Undergraduate Course Catalog 2008-2009
College of Liberal Arts
» http://www.unh.edu/liberal-arts/
Art and Art History (ARTS)
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Chairperson: Michael McConnell
Professor: David S. Andrew, Grant Drumheller, Patricia A. Emison, Craig A. Hood, Scott Schnepf, David R. Smith, Mara R. Witzling
Associate Professor: Brian W.K. Chu, Eleanor M. Hight, Maryse Searls McConnell, Michael McConnell, Jennifer K. Moses, Langdon C. Quin
Assistant Professor: Benjamin S. Cariens, Julee Holcombe, Leah Woods
Affiliate Assistant Professor: Vicki C. Wright
Lecturer: Rebecca Litt, Shiao-Ping Wang
The courses offered by the Department of Art and Art History provide an opportunity, within the liberal arts framework, for students to acquire a thorough knowledge of the basic means of visual expression, to study intensively the history of art, or to prepare themselves for a career in art teaching. In addition, these courses offer foundation experience for students who are interested in art but are majoring in other departments in the University. The Department of Art and Art History offers programs leading to a bachelor of arts degree in either studio art or art history and a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art. Certification for art teaching in the public schools is also offered in cooperation with the Department of Education (see Education, under Programs of Study).
The University reserves the right to retain selections from a student’s work for a period of not more than two years.
Bachelor of Arts Curriculum (Studio)
Students selecting to work toward a bachelor of arts degree in studio art must complete a minimum of thirteen courses (52 credits), with a minimum grade of C- in each course.
The following courses are required
ARTS 532, Introductory Drawing
ARTS 546, Introductory Painting
ARTS 567, Introductory Sculpture
ARTS 551, Photography
One of the following
ARTS 536, Introductory Printmaking: Intaglio
ARTS 537, Introductory Printmaking: Lithography
One of the following
ARTS 501, Ceramics
ARTS 525, Woodworking
Three additional courses in a studio concentration
ARTS 580, Survey of Art History I
ARTS 581, Survey of Art History II
Two 600-level art history courses
While these courses represent the minimum departmental requirements for the studio art major, students may wish to plan a program involving greater depth in one or several of the studio areas.
Art History Major
The art history major provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the present and some exposure, as well, to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature, and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing, or librarianship. But because art historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options, such as law, business, or architecture.
Students must complete a minimum of eleven courses (44 credits). Two introductory-level courses are required from one of the following three sequences: 1) ARTS 580 and 581; 2) ARTS 480 and one other 400-level art history; 3) ARTS 480 and one 500-level art history other than ARTS 580 or 581.
The upper-level requirements for the major include five 600- or 700-level courses (at least one each from the following categories: pre-Renaissance, Renaissance/Baroque, modern, and architectural history); and ARTS 795, Methods of Art History; ARTS 799, Seminar in Art History; ARTS 532, Introductory Drawing; and one other studio course. These courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-. Art history majors receive preferential placement in ARTS 532. Students contemplating graduate school should learn German, and, if possible, either French, Italian, or another language relevant to their areas of interest.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Major
Incoming freshmen applicants wishing to enter the bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) degree program must first apply for, and be admitted to, the bachelor of arts (B.A.) studio arts major. After taking the introductory studio art courses at UNH, interested students can then seek out two faculty members to sponsor their application for the B.F.A. program. Studio majors generally wait until they are well into the intermediate-level courses before submitting a portfolio for the B.F.A. review, which is held before a full faculty committee twice a year.
The B.F.A. curriculum provides training for students who plan to enter professional graduate school or pursue careers as professional artists. Students selecting to work toward a B.F.A. degree must complete a minimum of 84 credits, with a minimum grade of C- in each course.
The following courses are required
ARTS 532, Introductory Drawing
ARTS 546, Introductory Painting
ARTS 551, Photography
ARTS 567, Introductory Sculpture
ARTS 580, Survey of Art History I
ARTS 581, Survey of Art History II
ARTS 598, Sophomore Seminar
ARTS 632, Intermediate Drawing
ARTS 798, Seminar/Senior Thesis (8 credits)
Six courses in a studio concentration
Three additional art electives
Two 600-level art history courses
The possible areas of concentration within the department are: 1) painting, 2) sculpture, and 3) individualized programs. Individualized programs may be designed in the following subject areas: a) ceramics, b) drawing, c) printmaking, d) photography, and e) furniture design. Proposals for individualized programs are accepted only by permission of the departmental chairperson, the major adviser, and the departmental bachelor of fine arts committee. Candidates applying for the bachelor of fine arts program are required to submit a portfolio to the B.F.A. committee, which meets each semester one week before preregistration.
Art Education Curriculum
The program in art education is organized into a five-year, teacher-education sequence.
This curriculum is designed to prepare teachers of art in the public schools. The satisfactory completion of the B.A. studio art curriculum and required education courses and the fifth-year internship will satisfy the initial certification requirements for teachers of art in the public schools of New Hampshire and in most other states.
Art education majors may take accredited crafts courses at other institutions as art electives.
Minors in the Department of Art and Art History
All minors require five courses (20 credits). Students must receive a minimum grade of C- in all required courses. Only two courses from the art and art history major requirements can be applied towards the minor.
A maximum of two courses (8 credits) may be transferred from another accredited institution, provided UNH has accepted them as transfer credits. Transfer courses must be a minimum of 3 credits. Students with transfer courses that are accepted with less than 4 semester credits must still meet the 20 credit requirement for completion of the minor.
Minor in Architectural Studies
The minor in architectural studies provides students with an interdisciplinary introduction to the history, theory, and methods of architecture and its symbolism. The program allows students who are interested in this field to receive programmatic recognition for their work. It is designed to assist those who a) are contemplating enrollment at a school of architecture; b) are particularly interested in architectural history; c) want to supplement their technical majors (e.g., civil engineering) with strong academic minors; or d) plan to pursue careers in preservation, education, community service, and public relations.
The minor in architectural studies consists of five courses (20 credits) distributed in the following way:
Two courses in architectural history chosen from
ARTS 574, Architectural History
ARTS 654, 17th- and 18th-Century American Architecture
ARTS 655, Early Modern Architecture: Revolution to World War I
ARTS 656, Contemporary Architecture: The Buildings of Our Times
ARTS 799, Seminar in Art History
ARTS 455, Introduction to Architecture
ARTS 532, Introductory Drawing
An elective chosen in consultation with the program coordinator of the architectural studies minor (an additional course in architectural history, a studio course, or some other appropriate elective)
Admission to the architectural studies minor will be authorized by the program coordinator. Interested students should consult with the coordinator in advance of selecting the minor.
Minor in Art
The minor in art consists of five courses (20 credits) chosen from the offerings of the department, two of which must be at the 500 level or above.
Minor in Art History
The art history minor offers those majoring in other fields (including studio art) the chance to gain a serious knowledge of aspects of the history and meanings of Western art from antiquity to the modern world. Particularly for those working in history and the humanities, a minor in art history will provide new interdisciplinary perspectives on their major fields. The minor consists of five courses (20 credits) with a distribution that includes one introductory course from the 400-500 level and the remaining four courses chosen from the 600 level or above.
Minor in Studio Arts
The minor in studio arts consists of five courses (20 credits) with a distribution that includes Arts 532, Introductory Drawing; two studio courses from the 600 level or above; and two additional studio courses chosen from the offerings of the department.
