Art History is a discipline of critical seeing. Our department encourages and equips student scholars to view, read, and critically interpret works of art from multiple perspectives. We hold that a content-oriented method of scholarly inquiry facilitates a wide range of visual pleasure, intellectual contemplation, and spiritual substance. The artwork is a visual manifestation of a process of perception by which invisible and inherent content is made material. Through a careful study of the art object’s formal and iconographic elements, as well as the historical, social, and religious context in which the work was created, it is possible to perceive and describe this essential significance.
The Department of Art History stresses a pedagogical approach of active learning that recognizes students as creative, social, and spiritual persons. The department integrates classroom and gallery educational experiences. Based at Nyack College’s Manhattan campus, our department takes advantage of the opportunities afforded by the city’s rich and extensive artistic holdings.
Liberal Arts Core
As part of the liberal arts core, all students are required to take one of the following courses:
ARH101 Introduction to the Visual Arts
ARH120 Visual Arts at the Metropolitan Museum
ARH300 Global Service Learning
MUS115-Music Appreciation
Students seeking a degree with a concentration in art history are recommended to take both ARH101 Introduction to the Visual Arts (3 credits) and ARH120 Visual Arts at the Metropolitan Museum (3 credits).
Minor Field Component
Select any two 200-level courses:
ARH210 Art of the Ancient and Classical World
ARH220 World Religions and the Visual Arts
ARH230 Art of the Early Christian and Medieval World
ARH240 Art of the Renaissance and Baroque
ARH250 Art of the Americas
ARH255 African American Fine Arts in NYC
ARH260 18th and 19th Century Art: Rococo to Realism
ARH270 19th and 20th Century Art: Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism
ARH280 Post-War and Contemporary Art
And select any three 300-level courses:
ARH300 Global Service Learning
ARH310 Methods of Art History
ARH320 Art as Visual Theology
ARH330 The Visual Arts as a Medium of Prophetic Purpose
ARH340 Special Topics in Art History
ARH350 Directed Studies in Art History
Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration
Select any four 200-level courses
ARH210 Art of the Ancient and Classical World
ARH220 World Religions and the Visual Arts
ARH230 Art of the Early Christian and Medieval World
ARH240 Art of the Renaissance and Baroque
ARH250 Art of the Americas
ARH255 African American Fine Arts in NYC
ARH260 18th and 19th Century Art: Rococo to Realism
ARH270 19th and 20th Century Art: Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism
ARH280 Post-War and Contemporary Art
And select any three 300-level courses :
ARH300 Global Service Learning
ARH310 Methods of Art History
ARH320 Art as Visual Theology
ARH330 The Visual Arts as a Medium of Prophetic Purpose
ARH340 Special Topics in Art History
ARH350 Directed Studies in Art History
The Art History minor and Interdisciplinary Studies concentration is offered at the Rockland campus and the Manhattan campus.
