Art History (ARTH)
All AHIS courses as of 2026-27 are ARTH courses
ARTH C1100 Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 110)
Lecture: 54
Formerly: AHIS 4
This course introduces students to visual art and architecture from prehistory to the medieval era with a focus on art from Europe, North Africa, and the near East. The course will further consider global interactions involving these regions. Field trips may be required.
ARTH C1100H Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era – Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 110)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 4H
This course introduces students to visual art and architecture from prehistory to the medieval era with a focus on art from Europe, North Africa, and the near East. The course will further consider global interactions involving these regions. Field trips may be required. This is an Honors course. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH C1100 and ARTH C1100H.
ARTH C1200 Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 120)
Lecture: 54
Formerly: AHIS 5
This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the contemporary period with a focus on art from Europe. The course will further consider global interactions involving this region. Field trips may be required.
ARTH C1200H Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 120)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 5H
This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the contemporary period with a focus on art from Europe. The course will further consider global interactions involving this region. This is an Honors course. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH C1200 and ARTH C1200H. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 1 Introduction to the Visual Arts and Art History
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 1
Visual art, art history and visual culture, and the role art plays in various contexts. Field trips may be required. Students may not earn credit for both ARTB 1 and ARTH 1.
ARTH 3 History of Women and Gender in Art
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 3
Roles of women and gender in cultural creation and production with a focus on the visual arts. A historical and global survey, covering the role of women artists in the history of art and the representation of gender in a variety of cultures and time periods. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 3H History of Women and Gender in Art - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 3H
Roles of women and gender in cultural creation and production with a focus on the visual arts. A historical and global survey, covering the role of women artists in the history of art and the representation of gender in a variety of cultures and time periods. Field trips may be required. This is an Honors course. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH 3 and ARTH 3H.
ARTH 6 History of Modern Art
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 150)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A.
Formerly: AHIS 6
Artistic movements, influences, and individuals who have formed the Modern tradition. Emphasis is on the 20th century; the international and multicultural character of Modern art will be explored. Off campus trips may be required.
ARTH 6H History of Modern Art - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 150)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 6H
Artistic movements, influences, and individuals who have formed the Modern tradition. Emphasis is on the 20th century; the international and multicultural character of Modern art will be explored. Off campus trips may be required. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH 6 and ARTH 6H.
ARTH 7 Global Contemporary Visual Culture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 7
Survey of contemporary global art and visual culture from 1980 to the present; includes discussion and critical decoding of various media such as painting, installation, and performance. Intersections between art, technology, transnationalism, diaspora, and decoloniality will be examined in theoretical and cultural contexts.
ARTH 8 History of Medieval Art and Architecture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 8
Medieval art and architecture in Europe and the Mediterranean. Jewish, Christian, and Islamic arts will be studied in their cultural contexts.
ARTH 9 History of Asian Art and Architecture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 130)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 9
Asian artistic traditions. Major monuments of painting, sculpture, architecture, and other visual art forms are studied within their religious and cultural contexts.
ARTH 10 A History of Greek and Roman Art and Architecture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 10
History of Greek and Roman art and architecture before 500 Common Era (CE) will be examined in their cultural contexts. Historical perceptions of Classical art and culture and their impact on Europe and America. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 11 History of African, Oceanic, and Native American Art
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 140)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 11
Traditional, colonial, postcolonial, and contemporary arts of Africa, Oceania (Pacific Islands and Australia), and Indigenous North America. Visual arts including painting, sculpture, architecture, body decoration, and postcolonial visual culture will be studied.
ARTH 11H History of African, Oceanic, and Native American Art - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 140)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 11H
Traditional, colonial, postcolonial, and contemporary arts of Africa, Oceania (Pacific Islands and Australia), and Indigenous North America. Visual arts including painting, sculpture, architecture, body decoration, and postcolonial visual culture will be studied. This is an Honors course. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH 11 and ARTH 11H.
ARTH 12 History of Precolumbian Art and Architecture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 145)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 12
The arts of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Andean South America. Major monuments of sculpture, painting, architecture, ceramics, and textiles from civilizations including the Maya, Aztecs, and Inca will be studied in their cultural contexts.
ARTH 12H History of Precolumbian Art and Architecture - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC, C-ID #: ARTH 145)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 12H
The arts of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and Andean South America. Major monuments of sculpture, painting, architecture, ceramics, and textiles from civilizations including the Maya, Aztecs, and Inca will be studied in their cultural contexts. An honors course designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both AHIS 12 and AHIS 12H.
ARTH 13 World Art and Visual Culture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A
Formerly: AHIS 13
Thematic survey of the art and visual culture of Asia, Africa, the Islamic world, Oceania, and the Americas, covering the ancient, traditional, post-colonial, and contemporary art of each region. Artistic and cultural traditions will be examined in context. Methodologies of contemporary and global visual culture will be studied. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 14 Rome: The Ancient City
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A.
Formerly: AHIS 14
The art and culture of the ancient city of Rome. Major works of art and architecture will be studied in cultural and historical context. The importance of Rome and the Romans to later cultures will be explored. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 15 Culture and Art of Pompeii
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Eligibility for (ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1A) or (ENGL C1000H or ENGL 1AH) or AMLA 1A.
Formerly: AHIS 15
Art, architecture, and culture of Pompeii and neighboring cities destroyed in the volcanic eruption of 79 CE. Major monuments and archaeological remains will be studied in cultural and historical context. Field trips may be required.
ARTH 16 History of Latin American Art and Visual Culture
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Formerly: AHIS 16
Introduction to the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from 1300 CE to the contemporary period. Broadly, this course covers an array of media (painting, sculpture, architecture, earthworks, metalwork, weaving and ceramics, among others) within its historical, political, religious, ideological, and economic contexts over a vast time span. Specifically, this class examines select regions and their artworks to understand the role of the visual arts within a range of varied Latin American cultures. This class explores select visual practices to highlight the ways in which Latin American artists have built on the region's shared artistic legacies as well as adapted to outside influences. This course explores the legacy of violent colonization and impacts of European conquest, while also tracing the development of colonial societies and their national independence in the early nineteenth century. The course pays special consideration to Latin America's enduring legacies and dynamic processes of change.
ARTH 16H History of Latin American Art and Visual Culture - Honors
3 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU, UC)
Lecture: 54
Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Honors Program
Formerly: AHIS 16H
Introduction to the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from 1300 CE to the contemporary period. Broadly, this course covers an array of media (painting, sculpture, architecture, earthworks, metalwork, weaving and ceramics, among others) within its historical, political, religious, ideological, and economic contexts over a vast time span. Specifically, this class examines select regions and their artworks to understand the role of the visual arts within a range of varied Latin American cultures. This class explores select visual practices to highlight the ways in which Latin American artists have built on the region's shared artistic legacies as well as adapted to outside influences. This course explores the legacy of violent colonization and impacts of European conquest, while also tracing the development of colonial societies and their national independence in the early nineteenth century. The course pays special consideration to Latin America's enduring legacies and dynamic processes of change. An honors courses designed to provide an enriched experience. Students may not receive credit for both ARTH 16 and ARTH 16H.
ARTH 99 Special Projects in Art History
2 Units (Degree Applicable, CSU)
(May be taken for option of letter grade or Pass/No Pass)
Lecture: 36
Prerequisite: Instructor permission and Approved Independent Study Learning Contract
Formerly: AHIS 99
Offers selected students recognition for their academic interest and ability and the opportunity to explore the discipline in greater depth. The content of this course and the methods of study vary and depend on the particular project under consideration. Instructor authorization needed prior to enrollment.
