Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor.

Themes and imagery in art from early Greece to the modern era.

Introduces study, principle, and understanding of art of architecture. Approach varies with instructor; may be historical, geographical, technical, or thematic.

Focuses on skills and methods of learning as well as subject matter as a way of introducing the discipline of art history.

Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages.

Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas.

Introduces the arts of South, Southeast, and east Asia. Examines aspects of the culture and history of Asia. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media and their relation to social and historical contexts.

Introduces arts of Latin America from pre-Columbian to modern era. Discusses important examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to culture and history of region.

Studies traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region.

Explores problems in urban design in a particular geographical region or historical period. Approach varies with instructor and may involve archaeological or theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific context.

Studies in modern architecture from the Beaux Arts movement to the present; an investigation of stylistic, structural, or theoretical innovations.

Aspects of the art, archaeology, and culture of ancient Near East and Bronze Age Mediterranean. Approach varies depending on instructor; emphasis may be on Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Anatolia, the Levant, or the Aegean.

Introduction to Islamic art, from the time of Muhammad to present. Cultural and regional approach, utilizing local museum collections.

History of ancient Greek architecture, sculpture, and painting.

History of Roman architecture, sculpture, and painting.

Arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of history and culture of the period. Explores the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques.

Aspects of medieval art and culture in eastern Mediterranean world. Topics may include late antiquity, early Christianity, and the Byzantine empire and its neighbors. Designed to take advantage of unique local museum resources.

Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period.

Explores aspects of the art, architecture, and archeology of medieval England. Special emphasis may be placed on Cultural contexts and literary sources.

Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Giotto, Ghiberti, Masaccio, and Botticelli.

Studies in the art of France, Germany, and the Netherlands in the age of Van Eyck and Dürer.

Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. Â

Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Caravaggio, Bernini, Velazquez, and Poussin.

Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.

Development of photography from origins in France in the 19th century to the present.

Introduction to the art and architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics focus on specific art forms, media, geographic regions, or the thematic categories.

Movements from neoclassicism to symbolism discussed in relation to social, cultural, political, and technological changes in Europe.

Study of major movements (fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, and expressionism) and important artists in 20th-century painting and sculpture.

Studies in the history of American architecture or decorative arts in cultural context. Topics range from 17th century to 20th century, depending on instructor.

Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity).

Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media.

Explores visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets.

Major movements and important artists in 20th-century Latin American art discussed in relation to social, cultural, and political conditions in the region.

Focuses on sub-Saharan African art in terms of styles and aesthetics; materials and techniques; and geographical, social, cultural, and religious contexts. Specific focus of course may vary with instructor.

History, culture, and arts of south Asia from earliest civilizations along the Indus River to onset of Western colonialism. Emphasizes role of material evidence in the creation of the South Asian history and how political, social, and religious developments affected the arts. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to historical contexts.

Examines various cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to onset of colonialism. Lectures and discussions focus on material culture of the great civilizations that arose within borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia.

Explores the complex and dynamic history of China by examining ways in which social, religious, and political shifts have given rise to new and variant forms of material culture.

Art and architecture of Japan, with particular attention to the ways political changes, religious movements, and social developments influenced and shaped those creations. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to social and historical contexts.

Explores luxury arts and material culture of Eurasian trade routes between Mediterranean and China in historical, religious, and social contexts. Emphasizes cultural interactions in medieval Central Asia.

Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor.

Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor.

Study abroad. Course topics, content, and locations vary.

Topics vary.

Historical investigation of theories, methods, and critiques involved in the discipline of art history. Approach or focus may vary with instructor.

Studies a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, Near East, or Middle East. Topics may be art form or medium, geographical area, theme, function, or context.

Studies a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within medieval Eurasian world.

Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area.

Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions.

Studies a particular area of American art, focusing on a form, such as landscape or genre painting; theme, such as nationalism, regionalism, or iconography of the family; or movement, such as American modernism.

Study of a particular topic in 20th-century Latin American art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions.

