Art History & Museum Studies

Hi, I am Professor Karen Fraser, Program Director for the Art History and Museum Studies major.  I am here to help you select your classes.

A student typically registers for 16-18 credits per semester.  That is, four, 4 credit courses and perhaps 1 or 2 credits of additional academic or extracurricular activities.
The first class you should take this Spring is Survey of Western Art History II. It is part of a year-long art history survey course that is a prerequisite for many courses in your major.  

Most students take Art History I before Art History II, but this is not required.   Art History I is offered in the fall and Art History II in the spring.  Survey of Western Art History 1 fulfills the Core F, Visual and Performing Arts requirement.

Another course to consider taking is Art Fundamentals.  This introductory studio art class is required for all majors in Art History and Museum Studies, Fine Arts, and Design.  It is best to take the course during your first semester, but some may take the course during their second or third semester. You should know that Art Fundamentals is a prerequisite for another requirement in the major, Visual Communication, as well as for most electives in the Fine Arts area.

For your next course, you should register for a Rhetoric and Composition class. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  You should know which class to register for. If you do not, please review the chapter on Rhetoric and Composition.

Here are some options for your remaining class or classes:

A first year seminar or a transfer year seminar: These seminars serve as a great introduction to the academic environment at USF and will fulfill a Core requirement. 
A foreign language: As an Art History and Museum Studies major, you are required to demonstrate third semester proficiency in a foreign language. I recommend that you start early to complete this requirement, especially if you are considering a study abroad program.
You can enroll in Public Speaking which is an important course to take early in your college career.  This course fulfills your Core A1 requirement.

You can also choose another Core course such as Math, Science, History, Literature, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies or Ethics. Your Core F Visual and Performing Arts requirement will be automatically covered in the course of your major studies so do not select one from this area. 

There are also many 1-2 credit courses that you may like to consider: 
A USF101 course
A College success course
A Physical activity course
A Computer Science course
You can get involved in play production
Or you can join a choir or vocal group

Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this:

Fall
ART 101 Survey of Art History I
ART 120 Art Fundamentals
Language or core course
Core course

Spring
ART 102 Survey of Art History II
Language or core course
Core course
Core course

If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete.  Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout of the website.  Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections. Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you.  You should also keep a back up list in case some classes are closed.  If you need some help, including determining whether certain classes from your prior institution will count directly towards your Art History and Museum Studies  major, please contact feel free to contact me directly.

At the end of this tutorial you will be asked to complete a quiz.  Once you have completed the quiz, you will be eligible to sign-up for classes when registration opens.  Please refer to the Webtrack homepage for your registration time.  After you register we will review the classes you have selected.  If necessary we will recommend course adjustments. 
We look forward to meeting you during Orientation. During Orientation, we will review the major and you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students.  

Welcome to USF!