Art (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Art
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Art and Design
Academic Plan Code(s): ART BA, ART BA STA, ART BA ARH (Track in Art History)
Program Information
The Department of Art and Design, endowed as the Hite Institute of Art and Design, offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with two tracks: Studio Art and Art History.
The Studio Art track is a mixed-media program primarily intended for art students who wish to receive a broad experience in studio practice within the context of a liberal arts education. Areas of study include ceramics, drawing, fiber/mixed media, glass, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and special topics.
The Art History track introduces students to the history and appreciation of the visual arts and provides students with an in-depth understanding of the history of art, architecture, and visual culture — their production, circulation, and reception — while teaching them to interrogate visuality more broadly. Areas of study include Renaissance and Baroque Art in Italy, Spain, and Northern Europe; Mexican Art; 19th and 20th Century Architecture; American Art; Film; Modern, Contemporary western, and Contemporary Art and Theory; and Asian and Non-western Art and Architecture. Courses are also offered in curatorial studies, historic interiors, the history of drawing and prints, the history of photography, and the history of graphic design.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
College/School Requirements | 22 | |
Program/Major Requirements 1 | 36-40 | |
Supporting Courses | 18 | |
Minimum Electives 1 | 10-14 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 121 |
1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework. |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Accelerated BA/MA in Art History
Students enrolled in the BA in Art track in Art History who are considering pursuing a master's degree (MA) in Art History can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA/MA program take three 500-level graduate courses (nine (9) credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor's degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students must apply to the program no later than the end of their junior year to be eligible to enroll in graduate coursework in their final year of the program. Students must have at least a 3.0 university grade point average when they apply and must maintain a 3.0 once accepted. Once admitted to the accelerated BA/MA program, students are expected to maintain a full graduate load of nine (9) credit hours.
Once accepted into the program, students complete nine (9) credit hours of 500-level graduate coursework during their final year of undergraduate studies. They then graduate with a bachelor's degree and move straight into the University of Louisville Master of Arts program. Students in the accelerated program must meet all of the requirements for the Master of Arts, including completing at least 12 credit hours of their 31 credit hour program in 600-level courses.
Departmental Admission Requirements
To qualify for admission to the Department of Art and Design, students must:
1. Be admitted to the University in Good Standing,
2. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5,
3. Meet the minimum overall grade point standards for the College of Arts & Sciences.
In addition, a grade of D in any department course at the 300 level or above may not be used to fulfill a departmental requirement. A grade of C-minus or better is required in all 300- and 500-level courses in the major.
Enrolled University of Louisville students may apply for major via ULink. Incoming and transfer students must be accepted by the University first, and then may apply for major.
Studio art courses may be restricted to majors only.
General Education Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | ||
Two of the following: | ||
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
or ARTH 270 | Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | |
or ARTH 290 | Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 |
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
Electives in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences 2 | 9 | |
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
Minimum Total Hours | 22 |
Program/Major Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Department of Art and Design | ||
Select two of the following: 4 | 6 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Art History elective at the 300 level or above | 3 | |
Studio Art elective at the 300 level | 3 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 12 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Studio Art Track (see Track Requirements tab) | 28 | |
Art History Track (see Track Requirements tab) | 24 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Supporting Courses | ||
Electives in Humanities disciplines, other than Art or Art History, at the 300 level or above | 15 | |
WR Elective in Humanities discipline, other than Art or Art History, at the 400 level or above | 3 | |
Minimum Electives 5, 6, 7 | 10-14 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 121 |
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
Track in Studio Art requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
Studio Art Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE | ||
Track in Art History requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
Art History Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE |
A grade of C-minus or better is required in all 300-level and 500-level courses in the major.
