There are no prerequisites for entry into the department, and a major may be declared after completing one class in the major with a grade of C or above. The major in art history requires 11 courses, 10 of which must be above the 1000 level. Courses taken at any time during the student’s career can be counted, including those earned while studying abroad, in summer session or in architectural history. By graduation, a student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.000 in major courses. (A student who does not maintain an average of 2.000 or better in departmental courses will be put on probation and may be dropped from the program.) No course graded below C- may count for major credit.

Distribution Requirements
Students must satisfy 3 of the 5 world regions with a course at the 2000-level or above. Regions include Africa and the Mediterranean; the Americas; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Multi-Regional (courses which substantially engage more than one region). Please note: a course may count for either a world region or a historical period, but not both.

Students must also satisfy 3 of the 5 historical periods with a course at the 2000-level or above. Historical periods include up to 400 CE; 400-1400; 1400-1800; 1800-present; Cross-Period (courses which substantially span more than one period). Please note: a course may count for either a world region or a historical period, but not both.

A minimum of two 4000-level seminars are required. ARTH 4591 and ARTH 4051 count for the seminar requirement. In addition to the seminar requirement, two courses must be at the 3000 or 5000 level. 3000-level courses may but need not satisfy up to one distribution requirement.

Students must also complete 3 electives within the department. One class at the 1000 level may count for elective credit. One course in Arts Administration (ARAD) and one course in Studio Art (ARTS) may count as electives. The University Museum Internship (ARTH 4951, ARTH 4952) may count as elective credit. Any requirements may be fulfilled by appropriate courses in Architectural History at the 2000 level or above. One Advanced Placement (AP) Art History course with a score of 4 or 5 may be applied toward the major. The course will transfer as either ARTH 1051 or 1052 and will count as elective credit.

Program Requirements

The minor program in Art History requires the completion of a minimum of 5 courses in Art History.

Students must satisfy 2 of the 5 world regions with a course at the 2000-level or above. Regions include: Africa and the Mediterranean; the Americas; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Multi-Regional (courses which substantially engage more than one region).

Students must also satisfy 2 of the 5 historical periods with a course at the 2000-level or above. Historical periods include: up to 400 CE; 400-1400; 1400-1800; 1800-present; Cross-Period (courses which substantially span more than one period).

One course may be a 1000-level course in Art History.

At least one course must be at the 3000-level. One requirement may be fulfilled by an appropriate course in Architectural History at the 2000-level or above.

Please contact the Director of the Undergraduate Program,

Eric Ramirez-Weaver:  emr6m@virginia.edu | 311 Fayerweather (drop-in and Zoom consultations welcome)

All applications use the online form available here

Please list  on your electronic application a non-binding proposed list of courses, satisfying all requirements described in the tabs above for an Art History Major and an Art History Minor.

Have any questions? Contact Prof. Eric!

UREG Major Requirements Page

UREG Minor Requirements Page 

New College Curriculum

Art History ISO page

Art History Club: Our Instagram account: (@arthistoryclubatuva) Want to sign up? Please use this form.

Fralin Student Docent Program

Lou’s List

ARTH 1004 - A History of Architecture Credits: 3

ARTH 1051 - History of Art I Credits: 4

ARTH 1052 - History of Art II: Renaissance to Post-Modern Art and Architecture Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 1054 - How Art Works Credits: 3

ARTH 1500 - Introductory Seminars in Art History Credits: 3

ARTH 1503 - Art and the Premodern World Credits: 3

ARTH 1505 - Art and the Modern World Credits: 3

ARTH 1507 - Art and Global Cultures Credits: 3

ARTH 3591 - Art History Colloquium Credits: 3

ARTH 3595 - Art History Practicum Credits: 3

ARTH 3993 - Independent Study Credits: 1 to 3

Sample Course List for Region Requirements

Africa and the Mediterranean

ARTH 2052 - Ancient Egypt Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2053 - Greek Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2054 - Roman Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2055 - Introduction to Classical Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2056 - Aegean Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2891 - Arts of African Civilizations Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3051 - Greek Vase Painting Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3061 - Roman Architecture Credits: 3

ARTH 3062 - Pompeii Credits: 3

The Americas

ARTH 2273 - Disneyland Credits: 3

ARTH 2275 - Heroes, Superheroes and American Visual Culture Credits: 3

ARTH 2745 - African American Art Credits: 3

ARTH 2751 - American Art to the Civil War Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2752 - America! Art, Identity, Politics Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2753 - Arts & Cultures of the Slave South Credits: 4

