2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/faa/art-art-history-bfa/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Art History
The Program in Art & Art History at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is unique. Housed in the School of Art & Design in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Program in Art History offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in a combined Art History and Studio/Design course of study, providing a broad cultural education that unites academic and studio training. Students who earn this degree will be qualified to pursue a range of careers, museum work, or graduate study in either art history or studio practice.
Students in the School of Art and Design must complete the Campus General Education requirements. Some Art and Design courses will also apply toward the General Education requirements.
Students majoring in this degree program must complete the First Year Curriculum requirements before beginning other major requirements.
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
Departmental Distinction: a student must earn a 3.25 overall GPA, and 3.50 GPA in Art History. The student will complete at least 4 semester hours of independent research to write a senior research paper. See the undergraduate adviser for further details.
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Art History
A portfolio review is required for admission to the School of Art and Design.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 122 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in Art and Design.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Composition I | | 4-6 | | Advanced Composition | | 3 | | Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | | 6 | | fulfilled by ARTH 110 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | | | | Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | | 6 | | Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | | 6 | | Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | | 3 | | fulfilled by ARTH 110 | | | | Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | | 6-10 | | Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | | 0-15 |
First Year Curriculum
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 | | ARTF 101 | Contemporary Issues in Art | 2 | | ARTE 101 | Art, Design, and Society | 2 | | ARTH 110 | Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture | 3 | | ARTF 103 | Design I | 3 | | ARTF 105 | Design II | 3 | | Select one Drawing course: | | 3 | | ARTF 102 | Observational Drawing | | | ARTF 104 | Expressive Drawing | | | ARTF 106 | Visualization Drawing | | | Total Hours | | 17 |
Art History
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | 6 courses at the 200-400 level (3 credit hours each) | | 18 | | Students must take at least one course in three of the following areas: 1) Africa and the Middle East; 2) Asia; 3) the Americas; 4) Europe; Students must also take at least one course that covers material before 1700 and one course must cover material after 1700. | | | | Though students must take a total of 6 courses, some courses may count toward the fulfillment of more than one area and period requirement. For instance, a course in 20th century African art could count as a class covering both Africa and the Middle East and material after 1700. | | | | With an advisor’s approval, up to 6 credit hours of courses in the history of architecture or landscape architecture at the 200-400 may be taken towards the fulfillment of these required hours. | | | | Other courses may be approved in consultation with the advisor. | | | | 1. Africa and the Middle East | | | | ARTH 220 | African Arts and Architecture | | | ARTH 310 | African Art and Society I | | | ARTH 312 | Central African Art | | | ARTH 313 | Modern and Contemp African Art | | | ARTH 410 | West African Art and Ideas | | | ARTH 413 | Sacred African Diaspora Arts | | | ARTH 219 | Islamic Gardens & Architecture | | | 2. Asia | | | | ARTH 212 | East Asian Art History | | | ARTH 214 | Art in China | | | ARTH 320 | Sacred Sites in Japan | | | ARTH 402 | Ways of Seeing in Edo Japan | | | ARTH 403 | Word and Image in Chinese Art | | | ARTH 404 | China through Film | | | 3. The Americas | | | | ARTH 242 | Art Since 1940 | | | ARTH 250 | American Art | | | ARTH 260 | Graffiti and Murals | | | ARTH 342 | Arts of Colonial Latin America | | | ARTH 343 | Arts of Modern Latin America | | | 4. Europe | | | | ARTH 215 | Greek Art | | | ARTH 218 | Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | | | ARTH 222 | Medieval Art | | | ARTH 230 | Italian Renaissance Art | | | ARTH 231 | Northern Renaissance Art | | | ARTH 235 | Art, Power and Culture in 17th-Century Europe | | | ARTH 241 | Modern Art, 1880-1940 | | | ARTH 242 | Art Since 1940 | | | ARTH 344 | Spanish Modern Art | | | ARTH 415 | The Archaeology of Greece | | | ARTH 416 | The Archaeology of Italy | | | ARTH 423 | Romanesque Art | | | ARTH 424 | Gothic Art | | | ARTH 430 | Topics: Italian Art 1300-1500 | | | ARTH 431 | Topics: Northern Art 1300-1500 | | | ARTH 432 | Sixteenth-Century Italian Art | | | ARTH 433 | Fifteenth-Century Italian Art | | | ARTH 435 | Italian Baroque Art | | | ARTH 436 | 17th-Century Dutch & Flemish Art | | | ARTH 440 | Romantic Art | | | ARTH 443 | The Russian Avant-Garde: Revolutionary Forms and Socialist Norms | | | ARTH 445 | European Art Between the Wars | | | ARTH 447 | France and Its Others | | | At least one course must cover material before 1700 | | | | ARTH 215 | Greek Art | | | ARTH 218 | Ancient Greek Sanctuaries | | | ARTH 222 | Medieval Art | | | ARTH 230 | Italian Renaissance Art | | | ARTH 231 | Northern Renaissance Art | | | ARTH 235 | Art, Power and Culture in 17th-Century Europe | | | ARTH 342 | Arts of Colonial Latin America | | | ARTH 360 | Women and the Visual Arts | | | ARTH 415 | The Archaeology of Greece | | | ARTH 416 | The Archaeology of Italy | | | ARTH 423 | Romanesque Art | | | ARTH 424 | Gothic Art | | | ARTH 430 | Topics: Italian Art 1300-1500 | | | ARTH 431 | Topics: Northern Art 1300-1500 | | | ARTH 432 | Sixteenth-Century Italian Art | | | ARTH 433 | Fifteenth-Century Italian Art | | | ARTH 435 | Italian Baroque Art | | | ARTH 436 | 17th-Century Dutch & Flemish Art | | | ARCH 412 | Medieval Architecture | | | ARCH 414 | | | | At least one course must cover material after 1700 | | | | ARTH 211 | Design History Survey | | | ARTH 240 | Art of the Nineteenth Century | | | ARTH 241 | Modern Art, 1880-1940 | | | ARTH 242 | Art Since 1940 | | | ARTH 257 | History of Photography | | | ARTH 260 | Graffiti and Murals | | | ARTH 300 | Art Criticism and Writing | | | ARTH 343 | Arts of Modern Latin America | | | ARTH 344 | Spanish Modern Art | | | ARTH 345 | Realism to Postimpressionism | | | ARTH 350 | American Art 1750-1900 | | | ARTH 351 | Early American Modernism | | | ARTH 361 | Contemporary Art | | | ARTH 440 | Romantic Art | | | ARTH 443 | The Russian Avant-Garde: Revolutionary Forms and Socialist Norms | | | ARTH 445 | European Art Between the Wars | | | ARTH 447 | France and Its Others | | | ARTH 450 | Institutional Critique | | | ARCH 415 | Modernity’s Mirror: Nineteenth-Century Architecture 1750-1900 | | | ARCH 416 | The Architecture of the United States, c.1650 to Present | | | ARCH 417 | Modern and Contemporary Global Architecture | | | One Advanced art history course (ARTH) 300 or 400 level not used elsewhere | | | | Total Hours | | 18 |
Art History Seminar
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | ARTH 495 | Undergraduate Seminar in Art History (3 hours, completed twice) | 6 |
Art & Design Electives
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | 5 ARTS or ARTD courses (at any level) | | 15 | | Seven (7) additional courses in the School of Art and Design (at any level), including courses with the following rubrics: ARTE, ARTD, ARTH, ARTJ or ARTS | | 21 | | Total Hours | | 36 |
Summary of Credit Hours for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Art History
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | General Education | | | | First-Year Curriculum | | 17 | | Art History | | 18 | | Art History Seminar | | 6 | | Art & Design Electives | | 36 | | Electives to bring the total hours earned to 122, including a minimum of 40 credits at the 300- or 400-level. | | | | Total Hours | | 122 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Art History
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| FAA 101 | 1 |
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTF 101 | 2 |
| ARTF 103 | 3 |
| ARTH 110 | 3 |
| ARTF ### (Drawing Category) | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTE 101 | 2 |
| Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| ARTF 105 | 3 |
| ARTS or ARTD course (any level) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTS or ARTD course (any level) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTS or ARTD course (any level) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 200-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTS or ARTD course (any level) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 495 | 3 |
| ARTH 300-400 level course | 3 |
| ARTS or ARTD course (any level) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| ARTH 495 | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| Art & Design Elective (ARTS, ARTD, ARTE, ARTH, or ARTJ courses not otherwise required in the major) | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
Total Hours: 122
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Art History
- Students will develop art historical knowledge and skills in tandem with their development of a studio or design practice.
- Students will be able to demonstrate familiarity with key artistic monuments and modes of art production from various global contexts.
- Students will be able to analyze and interpret works of art and architecture situated in a variety of historical and social contexts, and in comparative perspective.
- Students will be able to use visual and verbal primary sources, secondary sources, and core critical frameworks of art historical analysis to develop and articulate persuasive arguments about works of art and the cultures that produced them.
for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Art History
School of Art & Design
School of Art & Design\ Art & Design faculty\ Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Kristin Romberg\ 143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820
Advising
Academic Advisor: Bryan VanGinhoven\ 143 Art and Design Building, Champaign, IL 61820\ (217) 300-2520\ Advising email: bvanginh@illinois.edu
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Admissions
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions\ FAA Undergraduate Advising\ admissions@illinois.edu