Academic Advising Resource Center

Art History

Why take courses in Art History?

Art History explores visual and material cultures from around the globe, spanning the earliest civilizations to the contemporary world. Emphasizing geographical and methodological diversity, Oberlin students consider histories of multiple perspectives. Using images and objects as a starting point, we explore methodologies that reveal understandings of broader social, political, and historical structures of race, class, sexuality, and gender, preparing our graduates for a range of careers. All Art History courses involve visits to the Allen Memorial Art Museum, one of the finest university art museums in the United States.

What kinds of questions does Art History explore?

  • How do humans make meaning in visual and/or material forms? 

  • How do these forms communicate distinctly from other types of evidence such as written texts? 
  • How does the geographic, historical, and cultural context of artworks impact their meaning?  

 

What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Art History?

Introductory courses provide a comprehensive introduction to the field as an intellectual enterprise, and develop core analytical skills. All 100-level courses serve as prerequisites for any 200-level course.

Taking Courses

Courses for non-majors or general interest

  • Any 100-level course. For those with general interest, some 200-level courses may also be appropriate. It is recommended to email the instructor to confirm.

Getting started in the major

After taking any 100-level course, students are well prepared to take an intermediate-level (200-level) course in any area of Art History.

Students should take advantage of the variety of Art History subfields taught at Oberlin: Africa, the Americas, China and Japan, Europe and the Mediterranean, and Islamic art history.

Begin language study as soon as possible. Though the Art History major requires two semesters of language study (or equivalent), prospective majors are encouraged to take multiple years of language.

    Advanced Placement Credit 

    The department offers no major credit, and no exemption from major requirements, for Advanced Placement (AP) Art History Examination scores. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores. 

    Majoring in Art History

    Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.

    Sample Four-Year Plans
      Fall Spring
    Y1

    ARTH 1XX
    CHIN 101

    		 ARTH 2XX
    CHIN 102
    Y2 ARTH 2XX
    CHIN 201    		 ARTH 299
    CHIN 202
    Y3 Study Away
    ARTH 2XX (abroad)

    ARTH 2XX
    ARTH XXX
    Y4 ARTH 2XX
    ARTH 2XX    		 ARTH 3XX
     
      Fall Spring
    Y1 FREN 101 FREN 102
    ARST XXX
    Y2 ARTH 1XX
    FREN 201    		 ARTH 2XX
    FREN 202
    Y3 ARTH 2XX
    ARTH 2XX    		 ARTH 2XX
    ARTH 299
    Y4 ARTH 2XX
    ARTH 3XX    		 ARTH 3XX

     

    Related Areas of Study

    Africana Studies; Anthropology; Archaeological Studies; Book Studies; Cinema and Media; Classics; Comparative American Studies; East Asian Studies; French and Italian; Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies; Hispanic Studies; History; Latin American Studies; Middle East and North Africa Studies; Politics; Studio Art; Religion; Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.

    Learn More

    Art History Major Requirements
    Art History Department