Fine Arts and Art History

The Department of Fine Arts and Art History offers instruction in the visual and creative arts. Its programs strengthens a student's ability to develop visual literacy, as well as critical thinking and creative skills. Classroom study is supplemented by partnerships with the art museums and libraries of Washington, D.C.

Fine Arts, an interdisciplinary program, fosters a rigorous, experimental approach to art as students cultivate creative pursuits in the studio and beyond.

Art History is rooted in direct, interpretive engagement with the visual arts. The program combines visual and historical analyses with philosophical hypotheses and theoretical, political debates. The curriculum promotes connections to the studio arts and interdisciplinary exchanges with other fields of inquiry. It also emphasizes the narrative qualities and rhetorical persuasiveness of art historical writing in dialogue with art objects, spaces, and performances.

Bachelor's programs

Minors

Master's programs

Professors B. von Barghahn, D. Bjelajac, T. Ozdogan, L.F. Robinson, J.F. Wright Jr.

Associate Professors A.B. Dumbadze (Chair), P. Jacks, D. Kessmann, B.K. Obler, S. Rigg, S. Travis

Assistant Professors J. Brown, T. Evans, M. Natif, J.G.H. Sham, N.V. Volchansky

Adjunct Instructors R. Pollack

Research Instructors C. Wu

Explanation of Course Numbers

  • Courses in the 1000s are primarily introductory undergraduate courses
  • Those in the 2000–4000s are upper-division undergraduate courses that can also be taken for graduate credit with permission and additional work
  • Those in the 6000s and 8000s are for master’s, doctoral, and professional-level students
  • The 6000s are open to advanced undergraduate students with approval of the instructor and the dean or advising office

Note: Upper-division undergraduate fine arts Special Topics and Critical Practices courses may be repeated for credit when topic is different with approval of the undergraduate fine arts advisor or the department chair. A course fee is charged for all fine arts courses listed here except FA 1075 East Asian Calligraphy, FA 4195 Critical Practices, and FA 4199 Internship.

Note: Core graduate fine arts courses may be repeated for credit with approval of the department. A course fee is charged for all fine arts courses listed here except FA 6295 Critical Practices and FA 6998 Thesis Research–FA 6999 Thesis Research.