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 114 — Prehistoric Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students study the forms and technologies of prehistoric art within the social and ecological contexts in which it was made. While considering when and where prehistory begins or ends, we reflect upon why art is made and what it looks like in its earliest forms (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
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 201 — History of Fashion Photography
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys fashion photography from its 19th-century origins to the present, emphasizing its relation to major movements in art and photography and to fashion itself. Students consider work of leading fashion photographers and the fashions they depict.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 202 — Feminist Art Histories, Theories, and Practices
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Feminist movements gave rise to a gender-based analysis of art and its histories. Gender, understood as a system of power, underlies feminist art histories, theories, and practices addressed in this course, focused on the time period from the 1960s to the present.
HA 203 — History of Decorative Arts: Jewelry and Metalwork
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course is an object-based, case-study approach to the cross-cultural history of the decorative arts from prehistory to the modern era with an emphasis on jewelry and metalwork. Analyzed as objects of adornment and representations of power, selected works will be investigated through the lens of design theory and as manifestations of broader themes in visual culture, considering materials and techniques and their transformation.
HA 204 — History of East Asian Costume
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Survey of East Asian costume focusing on ancient through modern works of art in which traditional or regional dress is represented, and on surviving examples of dress and accessories. Material is studied within the context of art history along with socio-political changes and encounters with outside influences in different periods.
HA 205 — Italian Art in Context
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Based in FIT in Italy and emphasizing field trips, this course examines the history of Italian art in context from antiquity to the present. Students are introduced to style, iconography, technical innovation, geography, and the philosophical, religious, cultural, social, economic, and political forces that have shaped Italian and European visual arts. (G7: Humanities).
HA 206 — The Art, Architecture, and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Illustrated lectures exploring the art, architecture, and archaeology of ancient Egypt from the predynastic to the Greco-Roman era. Topics may include religion, funerary practices, and ancient Egyptian attitudes toward gender, race, and cultural identity. “Egyptomania” and how ancient Egypt has influenced modern film, fashion, and design are also addressed. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 207 — Art and Architecture in Venice
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Offered in Venice, this course explores the art and architecture of the lagoon city from its Byzantine origins to the present time. On-site visits allow students to study Venetian buildings, monuments, and museum collections. The course contextualizes the artistic and cultural production of Venice within its historical and social environment. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities).
HA 208 — Earth Matters: Art & Environment in Ancient Egypt and Western Asia
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
An introduction to artistic practices involving the environment and natural materials in ancient Egypt and Western Asia, providing an overview of iconography and materiality of nature in the context of palace cultures and broader historical contexts. Students will also learn about modern museums’ preservation of these materials. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations; G6: The Arts).
HA 209 — Art and Museum Law
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course for Art History and Museum Professions majors provides an introduction to the legal concepts and issues related to various types of arts institutions and the art market.
HA 210 — Devotional Art and Dance of the Indian Sub-Continent and West Asia (Interdisciplinary)
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
An interdisciplinary, team-taught course cross-listed with PE 210, exploring devotional art and dance in India and western Asia. Students learn about devotional practices by studying art and movement practices. Emphasis is on the philosophical aspects and the intersections of art and dance. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 211 — Asian American Art and Design
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Studies how Asian artists and artifacts have affected American art and culture since the 19th century. Students explore influences of Asian artistic traditions beginning in the 1850s, addressing major Asian American artists and related aspects of contemporary art significant to Asian American communities. (Gen Ed: G7 Humanities, G10 American History).
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
Note: Course is conducted in English.
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 cross-listed with FI 224 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): 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).
HA 219 — African American Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys diverse African traditions that have contributed to the rich fabric of American life since the 17th century. Students explore the continuities and disruptions of these traditions in art, and analyze concepts of race and racism, from the first moments of slavery through the contemporary era. (G7 Humanities; G10 American History).
