Art, Art History, and Film

Major Requirements: Art History

The Art History major offers undergraduate students an opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge and understanding of visual artifacts from prehistory to the present day, from Western and non-Western cultures. As a humanistic discipline, the history of art closely relates the analysis of visual culture to other modes of intellectual inquiry; accordingly, art history students and faculty frequently participate in interdisciplinary programs across the University.

Contributing to the broad foundation that constitutes a liberal arts education, departmental courses prepare students for graduate work leading to professional careers in the arts, including teaching and research, art criticism, museum curatorship, art conservation, museum directorship, and art appraising. They also prepare the student to hold positions in commercial galleries and auction houses.

The skill sets developed in art historical studies, however, do not apply exclusively to the analysis of works of art. The ability to evaluate material evidence, to study the cultural contexts in which it was discovered, to assess critically the various interpretations works of art have elicited, and to fashion clear and persuasive arguments in kind are valuable in any program of study or professional situation. In a world increasingly dominated by images, visual literacy is as indispensable to navigating one’s everyday environment as it is to analyzing products of high culture.

To tailor departmental offerings to suit their specific needs, students majoring in art history plan integrated programs in consultation with their faculty advisors and are encouraged to take courses in history, philosophy, religion, and other fields related to their specialization.

Students in the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022

The Art History major requires 11 courses (33 credits):

• ARTH1101 Intro to Art History I: Pre-History to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Intro to Art History II: Renaissance to Modern
• One Studio Art (ARTS) course or ARTH4314 The Materials of Art and Their Conservation
• One course in Ancient Art
• One course in Medieval Art
• One course in Renaissance through Eighteenth Century Art
• One course in Nineteenth through Twentieth Century Art
• One course in non-Western Art
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
• ARTH4401 Seminar in Art Historical Research (must be taken in the fall semester of junior or senior year)

At least three of these courses must have ARTH numbers at or above the 3000 level and two must have ARTH numbers at or above the 4000 level.

Students also have the option of choosing a non-Western track for the major. The requirements are identical to the Western track (see above) in terms of the number and level of courses, except for these distribution requirements:

• Two courses in the area of Islamic art
• Two courses in the area of East Asian art
• At least one course in another non-Western field, such as African, Pre-Columbian, or ancient Near Eastern art.

Those students choosing this option should select Professor Aurelia Campbell or Professor Kyrah Daniels as their advisor.

Students in the class of 2023 and later

Majors in the class of 2020, 2021, and 2022 may follow the new requirements with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Study.

The Art History major requires 11 courses (33 credits):

• ARTH1101 Intro to Art History I: Pre-History to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Intro to Art History II: Renaissance to Modern
• Two of the following three courses: ARTH2210 Introduction to African Art and Visual Culture, ARTH2212 East Asian Art and Architecture, ARTH2213 Islamic Art and Architecture
• One Studio Art (ARTS) course or ARTH4314 The Materials of Art and their Conservation
• Elective 1 (2000 or 3000 level)
• Elective 2 (2000 or 3000 level)
• Elective 3 (3000 or 4000 level)
• Elective 4 (3000 or 4000 level)
• Elective 5 (3000 or 4000 level)
• ARTH4401 Seminar in Art Historical Research (must be taken in the fall semester of junior or senior year)
• OPTIONAL thesis: Students sign up for an Independent Study with a faculty advisor in the spring semester of their senior year. Students who write a senior thesis are eligible for departmental honors.

The Art History major can also be completed with a concentration in Museum Studies, which requires a minimum of 12 courses (36 credits):

• ARTH1101 Intro to Art History I: Pre-History to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Intro to Art History II: Renaissance to Modern
• Two of the following three courses: ARTH2210 Introduction to African Art and Visual Culture, ARTH2212 East Asian Art and Architecture, ARTH2213 Islamic Art and Architecture
• ARTH4314 The Materials of Art and Their Conservation
• ARTH4370 Museum of Art: History, Philosophy, and Practice Course
• One of the following courses: MGMT1021 Organizational Behavior, MGMT2123 Negotiation, MGMT2127 Leadership, MGMT2132 Managing Change, MGMT2133 Leading High Performance Teams, MGMT2265 Globalization, Culture, and Ethics
• Elective 1 (2000 or 3000 level)
• Elective 2 (2000 or 3000 level)
• Elective 3 (3000 or 4000 level)
• Elective 4 (3000 or 4000 level)
• ARTH4401 Seminar in Art Historical Research (must be taken in the fall semester of junior or senior year)

Major Requirements: Film Studies

The Film Studies major applies the liberal arts tradition to the present-day culture of images and technologies. Courses in film history, theory, and criticism enable students to become active, selective, and ethical participants in a world progressively more dominated by the media of visual communication.

