ARTH Course Schedule

100 Level Courses

ARTH 101: Introduction to the Visual Arts. 3 credits.
Introduction to the content and principles of the visual arts. Approach varies with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 102: Symbols and Stories in Art. 3 credits.
Introduces themes and imagery in art. Approaches and traditions to explore vary with the instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 103: Introduction to Architecture. 3 credits.
Introduces study, principle, and understanding of art of architecture. Approach varies with instructor; may be historical, geographical, technical, or thematic. Notes: Field trips required. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 104: Design in the 20th Century. 3 credits.
This class will offer a chronological overview of the history of design in the 20th century, including industrial design, communication design, interior and landscape architecture, as well as corporate branding and new media from each period/major design movement. Topics discussed will include major design styles and movements, significant designers, manufacturers, and design-related companies, innovations in technology and material use, and the development of sales, marketing, and user-focused design. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

200 Level Courses

ARTH 200: History of Western Art I. 3 credits.
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers prehistory, the ancient world, and the Middle Ages. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 201: History of Western Art II. 3 credits.
Major periods, monuments, and themes of Western art and architecture. Introduces Washington, D.C., museum collections and a historical framework for further study in art history. Covers the art of the Renaissance, the baroque period, and modern Europe and the Americas. Notes: Designed as a two-course sequence, but each part may be taken independently without prerequisite. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 203: Survey of Asian Art. 3 credits.
Introduces the arts of South, Southeast, and east Asia. Examines aspects of the culture and history of Asia. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media and their relation to social and historical contexts. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 204: Survey of Latin American Art. 3 credits.
Introduces arts of Latin America from pre-Columbian to modern era. Discusses important examples of painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to culture and history of region. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 206: Survey of African Art. 3 credits.
Introduces arts of Africa, from antiquity to the present day. Presents a variety of arts In relatlon to their historical and cultural contexts, and makes use of local museum resources. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