ARTH 2769 - Queer Histories of US Art, 1950s-90s Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2771 - American Modernism Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2772 - Dark Men and Deadly Women: Noir and American Cinema Credits: 3

Asia and the Pacific

 

ARTH 2861 - East Asian Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2862 - Arts of the Buddhist World- India to Japan Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2871 - The Arts of India Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2882 - Sex, Spirits & Sorcery: Modern Aboriginal Art Credits: 4

ARTH 3651 - Anthropology of Australian Aboriginal Art Credits: 3

ARTH 3861 - Chinese Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3863 - East Asian Art, Landscape, and Ecology Credits: 3

Europe

ARTH 2153 - Romanesque and Gothic Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2154 - Early Medieval Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2251 - Italian Renaissance Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2252 - High Renaissance and Mannerist Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2271 - Northern Renaissance Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2281 - The Age of Caravaggio, Velazquez, and Bernini Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2282 - The Age of Rubens and Rembrandt: Baroque Art in the Netherlands Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2351 - Eighteenth-Century European Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2352 - Art of Revolutionary Europe Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2354 - British Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2361 - Nineteenth-Century European Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2371 - Impressionism and Post Impressionism Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2372 - Paris, “Capital of the Nineteenth Century” Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2451 - Modern Art, 1900-1945 Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2471 - Art Since 1945 Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2525 - Topics in Renaissance Art History Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3151 - Art and Science in the Middle Ages Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3251 - Gender and Art in Renaissance Italy Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3254 - Leonardo da Vinci Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3255 - Renaissance Art on Site Credits: 3

ARTH 3257 - Michelangelo and His Time Credits: 3

ARTH 3525 - Topics in Renaissance Art History Credits: 3 to 4

Multi-Regional

ARTH 2151 - Early Christian and Byzantine Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2470 - Art Now Credits: 3

ARTH 2471 - Art Since 1945 Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2491 - The History of Photography Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2851 - World Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2961 - Arts of the Islamic World Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3491 - Women Photographers and Feminist Aesthetics Credits: 3

ARTH 3494 - Individual Research Experiences Credits: 3

ARTH 3545 - Topics In 20th/21st Century Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 4051 - Art History: Theory and Practice Credits: 3

Sample Course List for Historical Period Requirements

Up to 400 CE

 

ARTH 2052 - Ancient Egypt Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2053 - Greek Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2054 - Roman Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2055 - Introduction to Classical Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2056 - Aegean Art and Archaeology Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3051 - Greek Vase Painting Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3061 - Roman Architecture Credits: 3

ARTH 3062 - Pompeii Credits: 3

400-1400

ARTH 2151 - Early Christian and Byzantine Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2153 - Romanesque and Gothic Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2154 - Early Medieval Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3151 - Art and Science in the Middle Ages Credits: 3 to 4

1400-1800

ARTH 2251 - Italian Renaissance Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2252 - High Renaissance and Mannerist Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2271 - Northern Renaissance Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2281 - The Age of Caravaggio, Velazquez, and Bernini Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2282 - The Age of Rubens and Rembrandt: Baroque Art in the Netherlands Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2351 - Eighteenth-Century European Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2525 - Topics in Renaissance Art History Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3251 - Gender and Art in Renaissance Italy Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3254 - Leonardo da Vinci Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3255 - Renaissance Art on Site Credits: 3

ARTH 3257 - Michelangelo and His Time Credits: 3

ARTH 3525 - Topics in Renaissance Art History Credits: 3 to 4

1800-Present

ARTH 2352 - Art of Revolutionary Europe Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2361 - Nineteenth-Century European Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2371 - Impressionism and Post Impressionism Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2372 - Paris, “Capital of the Nineteenth Century” Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2451 - Modern Art, 1900-1945 Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2470 - Art Now Credits: 3

ARTH 2471 - Art Since 1945 Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2472 - Modern Art in Italy Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2491 - The History of Photography Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2769 - Queer Histories of US Art, 1950s-90s Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2771 - American Modernism Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2882 - Sex, Spirits & Sorcery: Modern Aboriginal Art Credits: 4

ARTH 3491 - Women Photographers and Feminist Aesthetics Credits: 3

ARTH 3545 - Topics In 20th/21st Century Art Credits: 3 to 4

Cross-Period

ARTH 2354 - British Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2753 - Arts & Cultures of the Slave South Credits: 4

ARTH 2851 - World Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2861 - East Asian Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2862 - Arts of the Buddhist World- India to Japan Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2871 - The Arts of India Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2891 - Arts of African Civilizations Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 2961 - Arts of the Islamic World Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3494 - Individual Research Experiences Credits: 3

