Bachelor of Fine Arts in History of Art
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in History of Art
The BFA in History of Art is a four-year, 120 credit hour degree program combining a 30-hour concentration in the history of art with 30 hours of studio art training to serve students interested in both the history and the making of art.
History of Art B.F.A. majors learn how to investigate and analyze the aesthetic characteristics, meaning, and function of works of art, and to place works in historical, cultural, and stylistic contexts. Students gain a general knowledge of the monuments and principal artists of all major periods of the past, with an emphasis on the art of the 20th- and 21st- centuries and gain a sophisticated understanding of what can be learned about different cultures and time periods through the study of art.
First-Year Preparation
The first year foundations courses for the B.F.A., B.A., and B.A.E. degree include 10 hours of foundations studio, 6 hours of English, and 6 hours of Art History coursework.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ||
| ART 101 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ART 102 | Drawing II | 3 |
| ART 103 | Art Concepts and Practice | 3 |
| ART 105 | Visual Art Seminar | 1 |
| English | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| History of Art | ||
| HA 150 | History of Western Art: Ancient Through Medieval | 3 |
| HA 151 | History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary | 3 |
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in History of Art Degree Requirements
A major in the history of art is available to candidates for the B.F.A. degree. This major combines a 30-hour concentration in art history with 18 hours of studio training (beyond the 34 hours of foundation courses). A total of 120 hours is required for the degree, including 45 junior/senior hours (courses numbered 300 or higher). 30 of these 45 junior/senior hours must be taken in residence at the University of Kansas. The B.A. and B.G.S. degrees are offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Requirements for the B.F.A. Degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Major Program Courses | 9 | |
| History of Art Foundations Course: | ||
| History of Western Art: Ancient Through Medieval | ||
or HA 160 | History of Western Art : Ancient Through Medieval, Honors | |
| History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary | ||
or HA 161 | History of Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary, Honors | |
| The Visual Arts of East Asia | ||
| Breadth Courses: Six courses total; a course or topic may fulfill only one requirement, either for geographical or chronological breadth. | ||
| 2. Breadth Courses, Geographical Regions: complete one course in three out of four geographical regions. | 9 | |
A. Americas, Africa, Middle East | ||
| Modern and Contemporary African Art | ||
| Art of the United States | ||
| African Art and Gender | ||
| Special Study in African Art: _____ | ||
| Special Study in American Art: _____ | ||
| Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt and the Near East | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture in Africa | ||
| African Design | ||
B. Europe | ||
| The Art and Architecture of the British Isles | ||
| European Architecture 300-1300 | ||
| Aegean Archaeology and Art | ||
| Greek Archaeology and Art | ||
| Roman Archaeology and Art | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Rococo to Realism: Painting in Europe c. 1750-1848 | ||
| Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: 1848-1900 | ||
| Renaissance Architecture in Italy | ||
| Baroque Art in Europe | ||
| Art in the Age of Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer: Northern Baroque | ||
| Special Study in Medieval Art: _____ | ||
| Special Study in Renaissance Art: _____ | ||
| Special Study in Baroque Art: _____ | ||
| Early Medieval and Romanesque Art | ||
| Gothic Art | ||
| Medieval Manuscripts and Early Printed Books | ||
| From Court to City: Northern Art | ||
| Humanism and Reform: 16th Century Northern European Art | ||
| The Spatial Arts of Urban Italy | ||
| Pompeii and Herculaneum | ||
| European Art, 1900-1945 | ||
| C. East Asia | ||
| Special Study in Asian Art Before 1900: _____ | ||
| Manga: Histories and Theories | ||
| Ceramics of East Asia | ||
| Japanese Prints | ||
| Buddhist Art of Korea | ||
| Ceramics of Korea | ||
| Modern Korean Art and Culture | ||
| Art and Culture of Japan | ||
| Art and Culture of China | ||
or HA 468 | Art and Culture of China, Honors | |
| The Art of Buddhism | ||
| Japanese Painting | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Visual Arts of Japan | ||
| Special Study in Asian Art: _____ | ||
| Early Chinese Art | ||
| Chinese Sculpture | ||
| Chinese Painting | ||
| Japanese Sculpture | ||
D. Cross-regional | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| Modern Sculpture | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Art From 1945 to the 1980s: Modernism to Post-Modernism | ||
| 3. Breadth Courses, Chronological Periods: complete one course in three out of four chronological periods. | 9 | |
| A. Pre-1400 | ||
| European Architecture 300-1300 | ||
| Aegean Archaeology and Art | ||
| Greek Archaeology and Art | ||
| Roman Archaeology and Art | ||
| Buddhist Art of Korea | ||
| Special Study in Ancient Art: ______ | ||
| Special Study in Medieval Art: _____ | ||
| Early Medieval and Romanesque Art | ||
| Gothic Art | ||
| Medieval Manuscripts and Early Printed Books | ||
| Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt and the Near East | ||
| Pompeii and Herculaneum | ||
| Early Chinese Art | ||
| B. 1400-1850 | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art | ||
| Rococo to Realism: Painting in Europe c. 1750-1848 | ||
| Renaissance Architecture in Italy | ||
| Ceramics of East Asia | ||
| Japanese Prints | ||
| Baroque Art in Europe | ||
| Art in the Age of Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer: Northern Baroque | ||
| Special Study in Renaissance Art: _____ | ||
