Art & Art History, B.A. (results in Art History or Studio Art, B.A.)

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Art & Art History

Member of the Division of Humanities

Chair(s):

Jenny Anger - Art History
Andrew Kaufman - Studio Art

Faculty:

Jeremy Chen
Matthew Kluber
Michael “Mac” Mackenzie
Fredo Rivera
Lee Running
Eiren Shea
Nicky Tavares
Lesley Wright

The Department of Art and Art History provides curricular opportunities for the development of technical skills, aesthetic judgment, and historical understanding. Participation in both studio art and art history courses stimulates critical thinking and refines creative potential in the visual arts. The Grinnell College Art Collection of approximately 6,000 original works of art and the changing exhibitions of the Grinnell College Museum of Art and the Print and Drawing Study Room supplement formal course study.

Students elect either a studio art or an art history major, with opportunities for advanced work in 300- and 400-level courses. Students electing an art history major must consult with the department about appropriate foreign language study. Majors are expected to enrich their concentration through selected courses offered by other departments. For example, appropriate courses in film, history, literature, philosophy, and religious studies, or syntheses of these materials in humanities courses contribute to the art history major. Furthermore, computer science, cultural studies, history, film, G.W.S.S., creative writing, and the sciences, especially chemistry, contribute to the study of studio art.

Students are encouraged to consider the advantages of a semester abroad in an approved program. Off-campus programs in this country also are available to majors with adequate preparation for advanced study. Students interested in museum work can take the museum studies course (ARH 160 ) and/or the exhibition seminar (ARH 360 ). There are opportunities for academic internships at the Grinnell College Museum of Art, Axelle Fine Arts (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and others as arranged. Competitive summer internships at national museums and institutions are open to qualifying students with considerable preparation in either discipline. A competitive scholarship in studio art allows for a ninth semester of portfolio preparation for graduate study.

Art History Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

At least 20 credits of coursework must be taken with the Department of Art and Art History at Grinnell. No more than 16 credits within a single art history area may count toward the major unless approved in advance by the department.

A senior thesis in art history will be completed in the course of ARH 400 . Only one ARH 499 (4 credits) may count towards the major. Pre-architecture students must include one semester each of laboratory physics and calculus and are advised to fulfill the studio concentration, though other majors are possible.

Core Requirements: 16 credits

ARH 103 - Introduction to Art History 4 credits (Does not count towards art history major credits)
One course from each of the following groups: 12 credits

Group 1: One course from ARH 211 , ARH 212 , or ARH 214 *

Group 2: One course from ARH 221 , ARH 222 , or ARH 270 *

Group 3: One course from ARH 231 or ARH 232 *

* Note: or ARH 295 as approved by Art History department for any one of these groups

ARH 400 - Seminar in Art History 4 credits

Electives in Art History: 12 credits

An additional 12 credits of electives beyond ARH 103 must be completed.
With permission up to 8 credits may be taken in related studies outside the department.

Studio Art: 4 credits

ART 111 - Introduction to the Studio 4 credits
or
ART 134 - Drawing 4 credits

Studio Art Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

At least 20 credits of coursework must be taken with the Department of Art and Art History at Grinnell.

The senior project in studio art will be considered ART 499 and must follow the College’s procedures for Mentored Advanced Projects (MAPs) as well as departmental procedures. Only one ART 499 (4 credits) may count toward the major. Pre-architecture students must include one semester each of laboratory physics and calculus and are advised to fulfill the studio concentration, though other majors are possible.

Core Requirements: 28 credits

ARH 103 - Introduction to Art History 4 credits
ART 111 - Introduction to the Studio 4 credits (Does not count towards studio art major)
ART 134 - Drawing 4 credits
Three 200-level courses in Studio Art: 12 credits
Two 300-level courses in Studio Art: 8 credits

Non-Studio Requirement: 4 credits

Any 100 or 200 level Art History (ARH) course (excluding ARH 103 - Introduction to Art History )
Any of the following courses:
- HUM 213 - Media and the Middle East Media and the Middle East 4 credits
- REL 228 - Gods of Bollywood 4 credits
- THD 111 - Introduction to Performance Studies 4 credits
- Special Topics Courses 195 or 295 (as approved by Studio Art)
- OCS Courses (as approved by Studio Art)

Additional Requirements

Students must complete a public exhibition under the advisement of studio faculty in their senior year.

Honors

Art History

To be considered for honors in art history, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must demonstrate, by departmental consensus, superior performance in coursework combined with superior breadth or depth of curriculum.

Studio Art

To be considered for honors in Studio Art, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must submit for review to the Studio Faculty a digital portfolio of artwork that demonstrates superior performance in coursework combined with superior breadth and/or depth of individual creative research. For more information please visit the Studio Art page on Grinnell.edu.

Course List

Click here to see a list of Studio Art and Art History Courses