HA 111 — History of Western Art and Civilization: Ancient Prehistory Through the Middle Ages
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Presents the history of Western art and civilization from Paleolithic times through the Middle Ages. Illustrated lectures stress political, economic, and social conditions as reflected in architecture, painting, and sculpture. (G5: Western Civilization; G7: Humanities).
HA 112 — History of Western Art and Civilization: Renaissance to the Modern Era
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Presents the history of Western art and civilization from the early Renaissance to the modern era. Illustrated lectures explore painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to pertinent religious, political, economic, and social conditions. (G5: Western Civilization; G7: Humanities).
HA 121 — Cities and Civilizations: The Eastern Mediterranean World, c. 3000 BCE-1000 CE
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students examine the art and civilization of the ancient to medieval eastern Mediterranean (including western Asia) from a non-Western perspective. Illustrated lectures and discussions survey the cultures, societies, and arts of the great urban centers of antiquity up to the Crusades. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 212 — Renaissance Art in Florence
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Conducted in Florence. This course presents an in-depth study of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries. (G7: Humanities).
HA 213 — Rome: A Cultural History in Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Conducted in Rome, this course examines the history of painting, sculpture, and architecture from antiquity to the present. Through field trips, lectures, and discussions, students are introduced to style, iconography, technical innovation, geography, and the cultural, social, economic, and political forces that have shaped Rome's visual arts. Five weeks in June/July. (G5: Western Civilization; G6: Arts; G7: Humanities).
HA 214 — Art In New York
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Selected studies in the history of art, utilizing resources available in New York City. Critical and historical investigations arise from direct study of art and architecture. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities).
HA 215 — History of Menswear
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys the history of men's costume in the West, from its foundations in ancient and medieval costume to the late 20th century, through illustrated lectures and visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Costume Collection at The Museum at FIT. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 216 — American Indian Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A study of the art and culture of American Indians, from Alaska to the border of Mexico, from prehistoric time to the present. Students study architecture, carving, painting, pottery, rituals, textiles, and the dramatic changes in American Indian art and culture due to the violence of colonization. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 217 — History of Avant-Garde Film
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course is a survey of major moments in avant-garde film from 1895 to the present. Through readings and discussions, students explore theories of avant-gardism, and study how such films are expressions of the historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts of their production. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): LA 141 (also known as FI 111) or HA 112.
HA 218 — Art and Myth in the Classical World
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Illustrated lectures examine the Greek myths--and their depiction in Greek and Roman art--in relation to their social and religious contexts. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 111 or HA 112.
HA 219 — African American Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Diverse African traditions have contributed to the rich fabric of American life since the 17th century. Students study the continuities and disruptions of these traditions in art, from the first moments of slavery through the contemporary era.
(G7 Humanities: G10 American History).
HA 221 — East Asian Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Introduces major characteristics of East Asian civilizations through a survey of traditional art and architecture. Illustrated lectures survey artistic traditions in relation to historical, religious, and social aspects of these civilizations. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 223 — African Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys cultures of sub-Saharan Africa. Illustrated lectures present art and architecture in relation to history, religion, economic conditions, and social and political structures. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 224 — Pre-Columbian Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys civilizations of Latin America prior to the arrival of Columbus. Illustrated lectures focus on art, architecture, and performance in relation to economic conditions, history, and religion. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 225 — Art and Civilization of India
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Introduces major characteristics of Indian civilization through a survey of its traditions of art and architecture. Illustrated lectures survey artistic tradition in relation to historical, religious, and social aspects of this civilization. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 226 — Art and Civilization of the Islamic World
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course examines the art and civilization of the Islamic world, from the birth of Islam in the seventh century CE to the present. Students are introduced to the spiritual, philosophical, and sociopolitical factors that led to the formation of this multiethnic style. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 227 — Archaeological Excavation in Israel
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Excavate an archaeological site in Israel and learn archaeological methods on the job. Attend illustrated lectures three evenings a week, learning about the history, archaeology, and art of the eastern Mediterranean. Travel to Jerusalem and other sites, independently or on organized field trips. Five weeks in June/July. (G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): HA 111 or HA 121 or approval of the instructor.
HA 228 — Oceanic Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students study the art and culture of Oceanic or Pacific Island cultures and civilizations, from the prehistoric era to colonialism to the present. Focus is placed on ceremonial/sacred and utilitarian objects in diverse media and architecture, and the contexts in which such objects were made. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 229 — Korean Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course is a survey of the art and civilization of Korea from its prehistoric origins to the early 21st century. We will examine how Korea created artistic traditions in response to regional and international trends, and how Korea adopted new artistic styles through relationships with China and Japan.
(G7 Humanities; G9 Other World Civilizations).
