Minor in Art History
The Minor in Art History gives students the opportunity to learn about the visual cultures of the past and present around the globe. The 18-unit degree offers a series of increasingly focused courses—200 level survey courses, more specialized 300 and 400 level lecture courses, and a 500 level Advanced Topics—in which students learn how to analyze and interpret visual art within diverse historical, social, political, and cultural contexts. The program takes advantage of the Bay Area's rich cultural resources, galleries, and museums. It provides students with skills and knowledge that will complement many other disciplines and major fields of study within the University. It enhances students’ career outlook by providing a versatile skill set including strong writing, oral communication, critical thinking and visual literacy, which are in demand in a variety of professions in the media, arts, and culture/service/education industries. Admission to the Minor is open to all students with upper division standing and who have completed the two lower-division required courses (either two lower-division Art History courses or one lower-division Art History and one lower-division Studio Art course) with a minimum grade of C.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Gain foundational knowledge of art history in more than one time period and geographical area: identify major artists, works, movements; define key terms, concepts, and theories.
- Demonstrate skills in critical thinking, formal analysis and visual literacy to interpret and evaluate the meaning of art and visual culture.
- Gain verbal expression and oral presentation skills in both informal discussion and formal contexts.
- Understand and apply basic art historical methodology and theoretical models.
- Understand the ethical dimension of artistic practice and scholarship within a global context and in relationship to the dynamics of power--including those of class, gender, race, and geopolitics--as expressed through visual, spatial, institutional, and ideological practices.
Add the minor online through the Student Center "Add Major" section and meet with an art history advisor for approval. A list of departmental advisors and contact information can be found on the school’s website: https://art.sfsu.edu/advising
Art History Minor – 18 units
A minimum of 6 upper-division units are required to complete the minor.
All coursework used to satisfy the requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
Lower-Division Requirements (6 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | |
| Select one: | ||
| Western Art History I | ||
| Western Art History II | ||
| Asian Art History | ||
| Studio Art | 3 | |
| Select one: | ||
| Introduction to Digital Media Arts | ||
| Introduction to Textile Art | ||
| Introduction to Drawing | ||
| Introduction to Printmaking | ||
| Introduction to Contemporary Sculpture | ||
| Introduction to Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to the Darkroom | ||
All lower-division requirements for the minor must be satisfied before advancing to courses numbered 300 and above.
Upper-Division Art History Requirements (9 units)
Select three:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH/LTNS 301 | Latin American and Latino/a/x Art, 1492 to the Present | 3 |
| ARTH 306 | Modern and Contemporary Art in a North American and European Context, 1945-present | 3 |
| ARTH 401/CLAR 420 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| ARTH 402/CLAR 425 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Rome | 3 |
| ARTH 403/SXS 405 | Queer Art History | 3 |
| ARTH 404/CLAR 550 | Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean Bronze Age | 3 |
| ARTH 406 | Global Renaissance and Baroque Art | 3 |
| ARTH 407/CLAR 500 | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTH 409/CLAR 530 | Greek Vase Painting | 3 |
| ARTH 410/CLAR 531 | Greek Sculpture | 3 |
| ARTH 411 | South Asian Art I: Neolithic to Medieval Periods | 3 |
| ARTH 412 | South Asian Art II: Early Modern to Contemporary Periods | 3 |
| ARTH 421 | Special Topics in Art History | 3 |
| ARTH/HUM 496 | Art, Architecture, and Space in the Islamic World | 3 |
One upper-division Studio Art course from the list below may be substituted for one 300-400 level Art History course.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ART 310 | Foundations in Digital Media Art | 3 |
| ART 330 | Foundations in Painting | 3 |
| ART 335 | Foundations in Printmaking Processes: Drawing the Multiple | 3 |
| ART 340 | Foundations in Contemporary Sculpture: Materials & Concepts | 3 |
| ART 345 | Foundations in Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 360 | Foundations in Photography | 3 |
| ART 410 | Conceptual Art After Conceptual Art | 3 |
| ART 411 | Interactive Arts | 3 |
| ART 413 | Video Art | 3 |
| ART 422 | Weaving I: Beginning | 3 |
| ART 423 | Constructed Surfaces | 3 |
| ART 424 | Surface Design Studio | 3 |
| ART 431 | Intermediate Painting | 3 |
| ART 432 | Further Explorations in Drawing | 3 |
| ART 433 | Figure Drawing | 3 |
| ART 434 | Color Workshop | 3 |
| ART 435 | Intermediate Printmaking Workshop | 3 |
| ART 439 | Screen Printing | 3 |
| ART 440 | Sculpture and Expanded Practice | 3 |
| ART 445 | Ceramics on the Wheel | 3 |
| ART 460 | Intermediate Photography | 3 |
| ART 511 | Digital Media and Emerging Technologies: Special Areas | 3 |
| ART 514 | Experimental and Expanded Practices in Video Art | 3 |
| ART 525 | Textiles Studio Process | 3 |
| ART 527 | Repeat Pattern for Fine Art | 3 |
| ART 530 | Advanced Topics in Painting: The Expanded Field | 3 |
| ART 534 | Mixed Media Painting | 3 |
| ART 535 | Artist's Books | 3 |
| ART 536 | Advanced Topics in Printmaking | 3 |
| ART 541 | Installation Art | 3 |
| ART 543 | Hydrarchy: Nautical Art, Watercraft, and the Art of Resistance | 3 |
| ART 545 | Ceramic Sculpture | 3 |
| ART 546 | Glaze Surfaces | 3 |
| ART 548 | Glaze Calculation | 3 |
| ART 549 | Special Topics in Ceramics | 3 |
| ART 555 | The Multiple and Distributed Art | 3 |
| ART 556 | Art and Social Function | 3 |
| ART 563 | Advanced Topics in Photography | 3 |
500-Level Art History (3 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 516 | Advanced Topics in Art History | 3 |