Students studying Art History survey the history of western architecture, sculpture, and painting from circa 2400 B.C. to 1500 A.D. and later from circa 1450 to the post-modern present. In addition to examining art within its historical context and exploring human cultural diversity, students will gain fundamental skills of visual analysis, acquiring the vocabulary and concepts needed to discuss works of art orally and in writing. In upper level studies, topics are chosen from four major periods: ancient, medieval, renaissance, and baroque. Beyond gaining an understanding of the historical and theoretical foundations of the art works from a particular period, students will also become acquainted with many other contextual factors, including aspects of religious, social, political, and economic life.

Below is a list of Art History Theses:

“Artistic Fascination with the Laocoön: An Interest Beyond the Visual,” Anne Calvignac, 2002

“Terror, Murder, Remembrance and Hope: The Oklahoma City National Memorial and How It Changed Public Art,” Erin R. Bradley, 2002

“Damnation and Salvation: An Examination of Last Judgments,” Erika Spruill, 2001

“What did Jesus Look Like? Creating an Image of Jesus: The Beginning and the Future,” Nikki Benfield, 2000

“Andrew Wyeth: An In-depth Look at The Helga Series,” Sandra Hartmann, 2000

“The Mérode Altarpiece,” Kelly Leonard, 2000

“The Equivocal Language of Fragonard’s The Bolt,” Kendra Scarabin, 2000

“The Painter and the Photographer,” Tracy Herndon Carhart, 1999

“Two American Artists: Georgia O’Keeffe & Lee Krasner,” Janet Butler-Stephens, 1999

“Antiquarian Images in Pre-Raphaelite Art,” Hope Whiteford, 1999

“Modest Maidens: A Voyage into the Imagery of American Artist Winslow Homer,” Alison Bean, 1998

“The Sistine Ceiling Rediscovered,” Jennifer Brown, 1998

“Studies in Public Art,” Collyn Evans, 1997

"The Haussmannization and its Effects on Late Nineteenth-Century French Art," Cara Kroenke, 1997

“The Femme Fatale in Late Nineteenth-Century France and Britain and Her Incorporation into the Arts,” Carrie Elizabeth Snider, 1997

“The Pre-Raphaelites and the Role of Victorian Woman,” Katherine Shea Anderson, 1994

“Victorian Architecture: The Heck Houses,” Sala Clark, 1994

“Pictorial Documents in American Nervousness: The Portraiture of Thomas Eakins,” Beth Davis, 1994

"The Cutouts of Henri Matisse," Katie Kincaid, 1994

• 2-D Design • 3-D Design • Art Education • Art History • Book Design • Ceramics • Color Theory • Digital Imaging
• Drawing • Fibers • Graphic Design • Illustration • Metals • Painting • Photography • Printmaking • Sculpture

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