40 hours minimum total for Studio Art track; 36 hours minimum total for Art History track.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
1 | Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language. |
2 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above. |
3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements. |
4 | Fulfills General Education AH requirement. |
5 | Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
6 | For the track in Art History a maximum of 4 hours in Art History or Studio Art may be used in the free electives. |
7 | For the track in Studio Art the free electives must be outside Art History or Studio Art. |
Track Requirements
Track in Studio Art
Academic Plan Code(s): ART BA STA
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ART 105 | Foundation 2-D Design | 3 |
ART 106 | Foundation 3-D Design | 3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
ART 206 | Foundation Art Concepts and Methods | 3 |
or ART 207 | Foundation Figure Drawing | |
Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Introduction to Painting | ||
Drawing and Composition | ||
Introduction to Glassmaking Techniques | ||
Introduction to Sculpture | ||
Introduction to Clay | ||
Introduction to Printmaking | ||
Introduction to Black and White Photography | ||
Introduction to Interior Design | ||
Introduction to Fiber/Mixed Media | ||
Papermaking | ||
Introduction to Book Arts | ||
Special Problems in Studio Art | ||
ART 599 | Studio Art Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE | 1 |
Electives in Art at the 500 level | 6 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 28 |
Track in Art History
Academic Plan Code(s): ART BA ARH
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Period/Area Courses | ||
Select a minimum of one course from each of the following three period/areas: | ||
Period/Area 1 - Pre 1750: | 3 | |
History of Drawing and Prints | ||
Greek Art and Architecture | ||
Roman Art and Architecture | ||
Early Medieval Art and Architecture - WR | ||
Late Medieval Art and Architecture - WR | ||
Byzantine Art & Architecture | ||
Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
Italian Renaissance Art I | ||
Italian Renaissance Art II | ||
Northern Renaissance Art | ||
Baroque Art | ||
Studies in Ancient Art | ||
Ancient Painting | ||
Ancient Cities | ||
Studies in Medieval Art | ||
Studies in Renaissance Art | ||
History of Drawing and Prints | ||
Studies in Baroque Art | ||
Period/Area 2 - After 1750 | 3 | |
Twentieth-Century Art | ||
Art 1900-1945 | ||
Pop Art & Fluxus | ||
Art Since 1945 | ||
International Trends in Contemporary Art | ||
African-American Art to 1920 | ||
African-American Art 1920 to Present | ||
Nineteenth-Century Art | ||
Nineteenth-Century Architecture | ||
Twentieth-Century Architecture | ||
American Art I | ||
American Art II | ||
History of Photography | ||
History of Landscape Architecture | ||
Studies in Modern Art | ||
Representations of Trauma in the Visual Arts | ||
Studies in Contemporary Art | ||
Studies in Modern Architecture | ||
Studies in American Art | ||
Studies in Photographic History | ||
Period/Area 3 - Non-Western: | 3 | |
Chinese Art | ||
Twentieth Century Chinese Artists and Architects - AH, D2 | ||
Eastern Asia Landscape Art | ||
Architecture and Gardens in China and Japan | ||
African Art: A Survey | ||
Contemporary Trends in African-American Art - WR | ||
Mexican Art and Architecture | ||
Studies in Asian Art | ||
Pan-African Art: Form and Content | ||
Contemporary Trends in African-American Art | ||
Art History 300 level | 3 | |
Art History 500 level | 6 | |
ARTH 541 | Theories & Methods in the Visual Arts | 3 |
ARTH 550 | Art History Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE | 3 |
Minimum Total Hours | 24 |
Of the total 33 hours in Art History (inclusive of program/major requirements), 15 hours must be at the 300 level or above and 12 hours must be at the 500 level.
A maximum of 4 hours in Art History or Studio Art may be used in the free electives.
Total minimum electives: 14 hours
Flight Pan
Track in Studio Art
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 107 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
ART 105 or ART 106 |
Foundation 2-D Design or Foundation 3-D Design |
3 |
ART 206 | Foundation Art Concepts and Methods | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Art Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Art Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Foreign Language 2 | 4 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
Art Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Art History Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
WR Course (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
Art Elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
General Elective (300 level or above) | 1 | |
Hours | 13 | |
Spring | ||
Art Elective (500 level) | 3 | |
ART 599 | Studio Art Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE | 1 |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 121 |
Track in Art History
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B | 4 | |
Foreign Language 1 | 4 | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
Foreign Language 2 | 4 | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Ancient Through Medieval Art - AH | ||
Renaissance Through Modern Art - AH | ||
Survey of Asian Art - AH, D2 | ||
Hours | 16 | |
Year 2 | ||
Fall | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
Foreign Language 3 | 4 | |
Art History Period/Area Course (300 level) | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art History Period/Area Course | 3 | |
Art History Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 3 | ||
Fall | ||
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 | 3 | |
General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
Art History Period/Area Course (300 level) | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Social Science or Natural Science WR Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Social Science or Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art History Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Studio Art Elective (300 level) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Year 4 | ||
Fall | ||
ARTH 541 | Theories & Methods in the Visual Arts | 3 |
Social Science or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Art History Elective (500 level) | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Art History Elective (500 level) | 3 | |
ARTH 550 | Art History Undergraduate Capstone Seminar - CUE | 3 |
Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
Humanities WR Elective (400 level or above) | 3 | |
General Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Minimum Total Hours | 122 |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.