Bachelor of Arts in Art History Roadmap

120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 36

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterUnits
Select one of the following (Lower-Division Core): 3
Western Art History I (C1)
Western Art History II (C1)
Asian Art History (C1, GP)
ENG 114 Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 3
GE Area A 2 3
GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 3
GE Area C: Arts or Humanities (C2) 3
 Units15
Second Semester
Major Studio Requirement 4 3
GE Area A 3
GE Area E 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Third Semester
Select one of the following not already completed (Lower-Division Core): 3
Western Art History I (C1)
Western Art History II (C1)
Asian Art History (C1, GP)
GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 3-4
GE Area D 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15-16
Fourth Semester
GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 3-4
GE Area D 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three 5 9
 Units15-16
Fifth Semester
ARTH 400GW Writing About Art - GWAR 3
Upper-Division Art History Lecture – Take Two 7 6
GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units15
Sixth Semester
ARTH 516 Advanced Topics in Art History (Major Core) 8 3
Upper-Division Art History Lecture – Take One 7 3
GE Area F ± 3
GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences 3
U.S. and California Government 3
 Units15
Seventh Semester
ARTH 516 Advanced Topics in Art History (Major Core) 8 3
ARTH 602 Art History Seminar (Major Capstone) 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three 5 9
 Units15
Eighth Semester
Art History Elective 9 3
Internship/Visual Studies Elective 10 3
GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 5 6
 Units15
 Total Units120-122
1

ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.

2

To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.

3

To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.

4

Major Studio Requirement
ART 210 Introduction to Digital Media Arts (3 units)
ART 222 Introduction to Textile Art (3 units)
ART 231 Introduction to Drawing (3 units)
ART 235 Introduction to Printmaking (3 units) (C1)
ART 240 Introduction to Contemporary Sculpture (3 units) (C1)
ART 245 Introduction to Ceramics (3 units) (C1)
ART 260 Introduction to the Darkroom (3 units)

5

Complementary Studies

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Art must complete 12 units of Complementary Studies from courses bearing a prefix other than ARTH, and not cross-listed with ARTH.

Students may satisfy this requirement in a variety of ways designed to facilitate timely graduation. Under advisement students may complete one of the following:

  • 12 units of coursework in a single foreign language,
  • Museum Studies Minor,
  • an approved study abroad program,
  • partial completion of a second major, minor, or
  • 12 units of coursework in a related area of study.

Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their major advisor toward completion of this requirement. 

Students who have earned AA-T or AS-T degrees and are pursuing a similar B.A. degree at SF State are required to fulfill the Complementary Studies requirement as defined by the major department. Students should consult with a major advisor about how transfer units and SF State units can best be applied to this requirement to ensure degree completion within 60 units.

6

Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied. 

7

Upper-Division 300–400 Level Art History Lectures (9 units)
ARTH 301/LTNS 301 Latin American and Latino/a/x Art, 1492 to the Present (3 units)
ARTH 306 Modern and Contemporary Art in a North American and European Context, 1945-present (3 units)
ARTH 401/CLAR 420 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece (3 units)
ARTH 402/CLAR 425 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome (3 units)
ARTH 403/SXS 405 Queer Art History (3 units)
ARTH 404/CLAR 550 Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age (3 units)
ARTH 406 Global Renaissance and Baroque Art (3 units)
ARTH 407/CLAR 500 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (3 units) (UD-C)
ARTH 408/CLAR 555 ( units)
ARTH 409/CLAR 530 Greek Vase Painting (3 units)
ARTH 410/CLAR 531 Greek Sculpture (3 units)
ARTH 411 South Asian Art I: Neolithic to Medieval Periods (3 units)
ARTH 412 South Asian Art II: Early Modern to Contemporary Periods (3 units)
ARTH 421 Special Topics in Art History (3 units)
ARTH 496/HUM 496 Art, Architecture, and Space in the Islamic World (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

8

Students must take ARTH 516 twice with two different topics.

9

Art History Elective (3 units)

One additional 300–600 level Art History course that was not used to fulfill one of the above requirements. Choose from the following:

ARTH 301/LTNS 301 Latin American and Latino/a/x Art, 1492 to the Present (3 units)

ARTH 306 Modern and Contemporary Art in a North American and European Context, 1945-present (3 units)

ARTH 401/CLAR 420 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece (3 units)

ARTH 402/CLAR 425 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome (3 units)

ARTH 403/SXS 405 Queer Art History (3 units)

ARTH 404/CLAR 550 Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age (3 units)

ARTH 406 Global Renaissance and Baroque Art (3 units)

ARTH 407/CLAR 500 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (3 units) (UD-C)

ARTH 408/CLAR 555 ( units)

ARTH 409/CLAR 530 Greek Vase Painting (3 units)

ARTH 410/CLAR 531 Greek Sculpture (3 units)

ARTH 411 South Asian Art I: Neolithic to Medieval Periods (3 units)

ARTH 412 South Asian Art II: Early Modern to Contemporary Periods (3 units)

ARTH 421 Special Topics in Art History (3 units)

ARTH 496/HUM 496 Art, Architecture, and Space in the Islamic World (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

ARTH 516 Advanced Topics in Art History (3 units)

ARTH 602 Art History Seminar (3 units)

ART 619 Exhibition Design (3 units)

ART 671 Internships in the Visual Arts (1-3 units)

10

Internship/Visual Studies Elective (3 units)

AA S 514 ( units) (UD-C, AERM)

AA S 516 Asian American Photographic Explorations (3 units) (UD-C, AERM)

AA S 588 Asian American Media Workshop (3 units) (UD-C, AERM)

AIS 325 American Indian Art (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)

ANTH 326 Origins of Art and Visual Representation (3 units)

ART 619 Exhibition Design (3 units)

ART 671 Internships in the Visual Arts (1-3 units)

HUM 325/CMX 325 Comics and Culture (3 units)

HUM 390 Images of Eroticism (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

HUM 490 American Images: Photography and Literature (3 units) (UD-C)

HUM 496/ARTH 496 Art, Architecture, and Space in the Islamic World (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

HUM 531 Images of Modern China (3 units)

LS 426 Thought and Image: Creative Arts (3 units)

PHIL 460 Philosophy of Art (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

WGS 303 Women as Creative Agents (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)

WGS 516 ( units)

±

Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.