Luxury Identity Mimesis: Northern Renaissance | ||
| The Concept of Contemporary Art | ||
| Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | ||
| Topics in Nineteenth Century Art | ||
| Topics in Twentieth-Century Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Topics in Medieval Art | ||
| Topics in Italian Renaissance Art | ||
ART HIST 454 |
The Americas
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Photography 1 | ||
| History of Wisconsin Architecture, 1800-present | ||
| American Decorative Arts and Interiors: 1620-1840 | ||
| History of American Art: Art, Material Culture, and Constructions of Identity, 1607-present | ||
| The Concept of Contemporary Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| History of American Vernacular Architecture and Landscapes | ||
| Frank Lloyd Wright |
Theory and Method Distribution
Of the nine required ART HIST courses, at least one course from: | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-Cultural Arts Around the Atlantic Rim: 1800 to the Present | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| The Concept of Contemporary Art | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Art | ||
| Visual Cultures of India | ||
| Topics in Visual Culture | ||
| Topics in Theory | ||
ART HIST 469 | ||
| Introduction to Museum Studies I | ||
| Introduction to Museum Studies II | ||
| Curatorial Studies Colloquium | ||
| Mapping, Making, and Representing Colonial Spaces | ||
| History of Books and Print Culture in Europe and North America |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in ART HIST and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits in residence2
- 15 credits in ART HIST taken on the UW–Madison campus
- AP Art History credits may count toward the nine (9) course minimum for the Art History major but not toward the 200-level requirement
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the Art History undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA in all ART HIST courses
- Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in ART HIST 681 and ART HIST 682, for a total of 6 credits.
- Present an oral report on work in an undergraduate Honors colloquium during the senior year
Footnotes
- 1
Course is accepted in one or more Chronological or Geographical areas, but will only apply to one of of those areas. Students with questions should consult the academic advisor for this program.
- 2
ART HIST courses numbered 300-699 are considered upper-level in the major.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Skill in visual analysis of single images and comparative analysis of multiple images and objects, evaluating a range of elements such as form, color, light, proportion, viewpoint, material, and narrative structure.
- Proficiency in interpreting images and objects in ways that take into account the historical contexts in which they were produced and received.
- Consolidation of knowledge across a range of time and geography to reach an understanding of the ways in which art and its meaning are rooted in culture.
- Ability to locate and enlist research resources in both print and digital form and assess the strengths and weaknesses of various types of resources.
- Knowledge and skills to interpret images and objects in ways that consider a variety of theoretical perspectives.
- Ability to assess and critique scholarly arguments and evaluate the strength of the visual and textual evidence presented.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 4 | Intro level Art History course | 3-4 |
| Intro level Art History course | 3-4 | Foreign Language | 4 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 4 | Communication B | 4 |
| ART HIST 300-level | 4 | ART HIST 300-level | 3-4 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | ART HIST 400-level | 3-4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Declare the Major (before 86 credits) | ART HIST Theory & Method course | 3 | |
| ART HIST 400-level course | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | ART HIST elective | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ART HIST 500-level course | 3 | ART HIST elective | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Senior Thesis | 3 | Senior Thesis in major | 3 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | Elective | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Major
Please follow the process described on the Art History website.
Letters & Science students have unique perspectives, knowledge, and skills that make them highly desirable to today’s employers. Art History students have career advising and mentoring from the department’s academic advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, plus networking and advice from our faculty and alumni. Talk with any of your Art History professors and with our advising team about your questions: career paths and internships; preparation for the job search; or applying to graduate school: arthistory.wisc.edu/undergraduate-program/#advising
We encourage students in the major to seek information from Art History faculty and advisors about career paths and internships; preparation for the job search; and applying to graduate school. Both the department and L&S also provide networking opportunities with professionals in the field (employers and alumni).
Honors in the Major is a strong choice for students who want more advanced study in art history, especially those interested in continuing in art history graduate studies or a career directly in the field of art history (e.g., curator, gallerist, etc.). Review the Honors in the Major requirements, including the minimum grade-point average in all Art History courses, and talk with the academic advisor about how this fits your academic and career plan.
Study Abroad
We strongly encourage a study-abroad program as part of your Art History learning. You gain firsthand experience of other cultures and languages and have the opportunity to study major works of art. Credit for appropriate coursework may be applied toward the major; see the Study Abroad website.
Other Resources
Art History professional development webpage
Art History majors discuss the value of the degree
Links to relevant career preparation information:
- Career Alternatives for Art Historians
- Careers by Major—Art & Art History (University of Toronto)
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Wisconsin Experience
The Department of Art History promotes an understanding of art, architecture, objects, and ideas worthy of close visual analysis to be local, hemispheric, transnational, and international, and existing both within and outside of traditional institutions of display. In guiding our students to develop skills in visual analysis, close reading, historical contextualization, and communication and interpretation through writing about art, conducting research on objects in our museum collections, and organizing exhibitions, our department is committed to building an understanding of how humans perceive, create, and inhabit the world. Opportunities to work with and present collections to the public, both at the Chazen Museum and through internships at other Wisconsin institutions, afford our students the chance to connect with diverse audiences beyond the borders of campus.