246 Fine Arts; (714) 824-6635
Dickran Tashjian, Department Chair
George Bauer, Ph.D. Princeton University, Professor of Art History (Renaissance and Baroque)
Linda Freeman Bauer, Ph.D. Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, Professor of Art History (Renaissance and Baroque)
Anna Gonosová, Ph.D. Harvard University, Associate Professor of Art History (Byzantine and Medieval art)
James D. Herbert, Ph.D. Yale University, Associate Professor of Art History and Film Studies (modern European art, critical theory)
Judy C. Ho, Ph.D. Yale University, Associate Professor of Art History (Chinese art)
David Joselit, Ph.D. Harvard University, Assistant Professor of Art History (Modern and Contemporary art, critical theory, gender studies)
Philip Leider, M.A. University of Nebraska, Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Art History
Margaret M. Miles, Ph.D. Princeton University, Associate Professor of Art History (Greek and Roman art, archaeology)
Sally A. Stein, Ph.D. Yale University, Associate Professor of Art History (American art, history of photography, feminist theory)
Dickran Tashjian, Ph.D. Brown University, Department Chair and Professor of Art History (American art and literature, American and European avant-garde, art and technology)
Bert Winther, Ph.D. Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, Assistant Professor of Art History (Modern Japanese art, Asian American art, East/West discourses in modern visual culture)
The Art History curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive study of art as a humanistic discipline. The program is concerned with both the formal structure of the visual arts and their function within society. Students majoring in the history of art thus are urged to take appropriate courses in classics, history, philosophy, literature, and in other areas of the arts. All majors also are encouraged to study a second language beyond the minimum departmental requirement of two years in a single foreign language at the University level.
The University's Education Abroad Program offers students the opportunity to study abroad. Study centers of particular interest to Art History majors are in Vienna, Venice, Padua, Madrid, Cairo, Jerusalem, Leningrad, Latin America, France, Great Britain, Ireland, and Scandinavia. In addition, students focusing in Asian art may be interested in programs in China, India, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, or Japan; and Chengchi University in Taipei offers a track in English that is devoted to Chinese art and art history. Special scholarships are available for Pacific region programs.
A Bachelor's degree in Art History is excellent preparation for pursuing either a career as an art historian, art conservator, or museum curator, or professional study in an entirely different discipline. Art History majors have gone on to graduate and professional school to study art history, archaeology, architecture, law, library science, business (in some cases with special focus in the arts), or teacher education. The study of the history of art is a valuable part of a liberal education that provides a means of looking at the history and culture of both the past and the present.
Two quarters of Art History 40A, 40B, 40C and two quarters of Art History 42A, 42B, 42C; eight upper-division courses in art history, with a minimum of one course selected from each of the following groupings: Art History 100-109 (Ancient history), 110-119 (Medieval history), 120-129 (Renaissance/Baroque history), 130-149, 165 (Modern history), and 150-164 (Asian history); Art History 190; two quarters of Art History 198; two years in a language other than English at university level that has been approved by the faculty, or equivalent competence.
Students should register for Art History 190 as early as possible in their junior year after completing the University lower-division writing requirement.
Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be successfully completed at UCI.
One year-long introductory sequence (either Art History 40A, 40B, 40C or 42A, 42B, 42C), one upper-division course in each of the following course groupings: Art History 100109 (Ancient history), 110119 (Medieval history), 120-129 (Renaissance/Baroque history), 130149, 165 (Modern history), and 150164 (Asian history); and one quarter of Art History 198.
Residence Requirement for the Minor: Four upper-division courses must be successfully completed at UCI.
The Department of Art History offers a graduate concentration in Art History leading to the Ph.D. degree in History, in conjunction with the Department of History. The program and its courses are administered by the Department of Art History. Students in the program specialize in either Western Art History or Asian Art History and should indicate their area of interest on their graduate application. A graduate emphasis in Feminist Studies also is available. Refer to the Women's Studies section of the Catalogue for information.
The program is open to students applying with either a bachelor's or a master's degree, and applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study at UCI. Although an M.A. degree in Art History is preferred, students who have an M.A. in another discipline or who do not have an M.A. also may apply for admission.
Students who have an M.A. degree must have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.0 from an accredited institution. A copy of the master's thesis or a major research paper written at the master's level, should be submitted with the application packet.
Students who do not have an M.A. degree should hold a B.A. degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.5. A recent sample of academic writing, such as a representative undergraduate paper, should be submitted with the application packet.