HA 220 — History of Interior Design: The Modern Interior as Space and Image
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Explores the history of modern interior design through the filters of space and image. Students analyze modern interior design from the Industrial Revolution to the present using the contexts of history and critical theory. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
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 230 — Modern and Contemporary African Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
An examination of the history of 20th- and 21st-century African art, from decolonialization movements through contemporary themes. Surveys new artistic practices, schools, and workshops within their historical and artistic contexts. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 or HA 223.
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
A study of American and International Pop art movements, focusing on Andy Warhol's impact on visual culture from the 1960s to the present. Addresses Pop's art historical origins as well as its major themes, which include advertising, mass media, war and social critique, sexuality, and celebrity. (G7 Humanities)Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 235 — Art, Technology and Empire in the Ancient World: Greece and Persia
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
An introduction to monumental Greek and Persian palace and temple architecture and its decoration in the Eastern Mediterranean and West/Central Asia before and after Alexander “the Great.” Students learn about the region’s history, technological traditions and innovations in building, function, furnishing and ornament, and about the legacies of ancient Greek and Western Asian architecture in the modern world. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities; and G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 236 — Queering Art History and Western Visual Culture
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students are introduced to the historical and social contexts and theorization of LGBTQIA presence and perspective, primarily in Europe and the US, from three angles: the history of artistic production by queer artists; representations of non-binary sexuality in art and popular imagery; and queering as a mode of reception and interpretation. (G7: Humanities).
HA 237 — Global Fashion: Ancient Origins to Modern Styles
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Survey of elite and everyday fashion in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania from ancient origins to the 20th century. This course offers a geographical overview of global styles of adornment and dress, including cross-cultural connections and exchange, focusing on the aesthetics and making of dress and its representation in art. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
HA 238 — Art and Design in Morocco
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Offered in Morocco, this course explores the art, architecture, and artisanal crafts of this visually rich culture. Site visits allow students to understand the role of historical culture in the making of identity, and hands-on workshops with traditional craftspeople impart a humanitarian perspective on the role of art in society. (G6: Arts; G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
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 is cross-listed with FI 234. 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 cross-listed with FI 241. 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 — Islamic Art and Mathematics (Interdisciplinary)
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. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
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 300 — Art and Architecture of the Venetian Republic, c. 1100-1800
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Survey of Venetian art and architecture between the 11th and 18th centuries, from Venice’s Byzantine traditions to the end of the Republic in 1797. Works of art and architecture are contextualized in their historical and cultural periods and analyzed for their meaning, aesthetic value, and technical qualities.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 301 — Fashion and Impressionism - Presidential Scholars
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Examines fashion's importance to 19th-century Parisians and especially Impressionist artists. Explores the historic origins of the modern fashion system and of the modern art market. Required qualification for Presidential Scholars Program/3.5 GPA. (G7: The Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 302 — Baroque Splendor: Art and Culture in Seventeenth-Century Europe
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys 17th-century European art emphasizing how the period's political, social, and cultural transformations affected art production and visual culture. Examines works in diverse mediums, representative of the different artistic tendencies coexisting at the time, unified under the term Baroque.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 303 — Tradition and Innovation in Asian Art and Design
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Probes the historical development and modern transformation of Asian art and design. Students in this study-abroad course visit historical monuments, major museums of Asian art, and artists' studios in a particular city. Focuses on first-hand study of art works and historical monuments, and engages with contemporary practitioners of art, design, and traditional techniques.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 or HA 221.
HA 304 — Holocaust Representation in Art (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
In surveying art about the Holocaust, this course explores the ethical limits of representation in an interdisciplinary framework of history, politics, art history, media studies, psychoanalysis, and Marxist and literary theory. What will emerge is the way that many concerns of Holocaust-related artists have likewise driven so-called mainstream artists since World War II. Required qualification for Presidential Scholars Program or 3.5 GPA and approval of Dean for Liberal Arts.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 305 — History of 20th-Century Textile Design
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
A survey of textile pattern design for dress and furnishings from the late 19th century to the present, with an emphasis on its relation to modern and postmodern art and its contexts and with a focus on Europe and the United States.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 306 — Far From Home: Travel Narratives and Art History (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Students examine travelers’ accounts—the narrative, pictorial, and photographic records of travel on which art historians and archaeologists rely heavily—from ancient, medieval and modern cultures as a way to examine and reconstruct visual cultures. (G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations).
