Art History and Criticism, BA

Requirements for the Major in Art History and Criticism (ARH)

The major in Art History and Criticism (ARH) provides students with the tools to explore how the world has been seen, imagined and constructed in visual images, objects and environments. As we examine how we shape our objects and images, we also look at how we are in turn shaped by them. The major spans a broad spectrum of histories, cultural situations, and methodologies, with a particular focus on modern and contemporary art in a global context, and in relationship with media, technology and material culture. Art history classes allow students to engage not only a wide range of practices–such as painting, sculpture, public memorial, photography, moving images, sound, and computational media—but also diverse worldviews from the Ancient Worlds to Italian Renaissance, from 19th-20th century Europe and Americas to present-day East Asia, from New York to West Africa. Our students acquire a historical understanding of intellectual and social issues that shape our own time, and develop skills of observation, interpretation, and communication that will allow them to become active contributors, critics, and creators. Many of our graduates take positions at art institutions or other arts-related businesses and nonprofits, but they also succeed in many other fields that value astute perception and advanced fluency in written, verbal, and visual expression.

The major in Art History and Criticism (ARH) leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. All courses offered for the major must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in section II and III at Stony Brook. In planning coursework, please note that enrollment in any course is contingent on requirements stated in the bulletin, and that upper-level courses often coordinate with specific lower-level prerequisites.

SBC Courses

This table illustrates major courses that can also be used to fulfill SBC requirements. (See Note 1 & Note 2)

Note 1: Some course information may be subject to change. Please contact your major advisor for additional consultation.

Note 2: For majors that require study in a related area or completion of a minor, visit the respective program’s “Major SBC Courses” page to view expanded SBC options. 

Note 3: Denotes any course in which students can choose from more than one option. These may include, but are not limited to, major electives, concentration/track/specialization courses, or calculus/physics/chemistry sequences.

Note 4: CEAS majors, the Athletic Training major, the Respiratory Care major, and the Clinical Laboratory Sciences major are exempt from the LANG learning objective. Students enrolled in the major in Social Work are exempt from the LANG learning objective, but are required to enroll in and pass with a letter grade of C or higher the first semester of an elementary foreign language course numbered 111, or satisfy through alternate methods.

Note 5: Students are responsible for completing the general education requirements published in the Bulletin that was current as of the first semester of matriculation (or rematriculation). The following student groups must satisfy the DIV learning objective as part of their degree requirements:

• Freshmen who matriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
• Transfer students who matriculate in the Spring of 2020 or later
• Students who rematriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later

Sample Course Sequence