About the Program

The discipline of art history is committed to exploring the historical meaning of art, architecture, and design. It addresses artworks from all places and times, and attends to their form, technique, iconography and historical function. Art history may also be concerned with philosophical aesthetics, artists' lives, art institutions, traditions and audiences. Studying art history offers opportunities to explore and understand the richness and explore diversity of visual arts from the past and present. It enables students to develop acute visual sensibilities and finely honed skills of critical looking, thinking, speaking, and writing. Art history thus offers students a solid basis for a lifelong appreciation and understanding of art, as well as a foundation for further research in other academic and professional disciplines, including history, literature, music, politics and the law.

THE CURRICULUM

Northwestern's art history curriculum is developmental and critical. Students are expected first to acquire a broad knowledge of world artistic traditions and later to acquire expertise about particular areas, forms and practices. They begin in large classes and proceed into smaller classes and seminars. During their first and second years, art history majors are highly dependent upon ideas and information contained in secondary sources; as juniors and seniors they begin to conduct primary research and acquire the skills to think, criticize and research on their own.

100-level freshman seminars treat a wide variety of art historical topics from the ancient to modern periods and from Africa to North America. The specific courses vary from year to year, and are intended to introduce students to the discipline of art history and help them develop or improve their basic writing and research skills. These courses are not required for art history majors.

200-level courses offer broad introductions to African, American, Latin American, Asian and European Art. They expose students to the richness and variety of visual art throughout history and across the globe. Any student wishing to enroll in a 300-level class must have completed at least one course at the 200-level.

300-level courses are the backbone of the curriculum. They provide detailed investigations of important fields and issues in art history including Gothic Art and Architecture, the Renaissance, Impressionism, and African American Art. Class enrollments are limited in order to facilitate discussion. In these classes, students discover the special expertise of their professor, and are introduced to advanced research in art history.

Seminars (390) are available to art history majors only, except with special permission of the faculty. Seminars are limited to 10 students and meet once a week for instruction, discussion, and debate. Field trips to museums, private collections and architectural monuments are often integrated into the class.

Independent study (399) outside the academic curriculum can be arranged in exceptional circumstances.

Internships (396) at museums, galleries or other suitable institutions can often be arranged. Students wishing to take an internship are strongly encouraged first to consult with the Undergraduate Adviser.

CAMPUS AND AREA RESOURCES

Resources for the study of Art History at Northwestern include the University art collection at the Block Museum, and the Fine Arts Collection in Deering Library. The department slide collection includes approximately 265,000 slides, a searchable database, and a growing number of digitized, online images. Resources in the community include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Terra Museum of American Art, the Chicago Historical Society, the Field Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Smart Museum, and Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, the Evanston Art Center and other local institutions. Research libraries that students may use with permission include the Ryerson Library at the Art Institute, the Newberry Library, and the Regenstein at the University of Chicago.