• Take an Art History class! Find out if you like it! If so, take some more! 🙂
• Take a look at the suggestions for sophomores (below). If you might want to major in Art History, consider taking ARTH-160: Art, Power, and Society during spring quarter and/or completing the studio course requirement this year.

• There are two sophomore seminars in the Art Department: ARTX-206: Ceramics: World Pottery, and ARTX-214: Framing Difference. You are not required to take a Sophomore Seminar in the department, but it will count as an elective in the major if you do.
• By the end of sophomore year, we suggest that you complete the following requirements for the major:
  • ARTH-160: Art, Power, and Society (spring quarter)
  • Studio course requirement: ARTX-105: Basic Drawing; ARTX-128: Painting: Traditional Practices; ARTX-134: Sculpture: Object Investigation; or ARTX-234: Sculpture: Structure and Space
• It’s also a good idea to start taking Breadth and Topics courses. See above for a list of courses that count towards those requirements.

Curriculum

• Double check – have you completed your core requirements?
  • If you don’t have an advisor in the department, consult with an Art History professor to make sure you’re on track with your requirements.
  • Complete your intermediate coursework this year
    • If you might want to SIP in Art History, consider that your intermediate coursework will impact the areas in which you are eligible to do a SIP.
  • If you haven’t taken ARTH-160: Art, Power, and Society yet, take it this year!

Study Abroad

• If your study-abroad program includes an Integrative Cultural Project, consider an art-related topic or internship.
  • Meet with a faculty member in the department prior to your departure from campus for study abroad to discuss course selection and goals for study abroad.
  • Communicate with your advisor via email prior to registration for junior spring quarter classes.
  • Hang on to course syllabi for classes you take on study abroad that you would like considered for elective credit for the AH major/minor. Although required courses must be taken on campus, you may transfer up to two eligible elective credits towards your major or minor.  Meet with the department chair when you return regarding transferring in credit from study abroad towards the major or minor. 
  • If you are planning to do an Internship SIP in the summer before your senior year, you may need to apply for the internship while you are away on study abroad. You should research opportunities and deadlines now. Seek assistance with starting a resume from the CCPD and your advisor prior to study abroad.

SIPs

• If you are interested in doing a SIP in Art History, keep an eye out for an information session during week 4 of spring quarter of your junior year OR talk to a member of the Art History faculty during your junior year spring.

Curriculum

• In order to graduate with an Art History major, you must take ARTH-160: Art, Power, and Society, and ARTH-391/491: Ways of Seeing.

SIPs

• An Art History SIP is not required for the Art History major
• Your Art History SIP will not count towards the 8 required units for the Art History major
• SIPs in Art History may be research paper- or internship-based. Many internship SIPs are done over the summer.
• Permission to do SIPs in the department is not automatic; you must propose a project to the appropriate faculty member who will evaluate your proposal based on your readiness and preparation for the stated process and product, maturity of your project concept, and intended learning goals. The faculty member has the right to turn your proposal down based on inadequate preparation, an unfocused concept and/or goals, and/or unrealistic goals.
• A SIP in the Art & Art History Department includes faculty mentoring. You are expected to meet regularly with your SIP advisor. Any additional outcomes, guidelines, or deadlines established by your faculty advisor will be considered part of the SIP contract.

• It is never too early to think about what paths your career might take. Take advantage of programming offered by the CCPD throughout the senior year.  In addition, ask a faculty member to meet with you about your long-term goals and what you need to be doing now and in the future to meet them.
• If you have not already been in a position to ask for a letter of recommendation, you soon will be. The CCPD has a nice synopsis of some of the considerations to keep in mind. Check out their suggestions on letters of recommendations.
• We want to underscore the following:
  • Prior to giving out information for those you hope will be a reference for you, ask them if they feel they can recommend you. Leave them space to decline; there may be someone else who can provide a stronger recommendation for you.
  • Give reasonable notice. Common courtesy is a month and no less than two weeks. If you don’t have that much time, be especially apologetic in your “ask” and understanding if they say no.