Research-based studies in American and world cinema explore the mutual influence of the films and their respective diverse cultures and historic periods. Familiarity with several of the great films and filmmakers provides a basis for understanding the relationship between contemporary artists and industrial society. Each student will have an opportunity to apply this theoretical knowledge to the experience of film making and exhibition both through programs in scripting, photography, production, and digital editing, and through an extensive internship program in the Boston area.

Students are encouraged to widen and deepen their understanding of the medium through additional courses in Art History, Studio Art, Theater, and Communication. While this Film Studies major provides a solid foundation for further studies and professional involvement in the industry, it also offers the liberal arts student a broad-based preparation for other career options.

For more information, contact John Michalczyk, Director, Film Studies major Coordinator, Devlin Hall 420, 617-552-3895, john.michalczyk@bc.edu.

For the major in Film Studies there is a requirement of twelve courses, eight of which must be at the 2000 level or above:

• FILM2202 Introduction to Film Art

At least two courses in American Film History:

• FILM2280 Early Years
• FILM2281 Studio Era
• FILM3389 American Directors Series
• FILM3392 Post-Classical Period
• FILM3393 Hollywood’s Golden Age

At least two production courses:

• ARTS1161 Photography I
• ARTS2261 Intermediate Photography
• ARTS2276 Art and Digital Technology
• FILM1171 Filmmaking I
• FILM2273 Filmmaking II
• FILM2274 Digital Non-Linear Editing

Six electives, at least two at the 3000 or 4000 level:

• FILM2277 Russian Cinema
• FILM2282 Political Fiction Cinema
• FILM2283 History of European Cinema
• FILM3301 Screenwriter
• FILM3312 World Cinema
• FILM3380 Latin American Cinema
• FILM3381 Propaganda Film
• FILM3382 Documentary Film
• FILM3383 Film Criticism and Theory
• FILM3391 American Film Genres

Senior year:

• FILM4400+ Senior Project 

Major Requirements: Studio Art

In our increasingly image-laden society, visual intelligence and visual literacy are paramount skills. The Studio Art program addresses this prerequisite and provides students with exciting opportunities for creative exploration in painting, drawing, photography, video, ceramics, and digital media. Students are encouraged to connect their interests, experience, and other fields of study with their studio practice. The program emphasizes the importance of linking a skillful handling of materials with an understanding of the conceptual issues at stake, and an ability to view their own work in an art historical context. It is about having the hand, eyes, brain, and heart working in unison.

The Studio Art major is designed both for the student artist and the student interested in art. It teaches how to make art and an appreciation of how art is made. The department courses are conceived as an integral part of the university curriculum, and the studio major provides a solid basis for continuing work in graduate school and in art-related fields such as design, art criticism, teaching, conservation, art therapy, publishing, exhibition design, and advertising.

The Studio Art major provides students with an opportunity to develop the techniques, visual sensibility, and historical understanding necessary for working with various materials. An exploration of the meanings and ideas generated by the things we make and an awareness of the process of making are essential parts of the program.

An integral part of the Studio Art major's undergraduate education is the senior project. Focused in their area of concentration, senior projects are exhibited on campus at the end of the academic year.

Students intending to major in Studio Art are encouraged to begin the major in their freshman year; the major must be declared before the beginning of a student’s junior year. Students must have taken at least four semesters of work relating to the senior project prior to their senior year.

For more information, contact Professor Sheila Gallagher, Studio Art major Coordinator, Devlin Hall 401B, 617-552-0482, sheila.gallagher@bc.edu.

