ART HISTORY

&
URBAN DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE STUDIES
Guidelines to the Majors
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Declaring the Major………………………………… . Pg. 1

2. Goals of the Major………………………………….... Pg. 1
3. Foundations of Art History and Introductory Courses Pg. 1
4. Chronological and Cultural Distributions…………. Pg. 2
5. Electives………………………………………………. Pg. 2
6. Seminars………………………………………………. Pg. 3
7. Senior Honors Theses……………………………….. Pg. 4
8. Understanding Course Numbers…………………… Pg. 5
9. Internships and Independent Studies……………… Pg. 5
10. Urban Design and Architecture Studies…………… Pg. 7
11. Study Abroad………………………………………..... Pg. 8
12. Advising……………………………………………….. Pg. 8
13. Art History Major with a Studio Art Minor…………. Pg. 9
14. Art History as a Double Major or a Minor…….….... Pg. 9
15. Transfer Students…………………………………….. Pg. 9

1. Declaring the Major

To declare an art history major, students must come into the Department of Art History
and meet with the Undergraduate Student Assistant/Advisor or the Director of Undergraduate
Studies. This is required even for students who have submitted a declaration via Albert or their
primary advisor.
2. Goals of the Major
The primary goal of the major is designed to provide students with a broad overview of
global art history. The distribution requirements are designed to give students maximum
flexibility in pursuing their particular interests, while ensuring that they achieve a deeper
understanding of specific areas and periods

3. Foundations of Art History and Introductory Courses

All majors are required to take Foundations of Art History, which serves as a universal
prerequisite for most other courses in the department. course introduces students to the skills and
concepts they will need in order to develop a meaningful engagement with the visual arts and art
history as a global discipline. Rather than providing a chronological survey of great works, it
covers examples and perspectives from a wide array of regions, periods, and societies. Topics
include materials and techniques of production; formal analysis; subject matter and iconography;
historical and cultural contexts; the social role and formation of artists; and the history of art
history as a discipline. Pitched for students who have little or no background in the study of art
and architecture, this course provides a rigorous introduction to the foundations of the discipline.
It is required of all art history majors.

Survey course such on topics such as ancient or modern Western art or East Asian art
serve as introductions to particular time periods and regions but they cannot replace Foundations.
These courses count towards the fulfillment of the chronological and cultural distribution
requirements, though students should note that these are intended largely for new students and
non-majors. Those interested in pursuing a major are encouraged to take specialized courses
following the completion of Foundations of Art History.
Students who took the Advanced Placement Exam in art history and earned a score of 5
are exempt from taking Foundations of Art History. Scores of 4 do not count for credit toward
the Art History major. Those with a score of 5 should speak to the department early in their
academic careers in order to ensure the credit is allocated correctly.
 Students who have placed out of Foundations by earning a score of 5 on the AP Exam are
required to complete all other requirements, for a total of at least eight courses in the major (the
normal requirement being nine).

4. Chronological and Cultural Distributions

In addition to Foundations of Art History, students are required to take six lecture courses
and two seminars (discussed at greater length below), bringing the total required number of
courses to nine. To increase their breadth of art historical knowledge, majors are required to take
at least one course covering each of the following periods: Ancient/Medieval, Early Modern, and
Modern. Students must also cover at least two cultural traditions in their coursework across the
major: African and Ancient Near-Eastern, East and Southeast Asian, Europe and the Americas,
Islamic, South Asian, and Pre-Columbian, Native American, or Oceanic. While it is up to
students to decide how to distribute their geographic focus, this should be monitored in
consultation with the Department in order to ensure proper progress toward completion of the
major.

5. Electives
An elective is a course taken beyond the basic distribution requirements for the major.
For instance, if a student has already taken courses in each of the three required chronologies and
covering at least two cultural traditions, further coursework in any of these areas is considered
elective.
Students may also fulfill the elective requirement by taking approved courses at abroad
sites (see the “Study Abroad” section) or in thematic areas (such as Paintings Conservation or
Art & Law) that do not count for distribution credit. Certain courses covering broad spans of
cultures or time, such as Global Contemporary Art or History of Architecture, are also
considered electives due to falling outside of the confines of one chronological period or cultural
tradition. As with all coursework, students should consult with the department in planning their
electives.
Certain courses given outside the department count may also count as electives within the
major, including the Core Curriculum’s “Expressive Cultures: Images” and the Arts and Cultures
Sequence in Liberal Studies (note that the complete Arts and Cultures sequence counts as one
elective towards the Art History major). Other non-departmental offerings may be counted as
electives towards the major with the review and permission of the department.

