Art History

The Art History program at Suffolk University offers students a comprehensive exploration of the visual arts across various cultures and historical periods. Designed to cultivate critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for artistic expression, the program provides an interdisciplinary approach that combines historical context, aesthetic theory, and cultural analysis. Students will examine artworks from ancient civilizations to contemporary practices, gaining insights into their societal, political, and religious significance. The curriculum includes coursework in Western and non-Western art traditions, developing a well-rounded understanding of global artistic heritage. Emphasis is placed on developing skills in visual analysis, research, and written communication, preparing graduates for careers in museums, galleries, cultural institutions, education, or further academic study. The program also encourages active engagement with the art community through internships, exhibitions, and collaborative projects, fostering professional development and networking opportunities. Faculty members are experienced scholars and practitioners committed to mentoring students and guiding their intellectual growth. Suffolk University's strategic location in Boston, a city renowned for its rich cultural scene, provides students with unique access to museums, historic sites, and art events, enriching their educational experience. Whether pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Art History or combining it with other disciplines, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze and interpret works of art critically. The program aims to foster a lifelong appreciation of art and its impact on society, shaping students into thoughtful, culturally aware individuals ready to contribute to the arts and cultural sectors.

Detailed Course Facts

• USD 16265 Module (National)

Full-time: 12-17 credits per semester $16,265

• English

Course Content

To meet the requirements for the art history major, students must complete ten courses (38-40 credits).

Foundation Requirement (2 courses, 8 credits)

• ARH-101 Art History I

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A survey of the art of western civilization from prehistoric caves to the cathedrals of the Middle Ages. Works of painting, sculpture, and architecture are presented in their historical context. Course covers Egyptian, Ancient Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, early Islamic, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-102 Art History II

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A survey of the art of Europe and America from the Renaissance to the present. Works of painting, sculpture, and architecture are presented in their historical context. Course covers the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop, and Post-Modernism.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

Upper Level Course Requirement (6-8 courses, 24-32 credits)

Chosen from among the following courses. At least one of the upper-level courses must be an ARH 400-level seminar in art history or ARH-502 Honors Thesis.

• ARH-305 Art of Greece and Rome

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  An examination of the civic, religious, and domestic art and architecture of the Ancient Mediterranean cultures of Greece and Rome. Temples, forums, basilicas, city planning, sculpture, pottery, wall painting, mosaics, and engineering achievements will be examined in their cultural contexts.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-306 Art of the Middle Ages

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Religious and secular painting, sculpture and architecture and the minor arts in the context of medieval civilization. Examples of mosaic, ivory carvings, manuscript illumination, enamel work, stained glass, altarpieces, fresco painting, basilica churches, monasteries, and cathedrals from early Christian, Byzantine, Barbarian, Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, and Gothic periods included.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-307 Art of the Italian Renaissance

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Painting, sculpture and architecture of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in Italy viewed in their cultural context. Issues covered include the search for ideal form, the tools of realism, changes in patronage, and the development of portraiture. Artists include Giotto, Masaccio, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Titian.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-308 Art of the Baroque & Rococo

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A study of 17th and 18th century painting, sculpture and architecture in Italy, Spain and Northern Europe. Artists include Rembrandt, Rubens, Caravaggio, Bernini, Poussin, Velasquez, Watteau, Boucher, Fragonard, Chardin, and Hogarth.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-309 Art of the 19th Century

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A study of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Landscape painting and Impressionism in European painting. Artists include David, Ingres, Friedrich , Constable, Delacroix, Goya, Courbet, Millet, Daumier, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cassatt.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-310 Modernism in Art

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A study of European painting and sculpture from around 1880 to 1940, including Symbolism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Suprematism, Constructivism, De Stijl, The Bauhaus, Dada and Surrealism. Artists include Gauguin, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Braque, Malevich, Mondrian, Duchamp, Masson, Magritte, Dali and Ernst. Normally offered alternate years.