Majors are required to take a minimum of twelve courses for a total of 36 credits, to be distributed as indicated below:

Required introductory course for all majors (suggested after the introductory courses):

• ARTS1103 Issues and Approaches to Studio Art

Two of the following for a total of 6 credits. In consultation with an advisor, one of these classes should set the direction and future course choices and concentration of the major:

• ARTS1101 Drawing I
• ARTS1102 Painting I
• ARTS1104 Design: Seeing is Believing or ARTS1107 Design 1
• ARTS1141 Ceramics I
• ARTS1150 Painting Plus Collage
• ARTS1155 Introduction to Digital Art
• ARTS1161 Photography I

One of the following:

• ARTH3356 Art Since 1945
• ARTS2211 Ideas in Contemporary Art (formerly Hot Off the Shelf)

Six additional studio art courses:

• (for a total of 18 credits) at the 2000 level or above, of which three courses (9 credits) must be at the 3000 level)

Required courses for all senior majors:

• ARTS4498 Senior Project I
• ARTS4473 Senior Project II

Students must have taken at least four semesters of work relating to the senior project prior to their senior year.

In addition to the required courses, the following courses are recommended:

• ARTH1101 Art: Prehistoric to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Art: Renaissance to Modern
• ARTH2257 Nineteenth-Century Art
• ARTH2258 Modern Art: Nineteenth-Twentieth Century
• ARTH3356 Art Since 1945

Architecture Studies Concentration in the Studio Art Major

Minimum of 11 courses (33 credits) to be selected as follows:

Required courses for the Architecture Studies concentration:

• ARTS1101 Drawing I (Core)
• ARTS1103 Issues and Approaches
• ARTS1125 Innovation Through Design Thinking (also UNAS1025)

One of the following courses:

• ARTS1155 Introduction to Digital Art
• ARTS2276 Arts and Digital Technology,
• ARTS2250 Introduction to Digital Design

Two Architectural History course from this list (six credits), at least one of which must be at the 1000 or 2000 level:

• ARTH1107 History of Architecture (World Architecture)
• ARTS2211 Ideas in Contemporary Art
• ARTH2251 Modern Architecture
• ARTH2267 Salt Box to Skyscraper: American Architecture Seventeenth–Twentieth Centuries
• ARTH3311 Greek Art and Archaeology
• ARTH3314 Egyptian Art and Archaeology
• ARTH3332 The Age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Beyond: Sixteenth-Century Art in Italy
• ARTH3344 Venetian Art and Architecture
• ARTH3346 Architecture in East Asia
• ARTH3347 The Age of the Baroque: Seventeenth-Century Art in Italy
• ARTS3356 Art Since 1945
• ARTH4315 Gender and the Material World in China
• ARTH4402 Art and Architecture in The Forbidden City

Three additional courses 9 credits) one of which must be at the 3000 level, suggested electives:

• ARTS2250 Introduction to Digital Design
• ARTS2252 Architecture Design I  
• ARTS2207 Urban Design for Complexity and Sustainability
• ARTS3335 Advanced Digital Design: Designing Spaces
• ARTS3334 Advanced Mixed-Media
• During the senior year:
  • ARTS4498 Senior Project I OR Internship OR Independent Study
  • ARTS4473 Senior Project II

Career Discovery

• Summer courses and internships are available, but do not count towards the major/minor credit requirements.
• Summer travel and summer courses are recommended for enrichment. Students should consult with a departmental advisor about these opportunities.

Additional Stipulations for the Studio Art Major

• No more than two independent studies in the field of concentration.
• No more than two courses taken during the junior year abroad or at another institution may count toward the major. Transfer students should work out credits with the department major advisor.
• Courses to be counted in the major must be taken for a grade (no pass/fail grades).

Art History Minor

Students in the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022

(Minors in the class of 2023 and later, please see below.)

The Art History minor requires 6 courses (18 credits):

• ARTH1101 Intro to Art History I: Pre-History to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Intro to Art History II: Renaissance to Modern
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
• Elective 3
• Elective 4

At least two of these electives must be at or above the 3000 level, and at least two must come from one of the following categories:

• Ancient/Medieval
• Renaissance/Baroque
• Nineteenth/Twentieth Century
• Asian
• African
• Islamic
• Museum Studies

The Art History minor also requires a copy of a research paper written in one of the Art History elective courses. To satisfy the requirement, the paper must have received a grade of B or above. Please submit the paper to Professor Pamela Berger.

