History of Art

History of Art courses

Director of undergraduate studies: Mimi Yiengpruksawan, 653 LORIA, 432-2682, mimi.yiengpruksawan@yale.edu

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF ART

Professors   Brian Allen (Adjunct), Carol Armstrong, Tim Barringer, Edward Cooke, Jr., David Joselit, Diana Kleiner, Kobena Mercer, Amy Meyers (Adjunct), Mary Miller, Robert Nelson, Jock Reynolds (Adjunct), Vincent Scully (Emeritus), Robert Thompson, Christopher Wood, Mimi Yiengpruksawan

Associate Professor   Milette Gaifman

Assistant Professors   J. D. Connor, Erica James, Jacqueline Jung, Joost Keizer, Kishwar Rizvi, Tamara Sears, Sebastian Zeidler

Lecturers   Theresa Fairbanks-Harris, Jennifer Farrell, Karen Foster, Imogen Hart, Eleanor Hughes, Patricia Kane, Ian McClure, Barbara Mundy, Margaret Olin, Mollen Theodore, David Sensabaugh, Scott Wilcox

Art history is the study of all forms of art, architecture, and visual culture in their social and historical contexts. The History of Art major can serve either as a general program in the humanities or as the groundwork for more specialized training. Unless otherwise indicated, all courses in History of Art are open to all students in Yale College.

Requirements of the major   Beginning with the Class of 2014, all majors must take two 100-level courses. Majors in the Class of 2013 are required to take one 100-level course. These are broad introductory surveys of the European, American, pre-Columbian, African, and Asian traditions. Prospective majors are encouraged to take the surveys as early in their course of study as possible. Students who have taken the Advanced Placement test in art history may be able to receive acceleration credit and should consult the director of undergraduate studies. Students are also required to take two seminars in History of Art, advanced courses numbered 402–497. (HSAR 498 and 499 are not considered seminars.) All majors must take HSAR 401, Critical Approaches to Art History, during either the fall or the spring term of the junior year.

Intermediate courses, usually lecture courses, are numbered 200–399. Majors must take at least one 200-, 300-, or 400-level course in each of the following four areas: (1) African, African American, Native American, pre-Columbian, Islamic, and Asian; (2) ancient and medieval; (3) Renaissance, baroque, and eighteenth century; (4) nineteenth- and twentieth-century European and American. Students may propose an alternative distribution in the African, Asian, or pre-Columbian traditions. History of Art majors are encouraged to take a course in studio art, which may count toward the major.

On graduation, the student must have no fewer than twelve course credits in History of Art. Under certain circumstances, and only with permission of the director of undergraduate studies, two of the twelve courses may be taken in other departments. Normally, these substituted courses address subjects closely linked to art history, for instance, archaeology, history of religion, aesthetics, or visual culture. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.

History of Art majors are urged to study foreign languages. Students considering graduate work should discuss with their advisers the appropriate language training for their field of interest. In history of art, students have traditionally taken German as the primary entry language for graduate study, but other languages may be equally necessary depending on area of specialization.

Senior essay   The senior essay is a research paper written usually in one term (HSAR 499). Students choose their own topics, which may derive from research done in an earlier course. The essay is planned during the previous term in consultation with a qualified instructor or with the director of undergraduate studies. It is also possible to write a two-term senior essay, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies. Students wishing to write a two-term essay must submit a petition to the director of undergraduate studies and the prospective adviser, normally by the first week after spring break of the junior year.

Procedures   The schedules of all majors must be approved and signed by the director of undergraduate studies. Students may consult the following members of the faculty about the major:

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

Prerequisites   None

Number of courses   12 course credits

Distribution of courses   Class of 2014 and subsequent classes—2 courses at 100 level; Class of 2013—1 course at 100 level; All classes—2 sems numbered 402–497; at least 1 course at 200, 300, or 400 level in each of 4 areas; 1 studio art course recommended

Specific course required   HSAR 401

Substitution permitted   With DUS permission, 2 related courses from other depts

Senior requirement   Senior essay (HSAR 499)