The deadline for application is January 15, and the Department accepts applicants for fall quarter admission only. Additional information is available from the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Art History.
Students who have an M.A. degree are required to take at least two quarters of course work (24 units), including two graduate seminars (Art History 295) and Theory and Criticism in Art History (Art History 290). Students specializing in Asian Art may also be required to take Chinese Art Historical Methods (Art History 288). Students select their courses in consultation with their graduate advisor. Additional course work may be required for students who hold an M.A. degree in a field other than Art History.
Students specializing in Western Art must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern languages other than English and related to their field of study during the first quarter following admission. The specific languages are determined by the student's principal advisor in consultation with the departmental graduate advisor. Students of Asian Art must demonstrate a working knowledge of either Chinese or Japanese during the first quarter following admission. Students planning to specialize in Classical Art (within the Western Art specialization) are expected to have, or to acquire, a working knowledge of Greek or Latin.
Students who do not have an M.A. degree are required to take a minimum of 12 courses (48 units), eight of which must be at the graduate level and must include two graduate seminars (Art History 295), as well as Graduate Research and Methods in Western Art (Art History 286), and Theory and Criticism in Art History (Art History 290).
Students specializing in Western Art must take 10 courses distributed over at least three of the following areas, one of which must be in a related field outside Art History: Ancient--Near Eastern, Bronze Age, Classical Art; Western and Eastern Medieval Art; Northern and Southern Renaissance and Baroque; eighteenth- and nineteenth-century European and American art; twentieth-century European and American art; Chinese art, Japanese art; theory; related field outside Art History. Western Art students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern languages other than English and related to their field of study; the specific languages are determined by the student's principal advisor in consultation with the departmental graduate advisor. Demonstration of reading knowledge of one foreign language is required during the first quarter following admission; knowledge of the second must be demonstrated by the end of the second year.
Students specializing in Asian Art must take Chinese Art Historical Methods (Art History 288) and nine courses from the following areas, one of which must be in a related field outside Art History: Chinese painting; Ancient Chinese art and archeology; Early Chinese Buddhist art; Japanese Buddhist art; Chinese/Japanese decorative arts and gardens; Japanese painting; one Western area; theory; related field outside Art History. Asian Art students must demonstrate a working knowledge of either Chinese or Japanese by the end of the first year. Students planning to specialize in Classical Art (within the Western Art specialization) are expected to have, or to acquire, a working knowledge of Greek or Latin.
Additional language requirements for specialists in either area may be determined by the student's principal advisor in consultation with the graduate advisor. All applicants may demonstrate reading knowledge by submitting a Graduate Students Foreign Language Test (GSFLT) score of 550 or better, or by passing the relevant departmental language examinations, or by providing the departmental graduate advisor with other evidence of competency.
Students who have an M.A. in Art History take the qualifying examination in their second year; all other students take it in their third year. The examination includes written and oral portions and covers the student's major and minor fields, which are determined in consultation with the student's advisor. A student is advanced to candidacy after passing the qualifying examination and completing the course work and language requirements.
Upon advancement to candidacy and before beginning the dissertation, students submit a prospectus which defines the scope, approach, and rationale of the proposed dissertation. Students with an M.A. degree must submit their prospectus no later than two years after entering the program; other students must submit their prospectus no later than four years after entering the program. Additional course work may be required in preparation for writing the dissertation; this is determined by the advisory committee on the basis of the candidate's past academic performance, dissertation prospectus, and area of specialization. Students are awarded the Ph.D. upon successful completion and defense of the dissertation.
Lower-division courses are designed to provide the student with a comprehensive introduction to the history of art and the premises upon which such a history is based.
10A-B-C Issues in Contemporary Art and Visual Culture (4-4-4). Contemporary art and cultural practice of the past 40 years; slide presentations and film/video screening. Recent history of visual art. Topics relating to those various critiques of the canon presented by multicultural studies, feminism, and gay and lesbian studies. Same as Studio Art 10A-B-C. Formerly Art History 35A-B-C. (IV)
40A, 40B, 40C History of Western Art (4, 4, 4) F, W, S, Summer. A one-year survey of the history of Western art from its beginnings to the modern world. (IV, VII-B)
42A, 42B, 42C History of Asian Art (4, 4, 4) F, W, S. An introductory survey of the arts and architecture of Asia including India, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. (IV, VII-B)
46 The Nature of Architecture (4). Selected topics determined by individual faculty members dealing with the development of styles and schools in Western architecture and covering all periods.
