2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Oct 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Art History & Museum Studies Major


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The Art History & Museum Studies Program trains students in the history, visual literacy, critical thinking, research, and communication skills necessary to become ethical, forward-thinking leaders in the art world and beyond. Combining rigorous academic training with hands-on, professional experience, this program is designed to help students thrive in rewarding careers such as museum and art gallery administration, curating and art registration/collections management, arts education, business, law, development, public relations, project management, and more.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will:

  • Analyze a broad range of works of visual art and architecture in their aesthetic, historical, and/or cultural contexts
  • Develop persuasive art historical arguments in oral or written form using common disciplinary methodologies
  • Articulate critical roles that art and arts institutions can play in considering ethical issues and effecting positive social change
  • Apply skills and knowledge essential for successful professional patterns of behavior and practice in museums and arts organizations

Major Requirements (at least 48 units)


Major residency requirements:  Majors must complete at least one of the Survey of Western Art History courses on campus. At least three of the four required upper-division (300-level) seminars must be taken at USF.  Only one of the four required, upper-division seminar electives may be substituted with an upper-division art history course taken in an approved study abroad program, or with a 4-unit Honors College course taught by art history faculty.

Upper-Division Art History Electives (16 units)


Ancient & Medieval (4 units)


Choose at least ONE of the following:

Early Modern (4 units)


Choose at least ONE of the following:

Modern & Contemporary (8 units)


Choose at least TWO of the following:

Internships (4 units)


Must complete AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING (for at least 4 units total). Internships are 1-4 variable units and are offered every semester & summer sessions; juniors & seniors only (with appropriate signature).

Honors Concentration requirements (8 units)


Sophomores with a 3.5 GPA in the major may apply for the Art History & Museum Studies Honors Concentration. Honors students complete at least an additional 8 units beyond the requirements of the major. One of these courses must be an additional upper-division seminar in the major: either an HONC seminar taught by AHMS faculty or an additional AHMS seminar (with a 15-20 page research paper assignment). The other course is 4 units of ART 398 - Directed Study/Research under close faculty mentorship that will result in a 4-unit honors thesis.

Curriculum Map


Freshman Year


Fall Units
Core - F: ART 101 - Survey/Western Art History I      4
ART 120 - Art Fundamentals   4
Core A2: Rhetoric & Composition (Course 1) 4
Language - Course 1 Or First Year Seminar 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
Core - F: ART 102 - Survey/Western Art History 2   4
ART 260 - Thacher Gallery Practicum   4
Core A2: Rhetoric & Composition (Course 2) 4
Language - Course 2 4
Total Semester Units 16

Sophomore Year


Fall Units
ART 199 - Methods/Theory in Art History    2
Cultural Diversity (CD): ART 2XX - Global Diversity Art History Elective (must have the CD attribute) 4
Core A1: Public Speaking 4
Language - Course 3 4
Open elective 2
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
ART 155 - Visual Communication  4
ART 200 - Museum Studies  4
Core B1: Mathematics 4
Core D3: Ethics 4
Total Semester Units 16

Junior Year


Fall Units
Possible Study Abroad (approval required) semester/year  
ART 3XX - Art History Seminar (1/4) 4
Core - D1: Philosophy 4
Core - B2: Applied or Lab Sciences 4
Open Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
ART 3XX - Art History Seminar (2/4) 4
Core - C1: Literature 4
Core - C2: History 4
Open Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16

Senior Year


Fall Units
ART 3XX - Art History Seminar (3/4) 4
ART 421 - Intern/Museum  (meets CEL) or ART 422 - Intern/Commercial Gallery  or ART 423 - Intern/Arts Non-Profit  (meets CEL) (1/2) 4
Core - D2: Theology & Religious Studies 4
Open Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
ART 3XX - Art History Seminar (4/4)  4
ART 421 - Intern/Museum  (meets CEL) or ART 422 - Intern/Commercial Gallery  or ART 423 - Intern/Arts Non-Profit  (meets CEL) (2/2) 4
Core - E: Social Sciences 4
Open Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16

*This information is subject to change, the curriculum map is a sample, and students should consult with the department for any updated information.  Honors College students may substitute up to two courses taught by an Honors art history faculty member toward the five 300-level art history seminars required for the Honors Concentration. Internships and practica may be taken for fewer units. See the program website for major residency requirements.

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