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-311 American Art

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A study of American painting, sculpture, photography and architecture from the colonial period through WWII. Artists include the Freake limner, Smibert, Copley, West, Stuart, Jefferson, Whistler, Sargent, Eakins, Homer, Ryder, Bierstadt, Cole Church, Bingham, Lane, Hosmer, Inness, Sloan, Sullivan, Wright, Hopper, Sheeler, Davis, Shahn, O' Keefe, Dove, Hartley, Marin, Bellows, Riis, Hine, Stieglitz, Strand, Weston, Steichen and Lange.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-312 Art of the Northern Renaissance

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Painting, sculpture, and architecture of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in Northern Europe, viewed in their historical context. Issues included the invention of oil painting, the development of woodcut and engraving, the effect of the Reformation on art, and the relationship to the Renaissance in Italy. Artists include van Eyck, Durer and Brueghel.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-316 Contemporary Art

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A study of European and American art since WWII, including Abstract Expressionism, Colorfield Painting, Pop Art, Minimalism, Neo-Dada, Happenings and Performance Art, Earth Art, Feminism, Neo-Expressionism and Post-Modernism. Artists include Bacon, Giacometti, Hofmann, Pollock, De Kooning, Frankenthaler, Rothko, Newman, Stella, Judd, Andre, Hesse, Calder, David Smith, Serra, Johns, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Smithson, Holt, Christo, Nevelson, Kaprow, Kosuth, Kruger, Sherman, Baldessari, Salle, Polke, Basquiat, Kiefer, and Haring.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  BFA Humanities Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-318 Art and Museums Today

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This course examines the art world of the past 20 or so years with special attention to the roles and exhibition practices of contemporary art museums and galleries. Questions addressed will include: Who are the major artists and what are the major trends in today's art world? What civic and educational roles have museums played historically, and what are their roles today? How do different approaches to exhibit display and interpretation fulfill those roles? Class visits and assignments at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) and other local venues will examine these issues in practical application. This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

  Term:

  Offered Fall Term

  Type:

  Expanded Classroom Requirement,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-321 Women, Art & Society

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This course covers women artists from the sixteenth century to the present as well as the new direction of art-historical scholarship developed by feminist art historians during recent decades.

  Term:

  Offered Spring Term

  Type:

  Cultural Diversity Opt A,Cultural Diversity Opt B,BFA Humanities Requirement,Cultural Diversity BFA,

• ARH-347 History of Photography

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  An introduction to the study of photographs. The history of the medium in Europe and America from its invention to the present. Lectures address photographic theory and methodology, and photographs are studied both as art objects and as historical artifacts. Topics include portraiture, documentary photography and photojournalism, Pictorialism and art photography, landscape photography, and issues of gender, race,identity, and the body.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Humanities Literature Requirement,Humanities & History

• ARH-502 Honors Thesis

  Prerequisites:

  Senior standing & permission of the Dept.Chair.

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A major research project completed under the supervision of a regular faculty member.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• ARH-510 Independent Study

  Prerequisites:

  An independent study form must be submitted to the CAS Dean's Office.

  Credits:

  1.00- 4.00

  Description:

  Students meet with a departmental faculty member to pursue advanced studies in areas of particular interest to them.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

Related Options (maximum of 2 courses, 6-8 credits)

Two of the eight upper-level courses may be taken outside of the Department of World Languages and Cultural Studies, through the art history offerings at NESAD, or in related areas of visual culture such as the philosophy of art, photojournalism, advertising, cinema, and select 3-credit studio art and design courses, such as the following:(Other courses may be permitted at the discretion of the major advisor.)

• ADF-S101 Foundation Drawing I

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  This course concentrates on the traditional techniques of observational drawing. Fundamental principles and elements of drawing are introduced in structured lessons and exercises, which are supplemented by additional outside assignments. Foundation Drawing I stresses the development of visual skills as well as the broad use of drawing concepts, vocabulary, techniques and variety of materials.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• ADF-S123 Painting

  Prerequisites:

  ADF S101, ADF S166

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  In this introductory course, students will learn to accurately perceive relationships of shape, form, color and value, and to translate that information through the medium of paint. In a series of in-class and outside projects on canvas, prepared paper and panel, students will explore various approaches to the use of acrylic and oil paint. Emphasis will be placed on the development of disciplined technical skills as well as the exploration of painting's potential as a medium of communication and creative visual expression.