Upper-division courses in the history of art are intended to expose the student to a wide variety of aims and methods--archaeological, historical, and critical--in the study of art. Topics within a given area may therefore vary from quarter to quarter, and courses may be repeated for credit when this occurs. Art History 40A, 40B, 40C, or 42A, 42B, 42C are recommended prerequisites for courses numbered from 100 through 189.
100 Studies in Ancient Art (4). Topics in Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Prehistoric art of the Mediterranean area treated with specific reference to relevant cultural and historical settings. Specialized courses in Greek and Roman art are also taught. Concurrent with Art History 200.
103 Studies in Greek Art (4) F, W, S. Traces the development of Greek architecture, sculpture, and vase painting from the Prehistoric period through the end of the fifth century B.C. Research on painting and sculpture is related to the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art.
107 Studies in Roman Art (4) F, W, S. Topics in Hellenistic and Roman art; stresses historical and political background. The collections of the J.P. Getty Museum of Art are used as the basis for research papers.
110 Studies in Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Specialized topics in Medieval art and architecture in Europe, the Mediterranean area, and the Near East between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. Examples: the art of the Migration Period, Medieval City. Concurrent with Art History 210.
112 Studies in Early Christian and Byzantine Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of the art and architecture of the Later Roman and Byzantine Empires between ca. 300 and 1453. Examples: Early Christian architecture, Byzantine painting. Formerly Art History 110.
114 Studies in Western Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of art and architecture in Western Europe between ca. 700 and 1400. Examples: Romanesque painting, Gothic architecture. Same as English and Comparative Literature CL 104, Humanities 110, or Women's Studies 170CD when topic is appropriate.
118 Studies in Medieval Islamic Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of art and architecture between the seventh and fifteenth centuries A.D. (first to ninth centuries A.H.) in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East after the rise of Islam.
120 Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the art and architecture of Europe between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Example: Renaissance and Baroque prints. Concurrent with Art History 220.
121 Studies in Southern Renaissance Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Italy and Spain. Examples: the art of Venice, Renaissance architecture. Formerly Art History 120.
123 Studies in Northern Renaissance Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Northern Europe. Examples: Late Medieval art, painting from Van Eyck to Bosch.
125 Studies in Southern Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Italy and Spain. Example: Rome in the seventeenth century. Same as English and Comparative Literature CL 104 when topic is appropriate.
128 Studies in Northern Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Northern Europe. Example: from Rubens to Rembrandt.
130 Studies in Eighteenth-Century Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the eighteenth century. Examples: English art, Neoclassicism. Concurrent with Art History 230.
133 Studies in Modern Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1789 to 1940. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Same as Women's Studies 174CA, 174CB, 174CC, 174CD when topic is appropriate. Concurrent with Art History 233A, 233B, 233C, 233D.
133A Topics in Modern Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with instructor for specific topic.
133B Realism and Impressionism: 18301880 (4)
133C Symbolism through Cubism: 18801920 (4)
133D Visual Culture between the Two World Wars: 19201940 (4)
140 Studies in Contemporary Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1940 to the present. Examples: Abstract Expressionism, Performance Art. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Same as Women's Studies 174D when topic is appropriate. Concurrent with Art History 240.
150 Studies in Asian Art (4) F, W, S. Topics include such major artistic traditions as Japanese narrative painting, Indian sculpture, Chinese ceramics, and gardens of China and Japan. Concurrent with Art History 250.
152 Studies in Chinese Art and Archaeology (4) F, W, S. A study of the rich archaeological finds in mainland China (including mausolea, wall-paintings, and mortuary objects in bronze, pottery, and jade), and the dissemination of Chinese tomb art in early Korea and Japan.
153 Studies in Early Chinese Painting (4) F, W, S. An examination of major traditions in landscape and figure painting from the fourth through the thirteenth centuries and the parallel developments in art theory.
154 Studies in Later Chinese Painting (4) F, W, S. New developments in Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods: the Wu and Che Schools, the Orthodox Masters, the Individualists, and Eccentrics.
159 Japanese Buddhist Art (4) F, W, S. Traces the history of Buddhist Art in Japan from its introduction in the late sixth century through developments in subsequent periods.
161 Studies in Early Japanese Painting (4) F, W, S. Varying topics examining major developments in the history of Japanese painting from the seventh through the seventeenth centuries.
162 Studies in Later Japanese Painting (4) F, W, S. A consideration of major developments in the history of Japanese painting from 1600 to 1900 A.D.
