BA in Art History

Loyola University of Chicago

Our increasingly image-rich culture makes the study and thoughtful interpretation of the visual arts central to a liberal arts education today. The art history program at Loyola University Chicago offers courses that encompass topics and periods ranging from the arts of the ancient world to those of Asia, Africa, early modern Europe, and contemporary art.The art history major is designed to ensure that students are well versed in both the historical and critical facets of the field through a sequence of courses that explores art objects from a variety of cultures across time. Courses emphasize visual, verbal, writing, and critical thinking skills, giving students the tools to form persuasive arguments based on evidence found in tangible objects, original documents, and scholarly literature.Learning OutcomesUpon completion of this program, students will be able to:Demonstrate an understanding of human creativity and the role of the visual arts as a mode of visual communication in a global contextEmploy the elements of visual language and artistic terminology to critically analyze and interpret objects of art, architecture, and visual cultureDemonstrate general knowledge and understanding of Western and non-Western art traditions across historical periods in terms of major monuments, artists, ideas, formal expression, themes, techniques, iconography, and functions of art in relation to their cultural, social, religious, and historical contextsDemonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of specific historical periods or civilizations in the history of artDemonstrate an understanding of visual culture as it relates to issues of gender, class, race, religionDemonstrate knowledge of and an ability to apply art historical methodologies, criticism, and theory in art history researchDemonstrate skills in critical thinking, conceptualization of self-developed projects, scholarly research techniques, and written and oral communicationDemonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of art history

College of Arts and Sciences