Academic Catalog

Home 2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog Undergraduate Programs of Study(Majors, Minors & Requirements) Art History

Print this page

Art History

Art historians study works of art and architecture in their historical context, as both aesthetic statements and documents of culture. Art History is an interdisciplinary field of study, dealing with the cultural, religious, political, literary, technological and economic circumstances within which works are produced.

Our program offers both majors and minors the opportunity to:

• broaden their horizons through in-depth study of world cultures.
• develop sophisticated writing and research skills through writing-intensive seminars.
• become confident and articulate public speakers.
• work closely with experts in their respective fields in a small department that epitomizes the individualized instruction for which Manhattanville is famous.
• explore the many resources of the New York City art world for study, research, field trips, and work opportunities.
• investigate career options through internships at New York City, Westchester and Connecticut museums, historical institutions, galleries, libraries, auction houses and corporations.
• travel for academic credit to such destinations as Ireland, Florence, Venice and Rome.
• enjoy field trips sponsored by the department’s Arthur M. Berger Fund to New York City and nearby cities like Boston and Philadelphia to see special exhibits and museum collections.
• participate in hosting an annual lecture sponsored by the department’s Arthur M. Berger Fund, featuring an eminent scholar in art history or an art-related field.
• forge the type of long-term relationships, with each other and faculty, that are best fostered at a small college like Manhattanville.

Faculty and Professional Interests

Megan Cifarelli – Ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek and Roman art, Archeology, Museum Studies

Gillian Greenhill Hannum – American art, Modern art, History of Photography

Lisa Rafanelli – Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, Northern Renaissance art, Medieval art, Religious iconography

Deborah Saleeby-Mulligan – Contemporary art, African, Oceanic and Native American art, Mexican art

Art History Major Requirements

Twelve courses (eleven art history courses, plus one studio art course). Specific course requirements:

• two semesters of introductory survey (History of Art ARH 1011 and ARH 1012)
• three courses from major periods (one each from three of the following):
  1. Ancient
  2. Medieval, Northern Renaissance
  3. Italian Renaissance and Baroque
  4. 18th and 19th century, American and Modern
• one course in non-Western art
• two 3000-level art history subject seminars (seminars must be taken with at least two different faculty members; seminars taken over summer session will not fulfill this requirement)
• one Studio Art course
• Seminar for Majors (ARH 3080) (unless departmental permission is granted, course must be taken in the Junior year)
• Thesis Colloquium I & II (ARH XXXX) (unless departmental permission is granted, courses must be taken Senior year; course to be offered for the first time in Fall 2015)

When a single course fulfills more than one requirement, the total of eleven art history courses may be completed by additional courses of the student‘s choosing. The minimum grade for major credit is C-. While language study is not required for the major, students intending to enter graduate school in Art History are strongly urged to acquire a reading knowledge of German, French and, where relevant, Italian.

Art History Departmental Honors

Departmental Honors in art history will be granted to a graduating senior by a unanimous vote of all full-time faculty members after review of the student’s Art History Honors Portfolio. The Portfolio review is voluntary, and submission of a portfolio does not automatically guarantee that honors will be awarded. Students who intend to go on for graduate study in the field of art history are urged to submit an Honors Portfolio for review.

Students who choose to be considered for Honors in Art History must: 1) sit for an Interview with all full-time faculty members; and 2) submit an Honors Portfolio.

The Honors Portfolio:

• Proof of a 3.5 or better grade point average in major classes (with no less than a B+ in Seminar for Majors and in the Thesis Colloquium);
• Proof of successful completion of at least two semesters of study in a foreign language, preferably French, Italian, Latin or German. In cases where students are enrolled in their second semester of language study during the Spring term of their senior year, proof of enrollment must be submitted. If honors are awarded, the award will be contingent upon successful completion of this second course.
• Two research papers in the field of art history that demonstrate a student’s scholarly potential, and growth as an art history student. Papers will be evaluated for:
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct independent, meaningful research;
  • Clarity and originality of thesis and conclusions;
  • Elegance of writing;
  • Clarity, consistency, and logic of methodological approach;
  • Sophisticated integration of visual material into arguments.

Deadline. Students must submit their Honors Portfolio no later than April 15 of the Spring semester of their senior year, and must complete their Interview no later than April 30.

Notification. Students will be notified if Honors will be awarded no later than the first week of May.

Distinction in Art History, Major Field of Study

Students who choose to be considered for Distinction in Art History for the Major Field of Study must submit a written request to the Chair of the Department no later than April 15 of the Spring semester of their senior year. The request must include proof of a 3.5 or better grade point average in major classes, with no less than a B+ in Seminar for Majors and successful completion of an approved Internship.

Notification. Students will be notified if Distinction will be awarded no later than the first week of May.

Art History Minor Requirements

Five courses: both semesters of History of Art (ARH 1011 and ARH 1012), one 3000 level art history subject seminar (excluding summer school), and two other courses at any level. The minimum grade for minor credit is C-. In unusual cases, and with departmental approval, students who are unable to schedule History of Art I may substitute one course in Ancient or Medieval Art plus one course in Renaissance Art for this requirement. Similarly, for those unable to schedule History of Art II, one course in non-Western Art plus one course covering a time period from the 17th to the 20th centuries may be substituted. This alternative increases the number of courses required to complete the minor.

Catalog Contents

Click arrowheads to expand or collapse contents

Expand all • Collapse all

Catalog Links

• Catalog Home
• Alphabetical Index
• Site Map