6. Seminars
Classroom discussion has long been encouraged by the Department of Art History in
order to foster intellectual exchange and the development of critical thinking. To ensure that
students will enjoy the experience of in-depth discussion in small classes, two seminars (ARTH-
UA 800) are required of all majors.
Between four and six seminars are offered each semester. These are taught by different
faculty on a changing range of topics in order to allow students to enroll in seminars suited to
their individual interests. Enrollment is generally limited to 12 students. Students qualify for
seminars upon the completion of any five art history courses (or approval of the instructor, in
special cases), and must reserve their seats during registration advising the previous semester.

7. Senior Honors Theses

Students with a GPA of 3.65 or higher, both in their overall course work and within the
major, are eligible to write a senior honors thesis. This is a long (40-50 page) research paper on
an advanced topic, written in close consultation with a faculty advisor. The thesis should not be
viewed simply as a step on the way to graduate school in art history. Writing a senior thesis
provides valuable training in research, organization, and self-expression, skills that will be
equally useful to students planning careers in journalism, law, business, medicine, or education.
Those interested in writing a senior thesis must find a faculty advisor at the beginning of
spring semester of junior year. In consultation with the advisor, they should refine a specific
topic, which they may wish to begin researching over the summer between junior and senior
years.
In the fall semester of their senior year, students writing theses work together in a special
honors workshop on research methods and organization, while continuing to meet regularly with
their faculty advisors. In the spring semester, thesis students meet frequently with their
individual advisors, writing and revising the text over a period of months. Each of these
components is linked to a four-credit independent study in the department, one in the fall and one
in the spring. These in turn may count as electives, making it possible to write a senior thesis
while taking no more than the basic nine courses/36 credits required to complete the major.
The senior thesis must be completed three weeks before the end of classes in the spring
semester. At that point, two more faculty members will be recruited by the student and their
advisor to serve as readers, along with the student’s faculty advisor. The student will then meet
with the three readers for a Thesis Defense, at the end of which the readers will meet separately
to assign a grade of no honors, honors, or high honors.
Those majors pursuing an honors thesis are encouraged to plan their required seminars
carefully, so that the research and writing required for seminar reports and presentations do not
cause undue conflict with research and writing for the thesis.

8. Understanding Course Numbers

All art history courses have the heading ARTH-UA, taking the form ARTH-UA XXX.
Ancient courses are ARTH-UA 1XX, Medieval courses are ARTH-UA 2XX, Early Modern
courses are ARTH-UA 3XX, Modern courses are ARTH-UA 4XX and courses outside of the
European/Western canon are ARTH-UA 5XX. There are exceptions: many study-abroad
courses are listed as ARTH-UA 9XXX and strictly elective/thematic courses may carry ARTH-
UA 850. Seminars are ARTH-UA 800 only.
Before registration each semester, the department prepares a summary of the courses that
will be offered in the following semester, explaining which courses will satisfy which
requirements. This summary is distributed to all art history majors via listserv.
Given the flexibility of the major, and the fact that Albert does not always automatically
recognize special topic courses (ARTH-UA X50), the advising process in the weeks preceding
registration is critical. The department keeps track of your courses internally, and the
Undergraduate Student Assistant/Advisor will ensure your courses are allocated correctly prior
to graduation. It is nevertheless the responsibility of the student to consult with the department to
ensure that they are making timely progress towards graduation.

9. Internships and Independent Studies

Majors who lack 1 or 2 credits in Art History and who wish to pursue internship
opportunities may apply for an independent study (2 credits maximum), subject to department
approval. Unpaid internships are only eligible for credit at non-profit entities; students must be
paid the legal minimum wage (currently $15 per hour in New York State) in order to receive
internship credit for work at a for-profit or commercial entity, or for CPT (see below). Stipends
at for-profit or commercial entities must also provide minimum wage compensation.
If approval is granted, the student must find a faculty member willing to supervise the
project and write a substantial paper (8-10 pages per credit; i.e. 16-20 pages for two credits) that
their faculty advisor will grade. Approval is given on a case-by-case basis; it is not guaranteed.
Students must also provide the department with a letter from an internship supervisor,
confirming their participation and performance.  
International students requiring CPT approval for paid internships must also seek prior
permission from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and a faculty advisor, and they too must
write a paper to receive departmental credit (2 credits maximum).
All students please note: if you work at a for-profit organization, such as an art gallery or
auction house, and you are not enrolled in independent study, you must be paid the legal
minimum wage, now $15 per hour in New York State. You may work for a non-profit
organization, such as a museum or a charity, without being paid. Be sure to ask for a letter of
recommendation when you finish your work, preferably stored with Interfolio, a service
recommended by NYU’s Wasserman Career Center.      

