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Concentration in the History of Art and Architecture

The concentration introduces students to the history of art, architecture and visual culture as a humanistic discipline. They will receive essential training in perceptual, historical and critical analysis that will allow them to pursue career opportunities in art and architectural history as well as a range of other professions. Career choices for students concentrating in History of Art are as diversified as any within the University. In addition to the post-graduate fields with which the discipline is naturally linked-college and university teaching, architecture, gallery and museum curating--graduates pursue careers in education, law, historic preservation, urban planning, and publishing, to cite but a few possibilities.

The concentration allows students to explore a broad variety of courses in Western and Non-Western art and architecture ranging over a wide time period. Students are additionally encouraged to pursue in-depth studies of a particular area or issue through seminar courses. These more advanced courses are designed to give concentrators an awareness of the critical strategies available for interpretation of historical and cultural phenomena, and to foster research skills. The concentration totals eight courses. There are no prerequisites, but a general survey in history of art and architecture such as HIAA 0010, 0020, 0030, or 0040 is an excellent foundation for the concentration. Students may receive concentration credit for two of these courses. Two years of foreign language study are required for concentrators, since foreign language skills are essential for pursuing art historical studies in a professional environment or graduate school.

Since the history of art and architecture addresses issues of practice within specific historical contexts, concentrators are strongly encouraged to take at least one studio art course, and courses in history that pertain to their area of emphasis. Study abroad can be a valuable enrichment of the academic work available on campus, in that it offers opportunities for first-hand knowledge of works of art and monuments as well as providing exposure to foreign languages and cultures. Study abroad should be planned in consultation with the concentration advisor in order to make sure that foreign course work will relate meaningfully to the concentrator's program of study. Only two courses taken outside the department may count for concentration credit (including courses taken abroad and at other institutions in the United States). These credits will be counted as lecture courses, not seminars. The only exception to the two course limitation pertains to transfer students admitted to Brown before the junior year, who are permitted to transfer four credits toward the concentration.

Courses are taught on three levels. HIAA 0010 -00 04 are survey courses meeting for three hours a week of lectures and one of discussion. HIAA 0110 -0940 are general lecture courses meeting a minimum of three hours per week between lectures and discussion. HIAA 1040 - 1890 are seminars dealing with specific problems or issues in, art, architecture and theory and are designed for concentrators or otherwise well-prepared students. Enrollment in seminar courses requires permission of the instructor.

Requirements

The concentration consists of 8 courses (9 for honors):

  • 4 general lecture courses, (HIAA 0010 - HIAA 0940) distributed between three of the seven available areas of the discipline (see list below)
  • 2 seminar courses (numbered between HIAA 1040 and 1890)
  • 2 additional courses (either seminars or lectures), preferably in the student's chosen area of focus (see below).

Distribution:
Students should take courses in three of the following seven areas:

  1. Ancient
  2. Medieval
  3. Islamic
  4. East Asian
  5. Latin American
  6. Early Modern (c.a. 1400-1800)
  7. Modern/Contemporary

Honors

The Honors program in History of Art & Architecture and Architectural Studies will be administered as follows: accepted students will sign up for HA 199 in the Fall and in the Spring. In the Fall, students will meet regularly with the whole Honors group and HAA faculty to discuss methodology and general research and writing questions. In the Spring, students will continue to meet to present their research in progress to each other for comment and feedback. They will also be meeting regularly with their advisors and second readers throughout the year. Finished drafts of the thesis (which will be no more than 30-35 pages in length, not counting bibliography and visual materials) will be due to the advisor and second reader on April 1 of the Spring semester. Comments will be returned to the students for final corrections at that point. There will be a public presentation of the Honors work at the end of the Spring semester.

Students wishing to write an honors thesis should have an A average in the concentration. It is advisable for them to have taken at least one seminar in the department and written a research paper before choosing to undertake a thesis. While acceptance into the Honors program depends on the persuasiveness of the thesis topic as well as the number of students applying, students may refine their proposals by speaking in advance with potential advisors. No honors student may take more than 4 classes either semester of their senior year--HA 199 being considered one of your four classes. Students who are expecting to graduate in the middle of the year are encouraged to discuss a different capstone project with individual advisors or the concentration advisor.

Honors Application Process

Towards the end of the Spring semester all concentrators will be notified via the DUG Listserve that the application process is open. In order to apply to the Honors program each student should write up a proposal of no more than 2 double-spaced pages stating the topic (subject and argument) of the research to be undertaken as clearly as possible, along with a one-page bibliography of the most relevant books and major articles to be consulted for the project. This 3 page application should be submitted, along with a resumé and a printout of the student's most recent available transcript and submitted to the department with a short cover letter stating who you feel the most appropriate advisor and second readers are for the thesis and why, and what your preparation is for this project. Clarity and brevity are considered persuasive virtues in this process. Applicants will be notified about the success of their applications at the end of the Spring semester.