300 Level Courses

ARTH 303: National Traditions. 1-3 credits.
Studies traditions of art and architecture within a single selected country or historical region. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 311: Design of Cities. 3 credits.
Explores problems in urban design in a particular geographical region or historical period. Approach varies with instructor and may involve archaeological or theoretical approaches appropriate to the specific context. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 315: Modern Architecture. 3 credits.
This course covers the history of modern architecture in the Western world from the mid-19th century to the present. Introduces movements such as Art Nouveau, Futurism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism in their political, social, and cultural contexts. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 317: The Black Pharaohs: Art and Archaeology of Ancient Nubia. 3 credits.
Investigates the art and archaeology of the people of ancient Nubia (modern Sudan), who became pharaohs of Ancient Egypt’s 25th Dynasty around 750 BCE. Discusses Nubian cultures in context of state formation, religious change, colonialism, and imperialism. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 318: Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. 3 credits.
Explores the art, architecture, and archaeology of ancient Egypt in its cultural and historic context. Besides the famous monuments, students will also examine the influence of ancient attitudes about cultural identity on the art of the period as well as the impact of ancient Egyptian art on ancient Greece and modern western culture. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 319: Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. 3 credits.
Investigates the art, archaeology, and culture of the ancient Near East with a focus on Mesopotamia between 3500 BCE and 331 BCE. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Global Understanding
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 320: Art of the Islamic World. 3 credits.
Introduction to Islamic art, from the time of Muhammad to present. Cultural and regional approach, utilizing local museum collections. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Global Contexts, Global Understanding
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 321: Greek Art and Archaeology. 3 credits.
History of ancient Greek architecture, sculpture, and painting. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 322: Roman Art and Archaeology. 3 credits.
History of Roman architecture, sculpture, and painting. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 324: From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World. 3 credits.
Arts of the Hellenistic age within the context of history and culture of the period. Explores the powerful dynasties ruling wealthy empires; achievements in learning and literature housed in the Great Library at Alexandria; baroque sculpture adorning the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon; and Roman collectors of Greek art and antiques. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 333: Early Christian and Byzantine Art. 3 credits.
Aspects of medieval art and culture in eastern Mediterranean world. Topics may include late antiquity, early Christianity, and the Byzantine empire and its neighbors. Designed to take advantage of unique local museum resources. Notes: Specific focus varies with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 334: Western Medieval Art. 3 credits.
Aspects of art and architecture in medieval Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Gothic period. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 335: Arts of Medieval England. 3 credits.
Explores aspects of the art, architecture, and archeology of medieval England. Special emphasis may be placed on Cultural contexts and literary sources. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 340: Early Renaissance Art in Italy, 1300-1500. 3 credits.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Giotto, Ghiberti, Masaccio, and Botticelli. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 341: Northern Renaissance Art. 3 credits.
Studies in the art of France, Germany, and the Netherlands in the age of Van Eyck and Durer. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 342: High Renaissance Art in Italy, 1480-1570. 3 credits.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 343: The Art of Venice. 3 credits.
This course studies Venetian society and culture through the visual arts. Venice was a center of maritime trade in the late medieval and early modern Europe. Situated on the northeast coast of Italy, Venice was a hub for merchants, pilgrims, diplomats, soldiers, and sailors traveling around the Mediterranean region. These encounters shaped Venice’s rich visual and material culture, which integrated features from other parts of Italy, northern Europe, the Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Turkey, North Africa, and Classical Greece and Rome into a distinctive aesthetic. In this course, we will study the major monuments (e.g., the church of San Marco and the Ducal Palace) and the celebrated artists (e.g., the Bellini family, Titian, Palladio, and Tiepolo). We will also consider other media that are often left out of art history surveys but were equally important to Venetian art, including the city’s famous glass production, luxury textile industry, print and publishing, and mosaics. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 344: Baroque Art in Italy, France, and Spain, 1600-1750. 3 credits.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Caravaggio, Bernini, Velazquez, and Poussin. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 345: Northern Baroque Art, 1600-1750. 3 credits.
Studies in architecture, sculpture, and painting in the age of Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 350: History of Photography. 3 credits.
Development of photography from origins in France in the 19th century to the present. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 360: Nineteenth-Century European Art. 3 credits.
Movements from neoclassicism to symbolism discussed in relation to social, cultural, political, and technological changes in Europe. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 362: Twentieth-Century European Art. 3 credits.
Study of major movements (fauvism, cubism, futurism, constructivism, surrealism, and expressionism) and important artists in 20th-century painting and sculpture. Focus may vary. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 370: Arts of the United States. 3 credits.
Introduces students to high art (painting and sculpture) and popular material and visual cultural forms (prints, furniture, textiles) through a chronological and thematic survey of U.S. Art, 1600 to 1950. Explores changing roles of arts, artists, craftsmen; issues of gender, race, class; and formation of national identify through the arts. Lectures and discussion are featured. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts, Just Societies
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 371: American Architecture and Material Culture. 3 credits.
Studies in the history of American architecture or decorative arts in cultural context. Topics range from 17th century to 20th century, depending on instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Studio
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 372: Studies in 18th- and 19th-Century Art of the United States. 3 credits.
Developments in visual culture and the changing status of art practitioners throughout these periods. Focus is either chronological (Colonial Period, Gilded Age) or thematic (19th-century genre scenes, the American landscape and national identity). Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 373: Studies in 20th-Century Art of the United States. 3 credits.
Developments in 20th-century American visual culture across all media. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 374: Art Now. 3 credits.
Explores visual art production since 1980, drawing on regional resources. Examines social, institutional, and political issues in recent art and its markets. Notes: Requires students to work collaboratively and make several field trips, including one Saturday bus trip to New York. Specific topics and assignments vary with the changing art season and instructor. Lecture, discussion. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 375: Indigenous Arts of the US and Canada. 3 credits.
Explores the arts of Indigenous peoples in the areas that are today the United States and Canada, from the pre-contact era to the present. Arts are discussed in relation to their cultural, regional, and historical contexts. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 376: Twentieth-Century Latin American Art. 3 credits.
Major movements and important artists in 20th-century Latin American art discussed in relation to social, cultural, and political conditions in the region. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 382: Arts of India. 3 credits.
History, culture, and arts of south Asia from earliest civilizations along the Indus River to onset of Western colonialism. Emphasizes role of material evidence in the creation of the South Asian history and how political, social, and religious developments affected the arts. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to historical contexts. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 383: Arts of Southeast Asia. 3 credits.
Examines various cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to onset of colonialism. Lectures and discussions focus on material culture of the great civilizations that arose within borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 384: Arts of China. 3 credits.
Explores the complex and dynamic history of China by examining ways in which social, religious, and political shifts have given rise to new and variant forms of material culture. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Arts
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 385: Arts of Japan. 3 credits.
Art and architecture of Japan, with particular attention to the ways political changes, religious movements, and social developments influenced and shaped those creations. Discusses monuments and artifacts in a variety of media in relation to social and historical contexts. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Global Understanding
Specialized Designation: Non-Western Culture
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 393: Art History Internships. 3-6 credits.
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Strongly recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. May be taken for 3 to 6 credits, or repeated for up to 6 credits. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Recommended Prerequisite: Art History major or minor and permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Internship
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 398: Study Abroad in the History of Art. 1-6 credits.
Study abroad. Course topics, content, and locations vary. Notes: A maximum of 6 credits may be applied to the major or minor with permission of the program. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 399: Special Topics in the History of Art. 3 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