165 Studies in American Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments in Colonial, eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century art. Examples: Colonial architecture, American Modernism. Formerly Art History 160. Concurrent with Art History 265.
175 Studies in Native and Tribal Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics on the art and culture of native and tribal societies. For example, North American Indians. Concurrent with Art History 275.
180 Criticism of Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics discussed on the theoretical and/or practical dimensions of art historical criticism. Same as Women's Studies 174E when topic is appropriate. Concurrent with Art History 280.
183 History of Photography (4) F, W, S. Varying topics, including surveys of nineteenth- and twentieth-century photography and of individual photographers and movements. Example: Stieglitz and the Photo-Secession. Concurrent with Art History 283.
190 Practicum for Majors (4) W. Theory and practice of art history with emphasis on formal and social models of analyzing and writing about art. Prerequisite: Art History major, junior standing, and completion of the lower-division writing requirement.
All advanced problems, special studies, and independent study courses may be repeated for credit.
198 Proseminar in Art History (4) F, W, S. Discussion and report-oriented seminar with emphasis on reading, writing, and thinking about problems in art history. Topics vary according to the faculty member in charge. Examples: Caravaggio and his followers, Dunhuang painting. Prerequisite: Art History major or consent of instructor.
199 Independent Study in Art History (1 to 4) F, W, S. Supervised, but independent reading or research on art historical topics. Prerequisite: consent of supervising instructor. May be taken for credit four times. Formerly Art History 196.
Topics within a given area may vary from quarter to quarter, and courses may be repeated for credit when this occurs.
200 Studies in Ancient Art (4). Topics in Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and prehistoric art of the Mediterranean area treated with specific reference to relevant cultural and historical settings. Specialized courses in Greek and Roman art are also taught. Concurrent with Art History 100.
210 Studies in Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Specialized topics in Medieval art and architecture in Europe, the Mediterranean area, and the Near East between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. Examples: the art of the Migration Period, Medieval City. Concurrent with Art History 110.
220 Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the art and architecture of Europe between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Example: Renaissance and Baroque prints. Concurrent with Art History 120.
230 Studies in Eighteenth-Century Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the eighteenth century. Examples: English art, Neoclassicism. Concurrent with Art History 130.
233 Studies in Modern Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1789 to 1940. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 133A, 133B, 133C, 133D.
233A Topics in Modern Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with instructor for specific topic.
233B Realism and Impressionism, 18301880 (4)
233C Symbolism through Cubism, 18801920 (4)
233D Visual Culture between the Two World Wars, 19201940 (4)
240 Studies in Contemporary Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1940 to the present. Examples: Abstract Expressionism, Performance Art. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 140.
250 Studies in Asian Art (4) F, W, S. Topics include such major artistic traditions as Japanese narrative painting, Indian sculpture, Chinese ceramics, and gardens of China and Japan. Concurrent with Art History 150.
265 Studies in American Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments in Colonial, eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century art. Examples: Colonial architecture, American Modernism. Formerly Art History 160. Concurrent with Art History 165.
275 Studies in Native and Tribal Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics on the art and culture of native and tribal societies. For example, North American Indians. Concurrent with Art History 175.
280 Criticism of Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics discussed on the theoretical and/or practical dimensions of art historical criticism. Concurrent with Art History 180.
283 History of Photography (4) F, W, S. Varying topics, including surveys of nineteenth- and twentieth-century photography and of individual photographers and movements. Example: Stieglitz and the Photo-Secession. Concurrent with Art History 183.
286 Graduate Research and Methods in Western Art (4) F, W. Critical examination of the history of the discipline, with studies of various theoretical, critical, and methodological approaches to the visual arts from antiquity to the present.
288 Chinese Art Historical Methods (4) W, S. An introduction to current methods used in the study of Chinese art, and to the theoretical and critical issues encountered in traditional Chinese scholarship.
290 Theory and Criticism in Art History (4) F, W, S. Focused studies of recent theoretical and critical approaches to the visual arts and art history, concentrating on particular issues, authors, and methodologies within and across historical and cultural areas.
295 Graduate Seminar (4) F, W, S. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Same as Classics 220 when topic is appropriate.
296 Directed Reading (4) F, W, S. Directed reading on a specific topic agreed upon by student and instructor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
298 Reading for the Comprehensive Examination (4) F, W, S. Directed reading in preparation for the comprehensive examination. Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
299 Dissertation Research (4 to 12) F, W, S. Research and preparation of the dissertation. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
399 University Teaching (4) F, W, S. Limited to teaching assistants. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated for credit.