Courses counted for the minor must be taken for a grade, not pass/fail. At least 15 credits (5 courses) in the minor program must not be used to fulfill any other major or minor.

Students in the classes of 2023 and later

The Art History minor requires 6 courses (18 credits):

• ARTH1101 Intro to Art History I: Pre-History to Middle Ages
• ARTH1102 Intro to Art History II: Renaissance to Modern
• One of the following three courses: ARTH2210 Introduction to African Art and Visual Culture, ARTH2212 East Asian Art and Architecture, ARTH2213 Islamic Art and Architecture
• Elective 1
• Elective 2
• Elective 3

At least two of these electives must be at or above the 3000 level, and at least two must come from one of the following categories:

• Ancient/Medieval
• Renaissance/Baroque
• Nineteenth/Twentieth Century
• Asian
• African
• Islamic
• Museum Studies

The Art History minor also requires a copy of a research paper written in one of the Art History elective courses. To satisfy the requirement, the paper must have received a grade of B or above. Please submit the paper to Professor Pamela Berger.

Courses counted for the minor must be taken for a grade, not pass/fail. At least 15 credits (5 courses) in the minor program must not be used to fulfill any other major or minor.

Film Studies Minor

The Film Studies minor enables students to develop a basic awareness of film as a contemporary medium of communication. The minor consists of the Introduction to Film Art, one course in history or criticism, one course in production, and three electives in Film Studies which enable a student to design a personalized area of concentration.

Requirements normally include FILM2202 Introduction to Film Art, then one production course, and one course in history or criticism. A selection of three additional courses as electives from the offerings of the film studies program allows the student to pursue individual interests and develop a level of competence in one particular area, such as filmmaking, digital editing, scriptwriting, photography, history of film, or film criticism.

Students interested in the Film Studies minor may contact the Director, Professor John Michalczyk, Film Studies minor Coordinator, Devlin Hall 420, 617-552-3895, john.michalczyk@bc.edu.

Studio Art Minor

The minor in Studio Art offers students the opportunity to pursue a course of study in ceramics, design, digital arts, drawing, mixed media, painting, or photography. There are features of the minor program that resemble, in an abbreviated way, successful aspects of our majors' studio art program. The required Senior Minor Projects class, for example, will function analogously to our Senior Project. This curriculum of six courses is designed to encourage an in-depth investigation of one medium, rather than a generalized sampling of many. The course structure aims at having the individual student develop the artistic techniques and conceptual visual sensibility necessary for working as an artist today. It should be noted students will not be permitted to begin the Studio minor after their junior year. Students who are interested in declaring a minor can contact Professor Hartmut Austen, Studio Art minor Coordinator, Devlin Hall 414, hartmut.austen@bc.edu.

Information for First Year Majors

First Year Art History majors should take ARTH1101 Art from Prehistoric Times to the High Middle Ages with ARTH1103 Art History Workshop. First Year Studio Art majors are advised to select two studio courses from ARTS1101, ARTS1102, ARTS1104, ARTS1107, ARTS1150, ARTS1155, or ARTS1161 before taking ARTS1103. First year Film Studies majors should take FILM2202 Introduction to Film, a required foundation course to ground the student in film language, history, and criticism.

Information for Study Abroad

The Boston College Art, Art History, and Film Department offers study abroad options for Art History, Film Studies, and Studio Art majors. The department assists students with their options under close supervision, as well as providing encouragement.

The Art, Art History, and Film Department believes strongly that study abroad is worthwhile, exposing students to not only other cultures but other forms and traditions of artistic expression. At the same time, it cautions students to consider their growth and development in their specific major and to integrate study abroad with their chosen area of concentration in consultation with their department advisor.

The Art History department advisor is Kenneth Craig, Devlin Hall 424, 617-552-3153, kenneth.craig@bc.edu. The Film Studies department advisor is John Michalczyk, Devlin Hall 434, 617-552-3895, john.michalczyk.1@bc.edu. The Studio Art department advisor is Sheila Gallagher, Devlin Hall 401b, 617-552-0482, Sheila.galagher.2@bc.edu.