IUPUI 2014-2016 » Schools » Herron School of Art and Design » Undergraduate » Degree Programs » Bachelor of Art in Art History » Distribution Requirements


Distribution Requirements

First-Year Seminar: 1 credit

This course introduces students to the university's culture and values; familiarizes them with campus resources, including academic uses of technology; and provides them with skills for dealing with life at Herron/IUPUI. This requirement may be waived for transfer students or returning students, with the permission of the Art History faculty. This requirement may be satisfied by completing one of the following courses:

  • HER-X 101 Foundation Resources Workshop or UCOL-U 110 First-Year Seminar
Communication Core: 19 credits

The communication core provides work in written and spoken English and foreign language study to prepare students for organizing and presenting their thoughts effectively. Further, skills in one or more foreign languages are necessary for a liberally and broadly educated person and are especially important to the professional art historian. Students should enroll in these courses as early in their college careers as possible.

English Composition (6 credits)

Written and oral communication is crucial to art history and related disciplines. Grades in writing and speech classes must be C or better (2.0) in order to count for the Art History degree, regardless of whether the courses are also used to count for the General Education Core requirements.

The Art History degree requires the completion of the IUPUI General Education Core communication requirements (ENG W131 or Honors W150 and COMM-R110), ENG W270, and completion of the first year competency in a foreign language.

Foreign Language (8 credits)

First-year competency is required, and second-year competency is strongly recommended. This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:

  • by completing first-year courses (8 credit hours) with passing grades;
  • by completing a second-year course with a grade of C (2.0) or higher; or
  • by attaining a satisfactory score on a placement test.

Students for whom English is not a first language may be exempted from this requirement, without credit, by completion of ENG-W 131 and ENG-W 270 with the required grade of C or higher. Note: Special English-as-a-second language sections of ENG-W 131 have been designated for students whose first language is not English.

Native speakers of languages other than English are not permitted to receive credit for 100- and 200-level courses in their native language. Similarly, native speakers of English who have achieved elementary or intermediate proficiency in a foreign language by living or studying in country where the language is spoken ordinarily will not receive credit for taking 100- and 200-level courses in that foreign language.

In all cases, individual foreign language departments are responsible for determining a student's placement and for recommending a specific number of credit hours for prior work. Before registering for foreign language courses, native speakers of languages other than English should confer with the academic advisor in the relevant department.

General Education Studies required for the B.A. in Art History

Natural Sciences (3 credits)

This area allows for choice of courses treating the ''natural'' phenomena of the world according to models of scientific thought. The 3 credits are to be selected from at least two of the following subjects:

  • Astronomy
  • Biology (including anatomy, botany, microbiology, physiology and zoology)
  • Chemistry
  • Geography (up to 3 credits may count: G107, G303, or G307 may be counted toward this requirement)
  • Geology
  • Physics
  • Psychology PSY-B 105

History (6 credits)

Courses exploring patterns and processes of history are essential for making decisions in the present, giving the background necessary for students to more capably assume societal responsibility. This requirement is fulfilled by completing two semesters of the following courses:

  • HIST-H 108 or HIST-H 113 and HIST-H 109 or HIST-H 114
  • HIST-H 108/HIST-H 109 Perspectives on the World to 1800 and since 1800
  • HIST-H 113/HIST-H 114 History of Western Civilization I and II
  • Transfer students who have taken history courses other than those listed above should consult with the Art History faculty about transfer credit.

Arts and Humanities (6 credits)

Courses lead to viewing the world from more than one perspective and learning something about its social, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions.  Grades of C (2.0) or better are required whether or not the courses are counted toward the General Education Core.  The 6 credits must be divided between two of the following four areas:

  • English Literature ENG-L 105 or ENG-L 115
  • Fine Arts: Music MUS-M 174 or Communication
    Studies COMM-T 130
  • Philosophy PHIL-P 110 or PHIL-P 120
  • Religious Studies REL-R 133

Transfer credits in the arts and humanities that are not the content equivalent to the courses listed above may be used to fulfill this requirement as follows:

  • Subject to review and approval of the Art History faculty, introductory courses in any of the arts and humanities may count toward this requirement.
  • With approval of the Art History faculty, where it seems appropriate to the breadth of the course, survey courses may count toward this requirement.
  • Other arts and humanities courses will be counted toward this requirement on a 2-for-1 basis (6 credit hours satisfying 3 credit hours of this requirement).
  • The following will not satisfy this requirement: creative writing, drawing, performance, or studio courses.