| Special Study in Baroque Art: _____ | ||
| Humanism and Reform: 16th Century Northern European Art | ||
| C. Post-1850 | ||
| Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: 1848-1900 | ||
| Contemporary Art | ||
| Special Study in 20th/21st-Century Art: _____ | ||
| Manga: Histories and Theories | ||
| Modern and Contemporary African Art | ||
| Modern Korean Art and Culture | ||
| Modern Sculpture | ||
| History of Photography | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Visual Arts of Japan | ||
| Special Study in African Art: _____ | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture in Africa | ||
| European Art, 1900-1945 | ||
| Art From 1945 to the 1980s: Modernism to Post-Modernism | ||
| African Design | ||
| D. Cross-period | ||
| The Art and Architecture of the British Isles | ||
| Ceramics of Korea | ||
| Art and Culture of Japan | ||
| Art and Culture of China | ||
or HA 468 | Art and Culture of China, Honors | |
| Art of the United States | ||
| The Art of Buddhism | ||
| Japanese Painting | ||
| From Court to City: Northern Art | ||
| The Spatial Arts of Urban Italy | ||
| Chinese Sculpture | ||
| Chinese Painting | ||
| Japanese Sculpture | ||
| 4. Complete an art history course approved for the Capstone requirement. (The Capstone art history course may also fulfill one of the breadth requirements above, in which case an elective course should be taken for the final 3 required hours of art history) | 3 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| Senior Seminar II | ||
| 5. Art history elective (0-3 hours; see number 4 above) | 0-3 | |
| Electives in applicable studio courses: Satisfied by completing coursework with subject code (ART, CER, EXM, METL, PNTG, PRNT, SCUL, TD, VAE) | 18 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Foundational Studies Courses | 10 | |
| Drawing I | ||
or BDS 103 | Drawing for Design | |
| ART 101 is a required course, BDS 103 only accepted for students transferring into the deptartment | ||
| Drawing II | ||
| Art Concepts and Practice | ||
or BDS 101 | Design Thinking and Making | |
| ART 103 is a required course, BDS 101 only accepted for students transferring into the department | ||
| Visual Art Seminar | ||
| Visual Art Core Courses | 15 | |
| Select 1 course in 5 of the following 7 areas: | ||
| Fundamentals of Painting (or PNTG course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Printmaking (or PRNT course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Sculpture (or SCUL course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Expanded Media (or EXM course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Ceramics (or CER course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Metalsmithing/Jewelry (or METL course) | ||
| Fundamentals of Fibers (or TC course) | ||
| Senior Studio Requirement | 9 | |
| Prerequisite of 30 hours of studio art courses | ||
| Professional Activities Seminar | ||
| Senior Seminar I | ||
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 82 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 30 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BFA in History of Art. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 101 (Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE))060** | 3 | Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)030 | 3 |
| ART 103 (Major Requirement) | 3 | ART 102 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| ART 105 (Major Requirement) | 1 | Fundamentals or 200+ studio course (Major Requirement)1 | 3 |
| HA 150 | 3 | HA 151 (Major Requirement; Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE))060** | 3 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HA 166 (Major Requirement) | 3 | HA 300+ Breadth Course (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| Fundamentals or 200+ studio course (Major Requirement)1 | 3 | HA 300+ Breadth Course (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| Fundamentals or 200+ studio course (Major Requirement)1 | 3 | Fundamentals or 200+ studio course (Major Requirement)1 | 3 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | Fundamentals or 200+ studio course (Major Requirement)1 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4-5 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HA 300+ Breadth Course (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | HA 300+ Breadth Course (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| HA 300+ Breadth Course (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | ART 540 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HA Breadth Course 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | ART 660 (Capstone Course) | 3 |
| Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | Visual Art Studio 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| ART 650 (Major Requirement)4 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
- 1
Visual Art majors are required to enroll in 15 credit hours across studio areas. Students select 5 courses from the following 7 listed options: ART 120 Fundamentals of Painting; ART 121 Fundamentals of Printmaking; ART 122 Fundamentals of Sculpture; ART 123 Fundamentals of Expanded Media; ART 131 Fundamentals of Ceramics; ART 132 Fundamentals of Metalsmithing/Jewelry; ART 133 Fundamentals of Fibers. The Fundamental (100 level) courses can be taken concurrently with other 200+ level courses in any studio area.
- 2
History of Art Breadth requires one course in 3 out of the 4 Geographical Regions and one course in 3 out of the 4 Chronological Periods for a total of 18 hours (6 courses). See Degree Requirements tab in the Catalog for course lists.
- 3
Credit hour requirements for the degree include 45 credit hours of 300 level or above (300+). These credit hours are typically met through Core 34, major area of study, and/or general elective credit hours. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 4
ART 650 and ART 660 should be taken in sequence, during the last two semesters for the degree.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to completed 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.