  Term:

  Offered Spring Term

• ADF-S143 Color

  Prerequisites:

  Intended for majors only

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  This course features a hands-on approach to the study of color as students create, modify and compare hues, values and strengths through the direct mixing and application of paint. Also explored will be issues of color harmony, chromatic light, space, color assimilation, and color psychology, as well as past and present views on the use of color in art and design. This intensive focus on the specific issues of color gives students experience with and flexibility in the use of color in their work.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• ADF-S151 2-Dimensional Design

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  The focus of this course is the fundamental logic and structure of two-dimensional organization. Emphasis will be placed on the essential elements of visual language: line, shape, value and texture. Students will learn to develop dynamic approaches to visual problem solving by combining these elements into a unified whole. Skills will include technical proficiency in a variety of wet and dry media, appropriate presentation of work, and the ability to discuss work critically.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• ADF-S152 3-Dimensional Design

  Prerequisites:

  ADF S151 or ADF S166

  Credits:

  3.00

  Description:

  This course focuses on the fundamental elements of three-dimensional form. Line, plane and volume will be explored as students develop visual analysis and critical thinking skills in the round. The role of scale, proportion, structure, surface, light and display will be addressed, as students create forms that activate space and engage the viewer. The course will proceed from work with simple forms and techniques to more challenging and comprehensive problems addressing both additive and subtractive methods.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• ADFA-304 Art and Architecture of the Italian Renaissance

  Prerequisites:

  ADF-182 and the Fine Art Program Director's consent.

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  This course introduces the students to Italian Renaissance art, artists and culture from the first evidence in the Italian Gothic (around the 1260's) to the Early and High Renaissance, predominantly in Florence and Venice, up to the 1600's. The course will survey the history of painting, sculpture and architecture as we study the works individually, for their formal elements and visual importance, but also within their aesthetic, historic, political and cultural context. Class discussion and a visual analysis of works of art will encourage personal interpretation and critical thinking. A list of terms related to the Renaissances introduces the language of art. Normally offered during the summer. Offered in Italy only.

  Type:

  Expanded Classroom Requirement

• ADFA-306 Art & Culture of Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  The coursework introduces students to the artistic and visual traditions from South and East Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. In addition to the material culture of the particular region under study, the coursework will consider socio-political ideals, religious belief systems, and cultural principles that 'shaped' or informed the work and the ideology of civilizations beyond the Western hemisphere. Comparative analysis among non-western and western traditions will be used to critically analyze the salient points of influence, rejection and modifications of aesthetic affinities. Class lectures will be supplemented with museum seminars specifically the rich non-western collections at the MFA, Boston. Guided field trips to the museum will allow students to formally analyze the works of art discussed in lecture and text material.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Cultural Diversity Opt B,Cultural Diversity BFA,Asian Studies,Humanities & History,Expanded Classroo

• ADFA-345 Art of India

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A chronological survey of South Asian art (2300 BCE - 1750 CE) including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Examination of art and architecture from their first and still mysterious beginnings in the Indus Valley, through the great masterpieces of Buddhist and Hindu art to the coming of Islam, including the eclectic culture of the Mughal courts and the golden age of miniature paintings. Consideration is given to the multiple aspects of patronage in Indian culture - religious, political, economic - through case studies of individual works of art and architecture. (Formerly HUM 345)

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Cultural Diversity Opt B,Humanities Literature Requirement,Asian Studies

• CJN-L218 Photojournalism

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  An introduction to the role of photography in the journalistic process. A discussion of photography as communication and a survey of the history of photography.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

  Type:

  Humanities & History

• CJN-257 Advertising

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Theoretical and practical applications of communication are considered in terms of advertising strategies and campaigns for media.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• CJN-288 Film Language: From Silents to Citizen Kane

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Film history from 1895 - 1940. An introduction to the language and technology of cinema as developed by pioneering filmmakers, and a basic discussion of aesthetics and criticism of film. Key films from the silent era through Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.

  Term:

  Offered Both Fall and Spring

• CJN-290 Women in Struggle on Film

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Problems of women at work and at war, in love, marriage and pregnancy, as seen in Hollywood films, both old and new, and in documentaries. The roles of women are examined historically, psychologically, sociologically, and cinematically. Normally offered yearly.

  Term:

  Offered Fall Term

  Type:

  Humanities & History

• CJN-291 Film Studies: the Modern Era

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  Film history from 1940 until 1970. Includes an emphasis on film aesthetics, criticism, and history from World War II through the end of the Hollywood studio system; from film noir to Italian Neo-Realism to the French New Wave.