Social Sciences (3 credits)

An examination of the complexities of human behavior, society, and human interaction, this area uses procedures and information developed in social and behavioral studies. 

The degree requires 3 credits beyond the General Education Core. The additional 3 credits must come from one of the following areas other than that which was used to fill the General Education Core requirement:

  • Anthropology ANTH-A 103 or ANTH-A 104
  • Economics ECON-E 201 or ECON-E 202
  • Geography GEOG-G 110
  • Political Science POLS-Y 101 or POLS-Y 103
  • Psychology PSY-B 104
  • Sociology SOC-R 100

Transfer credits in the social sciences that are nonequivalent to the courses listed above may be used to fulfill this requirement as follows:

  • With the approval of the Art History faculty, introductory survey courses in any of the social sciences may count toward this requirement.
  • With approval of the Art History faculty, where it seems appropriate to the breadth of the course, survey courses may count toward this requirement.
  • Other social science courses will be counted toward this requirement on a 2-for-1 basis (6 credit hours satisfying 3 credit hours of this requirement).

Studio Art Courses (6 credits)

Studio art courses enable Art History majors to gain valuable firsthand understanding of the formal, technical, and conceptual skills involved in the creation of works of art and design. This requirement may be satisfied by any Foundation Program or beginning Fine Arts or Visual Communication courses or by Elective Arts courses. Students must meet any prerequisites for these courses.

Advanced Courses (300-400 level): 15 credits outside Art History

In addition to cultivating expertise in Art History, the degree student should conduct in-depth study of other appropriate subject areas. Offerings on the 300- and
400-levels of at least four departments or programs of the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Science, the Department of Music and Arts Technology in the School of Engineering and Technology, or Herron School of Art and Design may count toward satisfying this requirement. In order to register for any 300- or 400-level course, the student must meet prerequisite requirements. Advanced courses may include those that involve significant cross- disciplinary input, e.g., appropriately designed honors courses or specially designed liberal arts topics courses. Herron advanced courses outside Art History may be counted toward satisfying the advanced courses requirement. Please contact the Herron Student Services Office for more information regarding prerequisites for upper level courses at Herron outside Art History.

Major Requirements (100-400 level): 36 credits

Includes both HER-H 101-HER-H 102 History of Art I-II, no fewer than 12 credits at the 300 level, and no fewer than 12 credits at the 400 level. The 300- and 400- level courses should be distributed among at least three different areas of Art History selected from the following: Ancient and Medieval, Early Modern (Renaissance through Neoclassicism), Modern (1800-1950), Post 1950, World Art, or Art Theory, Analysis & Criticism. At least 3 credit hours must be taken in Art History after 1900. HER-H 103 Introduction to Contemporary Art may be taken to satisfy this requirement.

At least 15 of the 36 credits must be completed in- residence at IUPUI; of these 15 credits, two courses at the 300 level and two courses at the 400 level must normally be completed to fulfill this requirement. With permission of the Art History faculty, a 200-level course may substitute for a 300-level course.

Any course in which the student receives a grade below C (2.0) may not be used to fulfill this requirement. However, courses in which C-/D+/D/D- is received may be counted toward the total 120 credits required for graduation.

Electives: 18 credits

Elective subjects allow students to adjust their curricula to satisfy additional personal needs and interests. These subjects may be used to add an even greater diversity to a program or provide opportunity for in-depth reinforcement of required studies. Art history and studio art courses not used to satisfy previously listed requirements may be counted as electives.

Other Requirements

Diversity/World Cultures

All Art History majors should take at least 3 credits of course work that enhances their understanding of cultural diversity, dealing with experiences outside the European and Euro-American tradition or with minority experiences in the United States. This requirement does not add to the total 120 credits required for graduation, but can be satisfied by any course in diversity/world cultures within the distribution requirements, major requirements, or electives described above. Credits earned through

international travel experiences may be used to satisfy this requirement provided the international program takes place outside Europe or subject to individual approval.

Capstone Experience. As the culminating experience of their studies, all Art History majors are required to write a substantial research paper or complete a capstone project designed in consultation with a faculty mentor during their final two years of study (typically during the senior year). A special capstone seminar is generally scheduled during spring semester and is highly recommended as the venue for completing the capstone requirement. The capstone seminar may count as a 400- level course toward the major requirements. Alternatively, a student may undertake the capstone paper or project within the context of a 300- or 400-level Art History course or as an independent study.

Last updated: December 2013