Bachelor of Arts in Art (Art History and Visual Culture)
Website: https://twu.edu/visual-arts/undergraduate-programs/
Art History and Visual Culture provides students with a broad liberal arts base and a strong foundation in the history of art and visual culture, combined with a practice-based understanding of visual arts through our studio art courses. Courses specializing in art history and visual culture will cover a variety of periods and topics, with special attention to the role of women artists and artists of color in the arts from local and global perspectives. This degree leads to professional careers in art management and administration and prepares students for graduate programs in art history or museum studies.
Marketable Skills
Marketable skills prepare students for success in a variety of professional settings. Developed through academic coursework, co-curricular engagement, and extracurricular involvement, these skills include communication, critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and digital literacy. Whether directly related to a student’s major or serving as complementary strengths, marketable skills enhance career readiness and reflect TWU’s commitment to producing graduates who are prepared to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.
- Oral Expression: The ability to speak clearly and effectively communicate information and ideas.
- Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Sociocultural-Informed Perspective: Knowledge and critical understanding of the social and cultural dynamics that impact the global art world.
- Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of professional and scholarly visual art audiences.
- Research: The ability to research and analyze source material to deduce significant conclusions on visual art subjects.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 78 SCH
Program Code: ART.BA.HISTVISCULT; CIP Code: 50.0701.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I (10) | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II (10) | 3 |
| Mathematics (20) | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences (30) | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40) | 3 | |
| Creative Arts (50) | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60) | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60) | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government (70) | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government (70) | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (80) | 3 | |
| CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90) | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91) | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Course Required for Major
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students who have not taken a Global Perspectives course, will either need to take one in this section or add 3 SCH to the overall degree and take one in another component.. | ||
| Art History Foundation | ||
| ART 2423 | World Art History I | 3 |
| ART 2433 | World Art History II | 3 |
| ART 3053 | Global Perspectives in Art | 3 |
| ART 3173 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| Studio Art Foundation | ||
| ART 1203 | 2D Foundations | 3 |
| ART 1213 | 3D Foundations | 3 |
| ART 1303 | Drawing Foundations | 3 |
| ART 2223 | Digital Art Foundations | 3 |
| Introductory Art Electives | ||
| Choose one of the following | 3 | |
| Introduction to Painting | ||
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| Introduction to Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking | ||
| Introduction to Type and Image | ||
| Total SCHs | 27 | |
Intermediate and Advanced Studies
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 3343 | Women in the Visual Arts | 3 |
| Language Other than English (LOTE) | 6 | |
| Advanced ART Electives (must be 3000 or above or with Division approval) | 9 | |
| Research Support Electives (6 SCH must be 3000 or above. 1000 and 2000 classes will only be allowed as pre-reqs for upper level courses. All electives must have Division approval.) | 12 | |
| Art History and Visual Culture Advanced Electives | 12 | |
| History of Camera Arts | ||
| Latinx Art | ||
| African American Art | ||
| Interdisciplinary Influences on Art | ||
| Special Topics (must be about Art History and/or Visual Culture) | ||
| Internship | ||
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Capstone
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ART 3393 | Professional Practices for Visual Arts | 3 |
ART 3393 will focus on graphic design professional practice in spring semesters, and studio art professional practice in fall semesters. The fall semester will be most applicable to BA in Art (Art History & Visual Culture) majors. Students should work with advisors to take the most relevant version of the course. | ||
| ENG 3433 | Professional Writing | 3 |
For ENG 3433, the degree track requires a special section of the course designed for Art students. | ||
| ART 4973 | Senior Research in Art History | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 9 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ART 1203 | 2D Foundations | ARTS 1311 | 3 |
| ART 1303 | Drawing Foundations | ARTS 1316 | 3 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| Life and Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| UNIV 1231 | First-Year Seminar: Learning Frameworks | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| CAO: Wellness or Mathematics | 2 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 1213 | 3D Foundations | ARTS 1312 | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| Language Other than English (LOTE) | 3 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART 2423 | World Art History I | ART 1303 | 3 |
| ART 2223 | Digital Art Foundations | ARTS 2348 | 3 |
| Introductory Art Elective | 3 | ||
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| Language Other than English (LOTE) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 2433 | World Art History II | ART 1304 | 3 |
| ART 3343 | Women in the Visual Arts | 3 | |
| Advanced ART Elective | 3 | ||
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART 3173 | Contemporary Art | 3 | |
| Advanced ART Elective | 3 | ||
| Art History and Visual Culture Advanced Electives | 3 | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 3053 | Global Perspectives in Art | 3 | |
| ENG 3433 | Professional Writing | 3 | |
| Advanced ART Elective | 3 | ||
| Art History and Visual Culture Advanced Elective | 3 | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ART 3393 | Professional Practices for Visual Arts | 3 | |
| Art History and Visual Culture Advanced Elective | 3 | ||
| Research Support Electives | 6 | ||
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ART 4973 | Senior Research in Art History | 3 | |
| Art History and Visual Culture Advanced Elective | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Research Support Electives | 6 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
