Art History B.A.

Program Description

The Department of Art offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in History of Art. Students begin the program with two introductory courses that survey historically significant objects and monuments – including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, pottery, photographs, film and video, and architecture – from ancient times to the present. These introductory courses consider the form, content and meaning of these works in terms of their social, political, economic, philosophical and cultural contexts. From its foundation courses through its highest-level seminars, History of Art at the University of Maine stands out for its emphasis on theory, diverse methodologies and the epistemology of the discipline. A strong awareness of the historiography of the field is instilled from the introductory courses onward. The curriculum stresses research by teaching students in the introductory courses the essential value of primary sources and peer-reviewed secondary sources as they work through their studies. Building on this first-year experience, second-year courses focus on how to collaboratively develop important questions, present research in formal writing assignments and oral presentations, and meet the discipline’s professional standards. Upper-level seminars engage students in open discussions of their research as it unfolds, leading to focused research essays. Two upper-level seminars dedicated to the principal underpinnings of the field – art theory and criticism and critical methodologies – engage students in critical thinking about the discipline itself. For their capstone experience, students present a research paper to the public for open commentary, preparing them well for participating in professional conferences.

The program treats History of Art within the greater context of visual culture, encouraging students to consider wide classes of objects as valuable windows into culture. In considering the wealth of material culture from any given epoch, students learn how visual language functions as a complement to the written or oral record. The program also emphasizes academic writing skills and interdisciplinary research. In addition to courses in History of Art, students take two Studio Art courses to provide insights into the working methods of artists and the creative processes that foster critical thinking and visual literacy. Students must also take two courses in a foreign language to broaden their research capabilities in the field. The major highly recommends that its students enroll in the Honors College. Throughout their course of study, students can expect a very high degree of individual attention. The Department of Art also offers a 21-credit minor in History of Art.