HA 231 — Modern Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Presents the history of Western art from the 19th century through the mid-20th century in the context of cultural history. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 232 — Dada and Surrealism
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A survey of the international Dada and Surrealist movements from 1915 to 1947, which challenged and redefined the traditions of modern art. Students analyze examples of fine art, performance, literature and film, and study how both Dada and Surrealism acted as responses to mechanization and war. (G7: Humanities)Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 234 — Warhol and Pop Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students study American and European Pop art movements, focusing on Andy Warhol, who has had the greatest impact on visual culture from the 1960s to today. Influences including Duchamp, Abstract Expressionism, and Neo-Dada practices are addressed, as are advertising, sexuality, celebrity, postmodernism and the ongoing relevance of Warhol and Pop. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 241 — History of Photojournalism
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course surveys the history of photojournalism as a modern mode of visual communication, and the global political and social history it represents. Students further develop their visual literacy, knowledge of modern history, and understanding of the functions of mass and social media. (G7: Humanities).
HA 243 — History of Photography
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A history of photography from its beginnings to the present day. Illustrated lectures present a chronological survey that focuses on photographers, technical advancements, and aesthetic considerations in the context of pertinent ideas and events. (G7: Humanities).
HA 244 — Art and Architecture in Paris
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Conducted in Paris. This course provides the unique opportunity for students to learn about Paris and its art and architecture on site. They experience the works of art and monuments in person within the context of the city itself.
(G6 Arts; G7 Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 111 or HA 112.
HA 251 — Film Genres: Horror
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course provides an international historical survey of the horror film from the early 20th century to the present. Through screenings and readings from a range of authors, students analyze formal and thematic elements of the horror genre in relation to historical, social, and aesthetic contexts. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities).
HA 252 — History of Russian and Soviet Film
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course is a survey of films produced in pre-revolutionary Russia, the Soviet Union, and post-Soviet Russia, from the earliest silent films to the present. Students view selected films and analyze them within historical, social, and aesthetic contexts. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities).
HA 271 — Japanese Art and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course is a survey of the art and civilization of Japan from its prehistoric origins to the 21st century. Students study how Japan created artistic traditions in response to regional and international trends, and adopted new artistic styles through diplomatic relationships with China and Korea. Modernization of Japan within the context of global cultural encounters is discussed. (G7: Humanities) (G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 272 — Mathematics and Islamic Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This is an interdisciplinary course cross-listed with MA 272. Students are introduced to the art and architecture of the Islamic world from the 7th century CE to the present. They are given a glimpse into the intertwined nature of mathematical, structural and decorative languages used by artisans and designers in this period.
HA 299 — Independent Study In History of Art and Civilization
1-3 credit
Prerequisite(s): a minimum 3.5 GPA and approval of instructor, chairperson, and dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 311 — Medieval Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Presents the history of Western art and civilization from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance. Illustrated lectures present architecture, painting, and sculpture in relation to pertinent religious, economic, and social conditions. (G5: Western Civilization; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 111 or HA 112 or approval of chairperson.
HA 312 — Women in Western Art from the Late 18th Century to the Present
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students examine the role of women as creators and, to a lesser extent, subjects of art from the 18th through the 20th centuries. This course focuses on the contributions of selected women artists and touches on issues related to the depiction of women in Western art. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 231.
HA 314 — History of American Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A history of art in America from the early colonial period to the early 20th century. Illustrated lectures present painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to pertinent religious, political, economic, and social conditions. (G7: Humanities; G10: American History)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 or equivalent, or approval of chairperson.
HA 315 — Ethnographic Film
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course focuses on the history and nature of ethnographic film in describing and defining diverse world cultures. Topics addressed include the origins of ethnographic texts and images in the context of medieval European travel and trade, and the multiple genres of ethnographic films made from the 1920s to the present. (G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 316 — The Bauhaus
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course is a study of the history and development of the influential German art, design and architecture school; the artists and architects who served on its faculty; and the body of work produced there from 1919 to 1933, and in Chicago from 1938 to 1944.
(G7 Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 317 — Italian Renaissance Art & Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course is a survey of Italian art and its contexts from 1400 through to the late 1500s, from the early Renaissance to the emergence of the Baroque. Students study traditions and innovations in style, subject, roles of artists and patrons, and modes of production within the flux of Renaissance history.
(G7 Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 331 — Contemporary Art and Culture: 1945 to the Present
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Presents the recent history of Western art and culture. Illustrated lectures present artistic developments in relation to pertinent ideas and events in contemporary culture. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 231 or approval of chairperson.
HA 332 — Modern Architecture
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Traces the development of architecture in Europe and the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. Illustrated lectures present architectural developments in relation to pertinent ideas, events, and technological innovations. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 333 — Contemporary Photography and New Media
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course explores globally produced photographic works made since the mid-1960s. Emphasis is on key themes and genres, and on the works' historical and theoretical contexts. In addition to conventional photography, the course covers new media such as video, installations, projections, and computer-assisted and internet-hosted photography. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 231 or HA 243 or HA 343.
HA 342 — History of Textile Design
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Illustrated lectures survey patterned textile design throughout the world from antiquity to the mid-20th century. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): two semesters of History of Art and Civilization.
HA 343 — History of Photography
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A history of photography from its beginnings to the present day. Illustrated lectures present a chronological survey that focuses on photographers, technical advancements, and aesthetic considerations in the context of pertinent ideas and events. (G7: Humanities).