400 Level Courses

ARTH 400: Historiography and Methods of Research in Art History (Topic Varies). 3 credits.
Historical investigation of theories, methods, and critiques involved in the discipline of art history. Approach or focus may vary with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 6 credits in art history at the 300 level or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 420: Advanced Studies in Ancient Art. 3 credits.
Studies a particular area of ancient art of the Mediterranean, Near East, or Middle East. Topics may be art form or medium, geographical area, theme, function, or context. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 6 credits in Art History at the 300 level, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 430: Advanced Studies in Medieval or Islamic Art. 3 credits.
Studies a single topic in medieval or Islamic art. May focus on a particular period, region, or medium, or may explore cultural interconnections within medieval Eurasian world. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and a 300-level course in medieval or Islamic art, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 440: RS: Advanced Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art. 3 credits.
Studies a particular aspect of Renaissance or baroque art. Topics may be monographic, thematic, or concentrated on the art of a smaller time period or a particular area. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 6 credits in Art History at the 300 level, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 460: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century European Art. 3 credits.
Study of a particular topic in 20th century European art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 3XX level course in 19th or 20th century European or American art, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 471: Advanced Studies in Art of the United States. 3 credits.
Studies a particular area of American art, focusing on a form, such as landscape or genre painting; theme, such as nationalism, regionalism, or iconography of the family; or movement, such as American modernism. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 6 credits in art history at the 3XX level or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 472: RS: Advanced Studies in 20th-Century Latin American Art. 3 credits.
Study of a particular topic in 20th-century Latin American art. Course may focus on a specific period, region, movement, medium, or theoretical issue, or explore cultural connections and transfer between regions. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and a 3XX level course in 19th or 20th century art of Europe or the Americas, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 474: Advanced Studies in Contemporary Art. 3 credits.
Study of a topic in contemporary art in a research seminar setting. Focus on particular theme, region, artist, or medium, or take a comparative approach. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302; 3XX level coursework in modern or contemporary art; or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 482: RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art. 3 credits.
Seminar-style discussions on a specific topic in Asian art. May focus on the art of a particular period, movement, reign, or region, as well as theoretical issues or works in a particular medium. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Topic Varies, Non-Western Culture, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302, and 3XX-level course in any area of Asian art; or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 490: Independent Study in Art History. 3 credits.
Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: 60 credits, ENGH 302, permission of instructor and chair, plus 9 credits in art history beyond ARTH 200, 201. Study proposal submitted prior to registration.
Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 491: Independent Study in Art History. 3 credits.
Intensive study of a particular artist, period, or theoretical problem to be conducted by an individual student in consultation with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: 60 credits, ENGH 302, permission of instructor and chair, plus 9 credits in art history beyond ARTH 200, 201. Study proposal submitted prior to registration.
Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 492: Honors Directed Readings. 3 credits.
Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Involves directed readings. Notes: Students must have completed at least one course in the field, or with the professor, chosen for these honors courses. The 3 credits of readings should be taken before the 3 research credits, or they may be taken concurrently. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: Admission to Art History Honors Program, ENGH 302, permission of instructor and chair, departmental approval of Honors Proposal submitted term prior to registration.
Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 493: Honors Directed Research. 3 credits.
Linked individualized courses, usually given by same instructor. Culminates in research paper related to subject of readings. Notes: Students must have completed at least one course in the field, or with the professor, chosen for these honors courses. The 3 credits of readings should be taken before the 3 research credits, or they may be taken concurrently. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: Admission to Art History Honors Program, ENGH 302, permission of instructor and chair.
Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 494: The Museum. 3 credits.
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations; focus varies with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All), Mason Apex
Recommended Prerequisite: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ENGH 302.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 495: RS: Curating an Exhibit. 3 credits.
Conduct hands-on research with objects or other primary sources. Select particular artifacts or works of art and undertake original research, bringing objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Develop skills in material and visual analysis, critical reading, and academic writing. Focus is on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: 6 credits of 300-level courses in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and ENGH 302.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
ARTH 499: Advanced Studies in Art History. 3 credits.
Seminar-style discussion on specific subjects in art history. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Mason Core: Mason Core (All)
Specialized Designation: Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: ENGH 302 and 3XX level course in Art History; or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

