Objectives
Degree programs in the Art Department are defined by the faculty and were developed through the following objectives:
- To offer programs of concentrated study that are sensitive to the needs of students and relate to the overarching goals of the university.
- To ensure well-organized, coherent programs that provide opportunities for synthesis and integration across courses within those programs.
- To help students assimilate the knowledge delivered within the programs and develop the capacity to focus on methods of inquiry and analysis that will enable them to use that knowledge.
- To encourage students to develop a critical perspective that will enable them to learn about and from the variety of views existing within their chosen field of study.
- To guide students in the cultivation of liberal learning by helping them perceive and appreciate the connections among courses in their major and those in other disciplines.
- To assure practical support and encouragement for students' intellectual and creative growth and development by providing opportunities for interaction and dialogue in an environment conducive to learning.
- To present students with a culturally diverse approach to art and to acknowledge biases that may be inherent within the discipline.
- To prepare students for graduate study or employment opportunities within the field.
Degree Worksheet
BA: Art History
BA: Art History
The Bachelor of Arts in Art History is designed for a student whose primary interest is in the study of visual expression of the past, rather than the creation of new and innovative artworks. Upon completion of the degree, graduates will have attained a general knowledge of the monuments and principal artists of major art periods of the past and a broad understanding of the art of the twentieth and twenty-first century.
Coursework
Art History courses focus not only on the material aspects of cultural expression, but also how art reflects other aspects of society, including history, politics, religion, science, and technology. They are designed to provide students with experience looking at art, as well as thinking about the broader issues of the interaction between art and society, and the intersection of economics, religion, and science with visual expression and the built environment. All courses are taught through lecture and discussion, and course assignments include exams, research writing, presentations, and discussions. Active research and writing of analytical and critical essays continue from beginning through advanced level courses. In addition to their Art History courses, students in the major take studio courses as well. This combination of historical study and practical application allows students to develop a deeper understanding of art in all its aspects.
Professional Applications
The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed to provide students with a broad Liberal Arts background, one that emphasizes written and oral communication in addition to critical analysis of evidence and the careful evaluation of data. Students graduating with this degree have pursued careers in a wide variety of areas. For example: public relations, museum administration, teaching, and a variety of jobs in the corporate and business worlds.
Graduate Study
Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Art: Art History degree have pursued graduate work in Art History, Education, Library Studies, Art Conservation, and Arts Administration. Students receiving B.A. degrees at Truman have pursued advanced degrees at the Institute of Art (New York University), Virginia Commonwealth University, American University, George Washington University, University of California-Santa Barbara, Washington University, The John Hopkins University, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Alabama, among others.
Instructors
Dr. Julia DeLancey
Dr. James Harmon
Dr. Sara E. Orel