Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts in Art and Architectural History

The Art and Architectural History curriculum provides students with a comprehensive background for understanding both the visual arts and architecture in relation to society, culture, and history. The program employs a multidisciplinary approach to visual culture, drawing from the programs within the School or Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation as well as from subject areas of anthropology, psychology, philosophy and cultural studies. The synergy between these disciplines promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of the arts and of the close connection of materials and process with meaning. In addition to its focus on the built environment, the Art and Architectural History program provides an opportunity for students to study the philosophical, aesthetic, and social meanings of many other kinds of visual cultural products throughout history and to develop the intellectual tools necessary to engage in analytical and critical study of works of art and architecture. The program prepares students to pursue an academic or professional career within the field.

The Art and Architectural History major is complementary to others offered in the School. Compact major requirements also allow students to easily complete a double major in any number of liberal arts fields, or certification program in Elementary or Secondary Education. The program prepares students for graduate study in Art and Architectural History, Museum Studies, Education, and careers in teaching, museum work, art conservation or the commercial art world.

Degree Requirements
The program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Architectural History is a 12-course, 36-credit major. The courses build upon a two-course introductory sequence, a seven-course intermediate level, two advanced seminars and a senior seminar or thesis. This flexible program is tailored to the particular interests and goals of each student who may, beginning at the intermediate level, develop a six-course concentration in either Art History or Architectural History.

All Art and Architectural History majors will be required to complete the equivalent of two years of a modern foreign language before graduating. The two years of language study may be completed by taking four semesters of one foreign language at RWU, or through a proficiency exam placing the student at the appropriate level of study to fulfill the language requirement.

Introductory Courses

Intermediate Courses

And six from the following menu of options

Advanced Seminars
Two of the following:

400 level courses in Art and Architectural History from the Institute for Fine and Liberal Arts of the Palazzo Rucellai.

or

Optional Concentration
Students may elect to pursue a six-course concentration from the intermediate courses and advanced seminars in either Art History or Architectural History.

Bachelor of Arts in Art and Architectural History / Master Of Arts in Art and Architectural History 4+1 Degree Program

Students can expect to complete the degree program sequence through a program of five and one half or six years of study, though students may accelerate through winter intersession or summer study.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree see Undergraduate Degree Requirements above.

In addition to the undergraduate program, students in the B.A./M.A. in Art + Architectural History 4+1 program must complete the minimum of 36 RWU credit hours at the graduate level and one non-credit internship. These 500- and 600-level courses include three-credit classes, a travel course (as an option) of three credits and a non-credit internship. See Master of Arts degree requirements below.

All accepted Master’s students will, in conference with their advisor, develop a personal degree program to include electives from select, existing graduate-level offerings, as needed, in SAAHP (art and architectural history, historic preservation, and architecture) and related graduate programs in the university. The two-year 36-credit graduate curriculum is structured to include twelve (12) core graduate courses and one internship.

Students accepted to the Master’s program who do not have a bachelor of arts in art and architectural history and/or need language preparation, will, in conference with their advisor, develop a customized degree program to include, as needed, select, existing undergraduate-level courses that are already part of the B.A. in Art and Architectural History curriculum and/or university offerings.

Undergraduate coursework or language course work necessary to meet the graduate degree expectations will not count toward the Master’s curriculum total.

At least 30 graduate credits must be taken at RWU.