The Department of the History of Art and Architecture familiarizes DePaul students with works of art that define civilizations around the world from their emergence to the present day. The study of art is integral to the development of human knowledge and thus consistent with the academic goals of DePaul University as well as a liberal arts education. We extend the Vincentian mission in our particular focus on comparative culture and art in its urban setting. In an increasingly interconnected world, art history encourages a critical engagement with the visual and its role in individual and social formation.
The study of art and architectural history prepares students for a wide variety of careers and post-graduate pursuits. Thus, all of our classes foster critical thinking by developing visual literacy, close reading, persuasive writing, research skills and oral communication. Taking advantage of the rich cultural resources of Chicago through classroom lectures, discussions and site visits to exhibits, museums, and architectural monuments, students come to understand how art is produced and how it operates in its social and historical moment. In more advanced classes, students become well-versed in the nature of the field and its current and traditional theoretical issues. In these classes, too, consideration is given to the professional world, including museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and the global art market.
All of these goals are consistent with our professional aspirations, not only as faculty, but as scholars who distinguish ourselves by the breadth of our geographical and chronological interests and through our record of publishing and professional achievements. Although our approaches vary widely, we are united in our shared interest in the creative, social, and political forces that both determine and emanate from all works of art.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 84 |
| Major Requirements | 56 |
| Open Electives | 52 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Student will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which works of art and architecture are products of their unique historical, geographical, social, and/or religious context.
- Use correctly art history’s specialized vocabulary.
- Identify the salient features of a work of visual culture and argue in writing for the ways in which they acquire meaning.
- Analyze and apply major methodological and/or interpretative issues that belong to a given course’s subject.
- Demonstrate an engagement with original works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago or other regional institutions (when possible).
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
The Modern Language Option (MLO)
The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| HAA 390 | SENIOR CAPSTONE 1,3 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162 MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
- 3
A student majoring in History of Art and Architecture (HAA) is required to complete the Capstone offered by the HAA Department. This is the case even if a student is double majoring (or pursuing a dual degree) and the secondary major (or degree) requires its own Capstone. An HAA major in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone and the HAA Capstone.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 1 Course Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 3 Courses Required
Notes
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two 100-level HAA introductory courses of the following: | 8 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN ART | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ARTS OF THE AMERICAS | ||
| Select five 200-level HAA courses selected from five categories focused on Asia and the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean to 1453, Early Modern Europe to 1800, and Modern Europe and the U.S. Students must complete one course from each category. | 20 | |
| HAA 290 | ART HISTORICAL THEORY AND METHODOLOGY | 4 |
| Select five 300-level HAA courses with three selected from each of the following three categories as well as two additional 300-level courses of the student's choice, selected from any category. The categories are Asia, Africa and Latin America, Early Europe and the Mediterranean, and Later Europe and the U.S. | 20 | |
| Select one additional HAA course at any level | 4 | |
| HAA 390 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | 4 |
200-Level Categories
Asia and the Middle East
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| CHINESE ART | ||
| JAPANESE ART | ||
| ARTS OF THE SILK ROAD | ||
| JAPANESE FILM ARTS | ||
| BUDDHIST ART | ||
| ISLAMIC ART | ||
| ANIME AND MANGA | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Africa and Latin America
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| ANCIENT AFRICAN ART | ||
| CLASSICAL AFRICAN ART | ||
| POST-COLONIAL AFRICAN ART | ||
| MAYA ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| AZTEC, MAYA, OLMEC: MESOAMERICAN ART | ||
| ART OF THE ANDES | ||
| ART IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN EMPIRE | ||
| MODERN LATIN AMERICAN ART | ||
| MEXICAN ART | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Premodern Europe and the Mediterranean to 1453
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| ART AND EMPIRE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
| CONQUEST & CONVERSION: THE ART OF THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES | ||
| AGE OF CATHEDRALS: THE ART OF THE LATER MIDDLE AGES | ||
| THE ART OF CRUSADING | ||
| BYZANTINE ART | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Early Modern Europe to 1800
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| RUSSIA: MEDIEVAL MOMENTS, IMPERIAL DAYS & WHITE NIGHTS IN NOVGOROD & ST. PETERSBURG | ||
| NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART | ||
| ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART | ||
| BAROQUE ART | ||
| PREMODERN ARCHITECTURE: ANCIENT SOCIETIES TO THE ENLIGHTENMENT | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
Modern Europe and the U.S.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE (When Approved) | ||
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ART: 1800 TO THE PRESENT | ||
| 19TH CENTURY EUROPEAN ART | ||
| ART FROM 1900-1945 | ||
| ART FROM 1945 - 1975 | ||
| AMERICAN ART | ||
| HISTORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN | ||
| HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF FILM | ||
| MODERN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| MUSEUM AND NON-PROFIT ARTS MANAGEMENT | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) |
300-Level Categories
Asia, Africa and Latin America
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| AFRICAN ISLAM: ISLAMIC ART & ARCHITECTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA | ||
| ILLNESS AND DISABILITY IN CHINESE ART | ||
| CAIRO: MOTHER OF THE WORLD (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| KYOTO (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| MEXICO CITY (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
Early Europe and the Mediterranean
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GODS AND MORTALS: THE ART OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS | ||
| ART AND POWER IN PAGAN AND EARLY CHRISTIAN ROME | ||
| OLD EMPIRES AND NEW GODS: CULTURAL CONFRONTATIONS IN LATE ANTIQUITY | ||
| THE POWER OF PIETY: ICONS, RELICS, AND MIRACLES IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD | ||
| ART OF THE CRUSADES: CRUSADES AS MEDITERRANEAN EXCHANGE | ||
| ROMANESQUE ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| GOTHIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE | ||
| ROME (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
Later Europe and the U.S.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MICHELANGELO | ||
| DUCHAMP AND DADAISM | ||
| ART SINCE 1975 | ||
| TOPICS ON WOMEN AND ART | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| HISTORIC CATHOLIC CHURCH ARCHITECTURE OF CHICAGO | ||
| PARIS AND VICINITY TO CIRCA 1870 (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| THE EVOLVING MUSEUM: HISTORIES AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS/HISTORY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE (When Approved) | ||
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY SEMINAR (When Approved) |
Junior Experiential Learning
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSEUM STUDIES INTERNSHIP |
Open Electives
Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.