500 Level Courses

ARTH 593: Internship in Art History. 3-6 credits.
Internship with a professional arts institution, organization, or individual in the Washington, D.C., area. Project to be arranged by student in consultation with faculty instructor and field supervisor. Notes: Recommended for advanced art history students seeking exposure to professional work in visual arts. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Recommended Prerequisite: BA or equivalent or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Internship
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 594: The Museum. 3 credits.
Examines history, theory, practice, ethics, and current problems of collecting and displaying art and artifacts to the public. Emphasizes issues central to museums in Washington, D.C., or museums in other locations. Focus may vary with instructor. Offered by History & Art History. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 595: Curating an Exhibit. 3 credits.
Conduct hands-on research with objects or other primary sources. Select particular artifacts or works of art and undertake original research, bringing objects from storage to publication to exhibition. Produce sophisticated material and visual analysis, present original arguments based on independent research, apply and integrate contemporary theories of display and viewership, and produce refined, sophisticated academic writing. Focus is on VA/DC/MD libraries, archives, and storerooms. May be repeated when the topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 596: Independent Study. 1-3 credits.
Independent reading and research on specific project under direction of department member. Notes: Written report is required. May be repeated for credit. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 599: Special Topics in Art History. 1-6 credits.
Topics vary. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree or permission of instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

600 Level Courses

ARTH 600: Methods and Research in Art History. 3 credits.
Investigates theories, methods, and research strategies in discipline of art history. Designed for first-semester students in art history MA program; foundation for further graduate-level work in the program. Offered by History & Art History. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Prerequisite: Admission to the Art History MA program.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 601: Colloquium in Art History. 3 credits.
Offers graduate-level survey in academic art history led by an instructor of record, with input from full Art History faculty. Participants review the current field through lectures, focused readings and group discussions with relevant faculty member. Participants may read in more depth in areas of special interest. Provides preparation for MA exams and professional preparation for teaching. Offered by History & Art History. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Prerequisite: Admission to the MA Program in Art History.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 696: Independent Directed Readings. 3 credits.
Designed to prepare students for comprehensive exams by integrating past work and filling gaps in expected knowledge before the exam. Notes: Taken in final semester of art history MA. Offered by History & Art History. May not be repeated for credit.
Recommended Prerequisite: Admission to Art History MA program and permission instructor.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Independent Study
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
ARTH 699: Topics in Art History. 3 credits.
Research seminar on aspects of art history. Topics vary, but course entails extensive critical readings and discussion, development of bibliographies, and advanced-level research papers. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.

700 Level Courses

ARTH 799: Master's Thesis. 1-3 credits.
Research and writing on approved thesis topic under direction of thesis committee. Notes: Students must register for a minimum of three credits in their first semester of 799 and maintain continuous enrollment in 799 while writing and submitting a thesis. A maximum of 3 credits of 799 may be applied to the MA in art history. Offered by History & Art History. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 24 credits.
Recommended Prerequisite: Completion of 24 credits and approval of thesis proposal by the faculty and program director.
Registration Restrictions:

Enrollment is limited to Graduate or Non-Degree level students.

Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.

Schedule Type: Thesis
Grading:
This course is graded on the Satisfactory/No Credit scale.