Study of a topic in contemporary art in a research seminar setting. Focus on particular theme, region, artist, or medium, or take a comparative approach.

Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium.

Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor.

Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor.

Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Involves directed readings.

Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Culminates in research paper related to subject of readings.

Conduct hands-on research with objects and primary and secondary sources. Select particular artifacts, works of art, or group of objects and undertake original research, and bring objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Develops skills in material analysis, critical reading, and academic writing. Focuses on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms.

Seminar-style discussion on specific subjects in art history.

Studies traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region.

Explores problems in urban design in a particular geographical region or historical period. Approach varies with instructor and may involve archaeological or theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific context.

Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period.

Introduction to the art and architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Topics focus on specific art forms, media, geographic regions, or the thematic categories.

Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity).

Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media.

Topics vary.

Studies a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, Near East, or Middle East. Topics may be art form or medium, geographical area, theme, function, or context.

Studies a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within medieval Eurasian world.

Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area.

Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions.

Study of a particular topic in 20th-century Latin American art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions.

Study of a topic in contemporary art in a research seminar setting. Focus on particular theme, region, artist, or medium, or take a comparative approach.

Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium.

Seminar-style discussion on specific subjects in art history.

A writing-intensive course designed to equip students with the skills required for professional scholarship in the history of decorative arts. Examines a variety of theories and methods for analyzing objects. Teaches visual and contextual analysis skills as well as critical thinking about and documentation of primary and secondary sources.

Overview of European decorative arts from fifteenth to eighteenth centuries, with focus on objects from Italy, France, and England. Examines the role of decorative arts in the formation of identity of the elite in Renaissance Italy as well as Renaissance France and England. Also concentrates on European decorative arts from seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with emphasis on Paris and London.

This writing-intensive course is designed to equip students with the skills required for professional scholarship in the history of decorative arts. Students will examine a variety of theories and methods for analyzing objects through assigned readings, class discussions, and short writing assignments.

Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor.

Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations.

Independent reading and research on specific project under direction of department member.

Topics vary.

Investigates theories, methods, and research strategies in discipline of art history. Designed for first-semester students in art history MA program; foundation for further graduate-level work in the program.

Offers graduate-level survey in academic art history led by an instructor of record, with input from full Art History faculty. Participants review the current field through lectures, focused readings and group discussions with relevant faculty member. Participants may read in more depth in areas of special interest. Provides preparation for MA exams and professional preparation for teaching.

Covers the analysis of objects and design from a number of different perspectives: cultural studies, art history, Marxism, the Frankfurt School, and feminism among others. Offers  different tools and viewpoints for each approach to analyze and understand decorative arts.

Survey of a single decorative art including media and methods of production. Covers connoisseurship issues such as identifying materials and techniques, fakes, forgeries, repairs, reproductions.

Introduction to traditions that have contributed to the field of material culture study. Examines a broad range of the material world from the past to the present. Surveys the field’s historical roots and examines approaches to material culture scholarship.

Examines one or more European decorative arts from periods from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Arts may include tapestries, pottery and ceramics, silver, furnishing, jewelry and metalwork, glass as well as distinctive stylistic periods.

Examines specific key media, moments, or locations in the global decorative arts beyond the Western tradition.

Explores the role of museums, through presentations by key museum personnel and discussion of required readings. Administrators, curators, conservators, educators, editors, among others, work with students to expand their knowledge of how museums function.

Examination of key moments in design history. Through focus on the chosen topic, discusses the nature of design. Covers history of interiors, furniture and architecture, and theories of design and design composition.

Designed to prepare students for comprehensive exams by integrating past work and filling gaps in expected knowledge before the exam.

Research seminar on aspects of art history. Topics vary, but course entails extensive critical readings and discussion, development of bibliographies, and advanced-level research papers.

Research and writing on approved thesis topic under direction of thesis committee.

Topics vary.

Research seminar on aspects of art history. Topics vary, but course entails extensive critical readings and discussion, development of bibliographies, and advanced-level research papers.