Art History and Museum Professions
Bachelor of Science Degree Program (BS)
Applications accepted for fall only. HEGIS 1099
The major in Art History and Museum Professions offers students the opportunity to prepare for positions in museums and other art institutions, with a focus on collections management, public relations, development, education, rights and reproductions, visitor services, special events, and other non-curatorial roles.
| Semester 5 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR AREA | VA 321 - Methods and Meanings in the Visual Arts | 3 |
| choice - see History of Art Group A ** | 3 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | EN 321 - Strategies of Business Communication | 3 |
| choice - see Foreign Language* G8 | 3.5 | |
| choice - see Liberal Arts Elective* | 3 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | BL 343 - Introduction to Business Law | 3 |
| VA 431 - The Business of Art Museum Management | 3 | |
| choice - see History of Art Group B** G9 | 3 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | MA 311 - Mathematical Modeling for Business Applications | 3 |
| choice - see Foreign Language* | 3-3.5 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | AC 322 - Publicity/Public Relations for Visual Art Management | 3 |
| HA 411 - Western Theories of Art | 3 | |
| choice - see History of Art Group C** | 3 | |
| choice - see History of Art Elective** | 3 | |
| RELATED AREA | FA 117 - Traditional Techniques in the Fine Arts | 2 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | LA 221 - U.S. History: Civil War to Present G10 | 3 |
| Semester 8 | ||
| MAJOR AREA | AC 311 - Integrated Marketing Communications Management | 3 |
| VA 491 - Senior Seminar: The Museum Exhibition | 3 | |
| RELATED AREA | IC 497 - Senior Internship C: Career Planning | 3 |
| LIBERAL ARTS | choice - see Speech* | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | choice - General Elective | 2-3 | TOTAL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS |
| MAJOR AREA | 33 | |
| RELATED AREA | 5 | |
| LIBERAL ARTS | 21.5-22 | |
| ELECTIVE | 2-3 | |
| Total Credits: | 61.5-63 | |
SUNY General Education Requirements:
A “G” followed by a number 1-10 identifies specific courses that meet SUNY General Education baccalaureate degree requirements (or visit fitnyc.edu/gened ).
G1 Basic Communication; G2 Mathematics; G3 Natural Sciences; G4 Social Sciences; G5 Western Civilization; G6 The Arts; G7 Humanities; G8 Foreign Language; G9 Other World Civilizations; G10 American History.
*Requirements: See below.
Foreign Language: 6.5-7 credits
Two semesters of the same foreign language, one of which must be a 3.5 credit nonconversational course (G8).
Liberal Arts Electives: 3 credits
CHOICE in Semester 5 of any non-HA liberal arts course.
Speech: 3 credits
CHOICE in Semester 8 of EN 241, 242, 243, 244, or 245.
**History of Art Electives: 12 credits
Group A (Western Surveys): 3 credits
HA 231 required (if not previously taken), or
CHOICE of HA 311, 314, 331, or 332.
Group B (Non-Western Civilizations): 3 credits
CHOICE of HA 121, 216, 221, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 315, 395, or 397 (any one of these meets G9).
Group C (Specialized Media): 3 credits
CHOICE of HA 214, 217, 315, 333, 342, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, or 381.
History of Art Elective: 3 credits
CHOICE in Semester 7 of any HA course not previously taken.
NOTE: AC 111 and HA 112 must be completed prior to the sixth semester.
Courses
VA 321 — Methods and Meanings in the Visual Arts
3 CREDITS; 3 LECTURE HOURS
For students majoring in Art History and Museum Professions, this course provides a foundation in visual analysis and a historical overview of museums, exhibitions, and art history. Writing skills relevant to art commentary and gallery management are emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112
VA 431 — The Business of Art Museum Management
3 CREDITS; 3 LECTURE HOURS
Students build a firm knowledge of the business of managing an art museum, namely, how to achieve the institution's mission for the benefit of its diverse constituents. Students complete a group project covering the broad array of support activities that must be considered for the presentation of an exhibition.
Prerequisite(s): VA 321
VA 491 — Senior Seminar: The Museum Exhibition
3 CREDITS; 3 LECTURE HOURS
Using a major current exhibition as a case study, students examine the entire process of creating an exhibition. Through readings, field trips, and presentations by art professionals, students track the trajectory of an exhibition, from its original concept to its final, realized form, and gauge the subsequent critical response.
Prerequisite(s): VA 431