History of Art & Design Undergraduate Degrees

The History of Art and Design Department offers a BFA and a BA option for its undergraduate majors. BFA majors take 134 credits, 40 in the history of art and design and 54 in studio art.

Philosophy

Degrees in the History of Art & Design have been developed with a keen sense of Pratt's history as a technical school. In the context of a school long devoted to the practicing artist, designer, architect, and librarian, the historical perspective is attached to the concrete example, and theory is developed from the specific to the general. In Pratt's School of Art and Design (which relates closely to its School of Architecture), the definition of art history is broad. It includes design history of costumes, interiors, communications, industrial design, photography, film and animation, and urban design and planning, as well as the traditional chronological and geographical divisions of the history of painting, sculpture, architecture, and the graphic arts. These courses have been developed to respond to the needs of the art/design student and have much to offer in training art historians of the future.

BA in Art History

The BA program within History of Art and Design affords a deeper grounding in the philosophy, literature, and criticism of the history of art and design. Students take specifically designed foundation courses, including the art history survey classes. They continue with an additional 42 credits in the History of Art and Design, 57 in Liberal Arts (English, Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, and Foreign Language), 19 in Studio, and 14 as free electives (132 total credits). Art History majors are strongly advised to take courses in all areas and to have a seminar experience. Undergraduate majors may be admitted to 600–level (graduate) HA and HD courses with the permission of the professor and the chairperson.  In general, majors will be advised to select studio electives in a variety of media, including photography.

BFA in History of Art & Design

BFA majors complete the regular Foundation Program, including the art history survey classes, and can begin to take upper-level electives in their sophomore year. In the required History of Art and Design courses (current listings), the goal is to give students a clear idea of the sequence of styles and major artists, and to develop their ability to discuss style and to understand cultural and social contexts. In-depth study of one epoch or one field of art or design history is covered in upper-level courses. Art History majors take at least one 3 credit history elective within the 10 credit Liberal Arts elective pool (in addition to the CH-300 and CH-400 World Civilization requirement). Students may also benefit from taking a chemistry-in-art class within their six-credit science requirement.

Students entering with an Advanced Placement score of four or five in art history may apply for exemption from the first semester survey and are allowed to substitute an elective in the survey area for second semester of survey. Entering freshman who have done well in a full-year art history survey course (but did not get a four or five score or did not take AP art history) may also apply to the chairperson of the History of Art and Design Department to substitute upper-level electives in each survey area for the required courses.