HA 344 — History of Western Costume
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Illustrated lectures present the historical and social development of Western costume, from antiquity to the present, in the context of the history of art and design. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 345 — History of Industrial Design
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys the development of design for commercial production from antiquity to the modern era in a cultural context. Illustrated lectures address major theories, leading contributors, and examples of work that reflect technological and artistic achievements in the field. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): two History of Art and Civilization courses (HA 111, HA 112, or HA 231), or equivalent and approval of instructor, or (for Home Products Development students) HA 112.
HA 346 — Twentieth-Century Fashion and Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A survey of 20th-century fashionable dress in the context of the history of art and design, with emphasis on the work of leading fashion designers. Students study garments and accessories in the collection of The Museum at FIT, as well as photographs, fashion illustrations, and films.
Prerequisite(s): HA 231.
HA 347 — Costume and Fashion in Film
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course surveys the history of costume design in films from 1895 to the present. Through screenings, museum visits, and readings, students view the work of leading costume and fashion designers and explore the connections between film and related visual art and media. (G7: Humanities).
HA 348 — History of the Modern Printed Image
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students study a history of the printed image from the invention of lithography in the late 18th century to the present. Emphasis is on historical, contextual, technological, and stylistic concerns, with the appropriate connections to similar developments in fine arts and graphic design. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 361 — History and Meaning of Museum
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. (Formerly VA321)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 362 — Museum Professions and Administration
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students build a firm knowledge of the professions and administrative structure of museums; namely, how to achieve the institution's mission for the benefit of its diverse constituents. Students complete projects covering the broad array of support activities that must be considered for the presentation of an exhibition, or the foundation of a museum or not-for-profit art organization. (Formerly VA 431)
Prerequisite(s): HA 361.
HA 381 — The Word and the Page: A History of Writing and Books (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course covers writing from the earliest cuneiform and hieroglyphic writing systems to the mass production of writing and texts in the modern era and the digital revolution in type and text. Students learn how and why writing developed across a variety of cultures. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and qualification for Presidential Scholars program or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 391 — The Bauhaus (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A study of the history and development of the influential German art, design, and architecture school; the artists and architects who served on its faculty; and the body of work produced in Germany from 1919 to 1933 and in Chicago from 1938 to 1944. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and HA 231, and qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 392 — The Art of Venice: Titian to Tiepolo (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This study of Venetian history provides background for understanding the painting, sculpture, and architecture of Venice from the Renaissance through the 18th century. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 393 — Art and Myth In The Classical World (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Illustrated lectures examine the Greek myths--and their depiction in Greek and Roman art--in relation to their social and religious contexts. (G7: Humanities).
HA 394 — History of New York Architecture (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students explore the history of architecture in New York City. They are introduced to style, iconography, technical innovation, and geography. The cultural, social, economic, and political forces that shaped the city's buildings from the early 17th century to the present are also explored. (G5: Western Civilization; G6: Arts)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 395 — Studies in American Indian Art and Culture (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A study of the art and culture of American Indians--from Alaska to the border of Mexico, from prehistoric times to the present. Students study architecture, carving, painting, pottery, rituals, textiles, and the dramatic changes in American Indian art and culture due to the violence of colonization. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 396 — Art and Patronage in the Italian Renaissance (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course surveys Italian Renaissance art patronage, emphasizing sociopolitical contexts and the celebration of power. Emphasis is given to patronage in courts and republics and to the merchant class, princes, and popes. The course also considers patronage of less dominant groups, such as women. (G5: Western Civilizations; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 397 — Studies in Maya Art and Culture (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This is an in-depth study of Maya art, architecture, writing, weaving, and ceramics and of the way these visual forms express aspects of Maya daily life and belief from 300 BCE to the present. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 398 — Architecture and Faith: Ancient and Islamic Cities (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course explores the commercial, cultural, and artistic development of urban cultures in the Mediterranean and Near East regions in the ancient, medieval, and Islamic periods. Major case studies include Rome, Baghdad, Cairo, Jerusalem, and Constantinople/Istanbul. (G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): qualification for Presidential Scholars Program, or 3.5 GPA with approval of Dean for Liberal Arts.
HA 411 — Western Theories of Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students consider Western theories of art from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on the 20th century. They are introduced to different methods of analyzing a work of art as well as the ways in which these methods can affect a curator's decision in organizing an exhibition. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 231.
HA 461 — Senior Seminar: 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 guage the subsequent critical response. (Formerly VA 491)
Prerequisite(s): HA 362.
HA 462 — Art and Ethics
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course focuses on how and why any work of art can become a site of ethical questioning, within the context of many historical and thematic approaches. Students read, discuss, and analyze case studies involving art and ethics, and present their own research. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite: Two (2) HA courses.
HA 499 — Independent Study In History of Art and Civilization
1-3 credit
Prerequisite(s): a minimum 3.5 GPA and approval of instructor, chairperson, and dean for Liberal Arts.