Advanced Placement: A score of 4 or 5 in visual art earns college credit and counts toward the arts common area requirement. It also allows advanced standing in the Visual Arts curriculum. AP credit does not count toward the minimum number of courses required for the majors or minors.
Students interested in majoring in Visual Arts History can enroll in VAHI 101 Intro to Visual Arts, VAHI 111 History of Global Architecture I, VAHI 204 Arts of Religion or VAHI 209 Art in the Modern World in their first semester or first year.
Courses
VAHI 100
Introduction to Visual Arts
Common Area: Arts
Fundamental, introductory course in art history and visual culture. Emphasis is on the acquisition of basic visual skills and an understanding of the major periods in the history of art. Exposure to works of art through the collections of The Worcester Art Museum is an integral part of the course.
VAHI 111
History of Global Architecture I
Common Area: Arts
This class is an introduction to the history of the built environment from pre-history to the modern era (1700). We will examine architecture in its historic context around the globe, focusing on the ways that built forms reflect and shape social, religious, and political dynamics. The course will follow a hybrid chronological-thematic framework, using key issues to unite building issues from different cultures and regions at roughly proximate times. Through class discussions, exams, and writing, students will build foundational knowledge about key monuments and analytical approaches in architectural history.
VAHI 112
History of Global Architecture II
Common Area: Arts
This course is the second half of a year-long introduction to the fundamental elements of architecture within a global and historical framework. Lectures and discussions are organized around different monuments from the Ming Dynasty and early modern Europe to the present, and they attempt to balance regional and chronological approaches to the study of architecture and the built environment.