10. Urban Design and Architecture Studies

The Department of Art History also offers an alternative major in Urban Design and
Architecture Studies. The two foundational courses for this major are: ARTH-UA 601 History of
Architecture from Antiquity to the Present and ARTH-UA 661 Shaping the Urban Environment.
The former serves as a prerequisite for advanced courses on architectural history, and the latter
for seminars focused on urban design topics. Both courses, however, are required of all majors.
The primary goal of Urban Design and Architecture Studies is to foster a deeper
understanding of the built environment as well as natural landscapes. The majority of the courses
are taught by working professionals, and the major can help prepare students for careers in city
planning, architecture, real estate, and allied fields. In addition to the two prerequisite courses,
majors are required to take six advanced courses and an upper-level seminar (though seminars
make up the bulk of offerings each semester). Urban Design and Architecture Studies courses are
offered in New York, as well NYU London, Berlin, Paris, and other sites.

11. Study Abroad

NYU encourages all students to spend a semester abroad, offering a valuable opportunity
to examine the art and architecture of another culture in situ. Students can earn credit toward the
major for 2 courses taken abroad at a single site, or 3 courses should they study across two
different sites. Most courses at abroad sites qualify only for elective credit; some qualify as
“advanced” courses fulfilling distribution requirements within the major. Students should
consult with the Department about course selection before going abroad.
Students taking a semester abroad may also take courses at non-NYU institutions, such as
the Sorbonne in Paris. These may be counted as advanced or elective courses, at the discretion of
the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Before leaving for a semester abroad, all students must
meet with the department to discuss their choice of art history or urban design classes.

12. Advising
Registration advising occurs each semester, two weeks before registration. It is
mandatory that all majors meet with the department (the Undergraduate Student
Assistant/Advisor, and a faculty member if desired) to discuss their plan of study, and to make
sure that they are on the right track toward completing the major.
Students double majoring may be cleared to register by their other major department, but
it is no less imperative that also they track their progress with the Department of Art History as
well.
In addition to formal registration advising each semester, students are also encouraged to
meet regularly with the Undergraduate Student Assistant/Advisor and faculty in the department
to facilitate holistic advising that covers academic planning, progress in the major, and the
discussion of long-term goals.

13. Art History Major with a Studio Art Minor

Students majoring in art history are eligible to take studio art as a minor, richly
complementing their understanding of art. The minor consists of 4 studio courses, taken in the
Steinhardt School of Education. Students who wish to pursue this minor should contact Mary
Ann Santos (mas9@nyu.edu) for further information.
14. Art History as a Double Major or a Minor
Students often take art history as a double major. The relatively light number of required
courses (nine) means that it is usually possible to complete the requirements for two majors
within the standard eight semesters of college. However, it does require planning, and students
pursuing a double major should consult carefully with their advisors in both departments. In
some cases, an art history course may be double-counted for credit both within the art history
major and within the other major; this requires permission from both departments. The College
of Arts and Science allows a maximum of two courses “shared” between plans of study; those
students double majoring, particularly in a department outside of CAS, should consult their home
school or department.
Art history may also be taken as a minor in conjunction with another major. The minor
consists, in principle, of any four courses offered by the department that do not carry significant
overlap. However, the usual requirements for prerequisites remain in place. Thus, students
wishing to take advanced courses in most areas must first complete Foundations of Art History
(ARTH-UA 10). Art history courses taken at Steinhardt may not be counted for credit towards an
art history major or minor.

15. Transfer Students

Students coming from another university should meet with the Director of Undergraduate
Studies and/or the Undergraduate Student Assistant/Advisor to determine how the courses they
have already taken will be counted towards the art history major. Transfers are asked to supply
syllabi for all relevant prior coursework. A maximum of four courses taken at other institutions
may be counted towards the Art History or Urban Design major.
Students in NYU’s Liberal Studies Program who wish to major in art history after
transferring to CAS should strive to take Foundations of Art History as soon as possible, ideally
while still in LSP. As noted above, the Arts and Cultures Sequence given in LSP counts as one
elective towards the art history major (but does not count for the art history minor).
Students should be aware that the Director of Undergraduate Studies will determine how
your previous courses will be counted towards the major, but not how many points they will
count for towards graduation at NYU.