History of Art and Architecture
Available Major, Available Minor
Available Major, Available Minor
The major in Art History equips students with a critical and globally informed understanding of the history of art and visual culture. Understanding the sources, aesthetics, and significance of images that people use to communicate — whether in the confined world of art or beyond — is crucial for anyone wanting to play an active part in society. In the major, students learn how to look at and write about works of art while exploring the historical and transcultural contexts in which visual works emerge and operate, and immersing themselves in questions of politics, identity, religion, economics, mobility, communication, and many other issues. All majors are required to take two courses that introduce broad fields and provide foundational training in the discipline. We strongly recommend that students take these classes early in their course of study, as they allow students to acquaint themselves with different fields and periods and with different faculty. The two introductory courses are designed as a springboard to the more specialized upper level. As with all humanistic disciplines, art history is underpinned by certain theories and methods; these are at work in each and every course, but they are the focus of FAH 100, Theories and Methods of Art History, also a required class for majors, normally taken in the senior year.
Our department offers courses on cultures from across the globe, including Impressionism, Latin American and US Latinx, Islamic, African, Buddhist, American, Medieval, Renaissance, Armenian, Contemporary, and Byzantine art, as well as courses on the history of architecture, film, and photography. Our approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary, and many of our courses are cross-listed with other departments and programs including International Relations, Classics, Film and Media Studies, American Studies, Latino Studies, Anthropology, Africana Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Students taking art history classes can expect to learn how to analyze, interpret, and write on visual works of art.
As a humanistic discipline, the history of art emphasizes scholarly investigation and critical analysis over technical training. However, majors may take studio courses as part of their program and take advantage of the SMFA@Tufts courses offered on the Boston and Medford Campuses.
Sample Classes:
Photo credit: Frida Kahlo, Sun and Life, 1947 from Tufts Now Article, Frida Kahlo Painting