ARTH 3651 - Anthropology of Australian Aboriginal Art Credits: 3

ARTH 3861 - Chinese Art Credits: 3 to 4

ARTH 3863 - East Asian Art, Landscape, and Ecology Credits: 3

ARTH 4051 - Art History: Theory and Practice Credits: 3

For comprehensive information about the Distinguished Majors Program, visit the landing page here:

Distinguished Majors Program

The Department’s Distinguished Majors Program (DMP) is an opportunity for qualified undergraduates to undertake substantial, independent research projects while working closely with department faculty. Participants are prepared for advanced independent research and analysis by a required seminar in art historical theory, methods, and historiography. The program culminates in the submission of a DMP capstone project consisting of a significant piece of original research, such as a text with a length of about fifty pages, a digital humanities project, and exhibition project, etc. Students who successfully complete the program receive departmental honors, with a degree of Distinction, High Distinction, or Highest Distinction in art history.

Students should ordinarily declare their intention to apply for admission to the program by the end of the spring semester of their third year with formal application for admission to the program submitted to the director of the Distinguished Majors Program. To apply, students must have the approval of a faculty member who has agreed to direct their research. A GPA of at least 3.4 in the major and an overall GPA of at least 3.4 are required for admission.

In the fall of their third or fourth year, students enroll in ARTH 4051, DMP students in the program are required to enroll in six credits of Undergraduate Thesis coursework with their faculty advisor. ARTH 4998 is taken in the Fall semester and ARTH 4999 in the Spring semester. Once capstone projects are submitted, a committee of department faculty determines degrees of distinction. This evaluation depends above all on the level of accomplishment the project has attained, considered in tandem with the students’ overall performance in the major. In the case that a project fails to meet departmental standards, a determination of no distinction may be made. The committee passes on its recommendations to the Committee on Special Programs.

Art History faculty members encourage students to study abroad. There are many options for summer, semester, or year-long study and many majors and minors take advantage of these opportunities. The Art History Department sponsors its own J-Term course in Renaissance studies in Florence and Rome. It offers two summer programs in Italy: one in Rome on Ancient and Renaissance/Baroque Rome; and another in Venice and Castel Fiorentino on photography and modern art.

January or Summer Term

Information >

Summer Abroad in Italy

This program, in conjunction with UVA’s Study Abroad Office features hands-on academic and cultural experiences.  Taught by both Art History and Studio Art faculty, students complete two courses that combine art-making, class lectures, and museum visits in and around Rome and Florence, Italy.
Information >

There are many study abroad programs available for Art History students. For more information, contact the International Studies Office (ISO).

Gain valuable museum experience in Washington, DC at America’s oldest museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Prepare for the working world and learn firsthand what the field is about!  

Overview: The Phillips Collection is seeking a summer intern from UVA Art Department to work  across museum departments and assist with planning and research for special projects on modern and contemporary art.  This is an in-person internship at the Phillips (with possible hybrid opportunities) that may require offsite research in the DC area’s local libraries and archives.

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to): conducting primary and secondary research at area libraries, compiling bibliographies, gathering images, preparing powerpoints and correspondence, and other day-to-day activities, as assigned.  

Qualifications: This internship opportunity is open to rising 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year UVA art history undergraduate majors. Excellent research, writing and organizational skills, with knowledge of modern art and contemporary art from global perspectives with special interest in diasporic studies.

Internship Period:  8 weeks: May 29– August 11 2023

Schedule:   29 hours/week; Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

To apply:  Please attach a cover letter, resume, writing sample (500 words), and contact information for at least two references by March 22 using this application link: 

APPLICATION FORM

IMAGE: University of Virginia art history students and Art History Professor Elizabeth Hutton Turner at The Phillips Collection

ABOUT THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
The Phillips Collection, America’s first museum of modern art, was founded in 1921. The museum houses one of the world’s most celebrated Impressionist and American modern art collections and continues to grow its collection with important contemporary voices. Its distinctive building combines extensive new galleries with the former home of its founder, Duncan Phillips. The Phillips’s impact spreads nationally and internationally through its diverse and experimental special exhibitions and events, including its award-winning education programs for educators, students, and adults; renowned Phillips Music series; and dynamic art and wellness and Phillips after 5 events. The museum contributes to global dialogues with events like Conversations with Artists and Artists of Conscience. The Phillips Collection values its community partnership with THEARC—the museum’s satellite campus in Southeast DC. The Phillips Collection is a private, non-government museum, supported primarily by donations.