Prerequisite(s): Qualification for the Presidential Scholars Program.
HA 307 — Professional Practicum for Art Museums and Galleries
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
For Art History and Museum Professions majors. Provides training in effective modes of writing for professional uses and contexts specific to careers in art museums and other visual-art institutions.
Corequisite(s): HA 361.
HA 308 — Goddesses, Women, Power and Patronage in the Ancient World (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course introduces students to the world of women and women’s patronage in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Eastern Mediterranean cultures through the study of art and archaeology. Surveys of visual representations of women leaders from the 3rd millennium BCE to Late Antiquity emphasize the manifold contributions made by women of power in ancient societies. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): Qualification for Presidential Scholars program or GPA 3.5 and above and permission from the dean.
HA 310 — Global Contemporaries in the World of Art
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Focusing on global contemporary art since 1989 and using postcolonial art theory, students address diverse art practices grounded in their historical, regional, cultural, economic, religious, and political contexts .(G7: Humanities; G9: Other World Civilizations)
Prerequisite(s): Any 2 HA courses.
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 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 is cross-listed with FI 242. 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 and Civilization
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Surveys Italian art and its contexts from 1400 to the late 1500s, covering 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 330 — Approaches to Fashion Theory (Interdisciplinary)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This is an interdisciplinary course cross-listed with PL 330. Studies theories of fashion from both philosophical and art-historical perspectives. Examines how our relationship to our bodies, our concepts of self, our clothing, and our definitions of beauty are historically and culturally dependent. (G4: Social Sciences; G7: Humanities).
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 or PL 141 or PL 321 or SS 131 or SS 171.
HA 331 — Contemporary Art and Culture: 1945 to the Present
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
An introduction to the interpretation of visual art in relation to international historical developments, with emphasis on late twentieth- and twenty-first-century art. (G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
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 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
Surveys 20th-century fashionable dress in the context of art and design history, 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. (G6: The Arts; G7: Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112.
HA 347 — Costume and Fashion in Film
3 credits; 2 lecture and 2 lab hours
This course is cross-listed with FI 262. 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.
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 382 — Beauty: The Human Ideal in Visual Culture - Honor's Program
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
This course explores the concept of beauty through disciplines of art history, philosophy, and social science, as understood through visual representation of the human body. Using the anaylsis of both fine art and popular mass-media sources, students examine how concepts of the beautiful reflect a society's structures of power and belief.
Prerequisite(s): HA 112, and qualification Pres. Sch. or app. or 3.5 GPA with approval of Dean for Liberal Arts. Gen Ed: Humanities (G7).
HA 383 — Art of the Silk Road: Cross-Cultural Encounters (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
The Silk Road was the world's first great superhighway, linking from ancient China and Japan to the mediterranean world across central Asia. In this course, students view ancient and medieval art of Eurasia in a new way, from the ancient to early modern periods.
Prerequisite(s): HA 111 or HA 112 or HA 121 or HA 221 or HA 225 or HA 226 or HA 229 or HA 271 qualification for the Presidential Scholars Program (3.5GPA or higher)
Gen Ed: Humanities (G9).
HA 384 — American Narratives in New York City Museums (Honors)
3 credits; 3 lecture hours
Examines exhibtions of American art in New York City museums and considers the ways they construct historical narratives that shape our ideas about collective and individual identities. Students analyze permanent and temporary installations through the lens of museum theory and critical analysis. Most sessions meet at museums. (G7: Humanities; G10: American History)
Prerequisite(s): HA 112 and qualification Presidential Scholar or application 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 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 or critique of power. Emphasis is given to patronage in courts and republics and to the merchant class, princes, and popes, as well as marginalized groups. (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.