  Term:

  Offered Spring Term

  Type:

  Humanities & History

• GER-306 German Cinema

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A survey of films produced in the German speaking countries from the 1920's to the present. Includes the Weimar republic, the Nazi period, postwar production from both East and West Germany, and new trends since reunification. Film esthetics and socio-historical context. All films shown in German with English subtitles.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• SPAN-408 Latin American Cinema

  Prerequisites:

  Take ENG-102 or ENG-103 or Instructor's consent. Span 302 is strongly recommended for Spanish and Latin American & Caribbean Studies majors and minors.

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  A survey of films from Argentina, Mexico, Cuba, and other Latin American countries. Occasionally the course includes films produced in the United States that are directed by Hispanic filmmakers or that illustrate the significance of Hispanic culture in North America. Films in Spanish with English subtitles. Discussions in English. All majors and minors are expected to complete their written assignments in Spanish. Cultural Diversity B. Prerequisite: None. SPAN 290 or 300 are strongly recommended. Normally offered alternate years. 4 credits.

  Term:

  Occasional

  Type:

  Cultural Diversity Opt B,Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• PHIL-219 Philosophy of Art

  Credits:

  4.00

  Description:

  What counts as art? What is beauty? Are there objective standards of beauty? This course examines the nature of aesthetic experience, art, beauty, and creativity. Through the classic and contemporary readings, the students will be introduced to philosophical issues concerning the meaning of art, artistic representation, perceptions of art, interpretation, and criticism. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own experience of art and explore the relationships among the artist, the audience, the artwork, and the world. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every third year.

  Type:

  Humanities & History,Humanities Literature Requirement

• A relevant Seminar for Freshmen with a strong concentration in art history or visual culture may also count toward one of the related options at the discretion of the major advisor.
• Upper-level art history courses taken at other institutions or through study abroad must be approved by the student’s art history advisor (preferably prior to being taken), and must not overlap significantly with any other upper-level art history course(s) counted toward the major.
• Except under special circumstances approved by the student’s art history advisor, at least 6 of the 10 courses (24 of the 38-40 credit hours) must be fulfilled through coursework offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultural Studies.
• AP credit cannot be applied toward the major.

English Language Requirements

TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test : 77

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

We do not use specific minimums for scores or grades in the decision process, but weigh all factors together to gain a whole view of you and your potential for success as a Suffolk University student:

• Level and range of high school courses selected
• Grades achieved (official high school transcript with senior year grades)
• SAT or ACT scores (our code is 3771)
• Recommendations (two required; one from a guidance counselor, one from a teacher)
• The essay
• Other required forms
• Admission interview (optional)
• Transfer students should view the transfer requirements page for more details.

In high school, you should have completed:

• Four units of English
• Three units of mathematics (algebra I and II and geometry)
• Two units of science (at least one with a lab)
• Two units of language
• One unit of American history
• Four units distributed among other college preparatory electives

We may also consider other factors in the review process, such as:

• Class rank
• Honors courses
• AP courses

We are also very interested in personal qualities that will offer us further insights into you as an applicant, including:

• Admission interview
• Extracurricular involvement
• Community service
• Special interests

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Suffolk University.

The Art History program at Suffolk University offers students a comprehensive education in the history, theory, and appreciation of visual arts from diverse cultures and periods. The program is designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of artistic developments within historical contexts. Students have the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics, including the origins of art in ancient civilizations, the masterpieces of classical, medieval, Renaissance, modern, and contemporary art, and the influence of cultural, political, and social factors on artistic expression. The curriculum typically includes courses in art analysis, museum studies, and visual culture, preparing graduates for careers in art curation, education, conservation, and related fields. Suffolk University's location in Boston provides students ample access to world-class museums, galleries, and historic sites, enhancing experiential learning. The program may also include opportunities for internships, study abroad programs, and research projects, fostering practical skills and professional development. Graduates of the Art History program are equipped to pursue further graduate studies or enter the workforce with a solid foundation in art appreciation, critique, and historical research. The faculty comprises experienced professionals and scholars dedicated to mentoring students and fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity. Overall, the program aims to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of art's role in human culture and history, preparing students for diverse careers in the arts, education, and cultural sectors.