Undergraduate Catalog – Print Version (PDF: 4.66MB)

Photography—MINORAbout the MinorThe art program in the Department of Visual Studies offers a minorsequence in photography for students who are doing their major workin other departments.Acceptance CriteriaMinimum GPA of 2.5 overall.Minimum GPA of 2.5 in art courses.Advising NoteFor successful completion of the minor, a minimum GPA of 2.5 in allcourses required for the minor is required.Required CoursesART 210 Introduction to Digital PhotographyART 313 Photography: Image and TextART 314 Photography ExtendedART 348 History of PhotographyVS 449 Topics in Contemporary PhotographyThree photography electives from the following: ART 315, ART 340,ART 353, ART 354, ART 356, ART 360, or ART 401Art HistoryDepartment of Visual StudiesCollege of Arts and Sciences608 Clemens HallNorth CampusBuffalo, NY 14260-4640Phone: 716.645.6878Fax: 716.645.5978Web site: www.visualstudies.buffalo.eduDavid SchirmChairAnthony RozakDirector of Undergraduate StudiesFor a listing of Art Historyfaculty and course descriptions, see theUndergraduate Catalog Web site athttp://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/academicprograms.About the ProgramDegrees Offered••Undergraduate: B.A., MinorGraduate: M.A.AdvisementSee the Visual Studies AcademicAdvisor, 608 Clemens Hall for advisement.Students are also stronglyurged to consult with facultyregarding their choice of individualcourses.Acceptance InformationAll students are urged to apply tothe department in person as earlyas possible, preferably during thesophomore year.Academic RequirementsACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF STUDYThe department of Visual Studiesis a newly merged department consistingof the former departmentsof Art and Art History. The Departmentof Visual Studies bringstogether several major aspects ofart and visual culture: the practiceof art, the history of art, and thecritical study of visual images.The Department offers degreeprograms in art, art history as wellas courses in visual studies. Thereare courses offered under threeheadings: visual studies, art and arthistory.The Department of Visual StudiesArt History Program is committedto exploring what the visual arts(painting, sculpture, performanceart, graphic arts, architecture, photography,and decorative arts) revealabout the cultures that producedthem. Using a diverse range ofmethodological approaches, theart history faculty helps studentsacquire the necessary tools andknowledge to make sense of ourvisual world. Courses cover all ofthe world’s major geographic areas,with individual professors exploringspecific interests in social history,gender and race, post-colonialism,problems of taste and patronage,myth and narrative. An art historymajor is ideal for students whowish to pursue a career in the arts,but it is equally valuable for thoseseeking to develop visual, analytical,and communicative skills. Recentgraduates have gone on to work inmuseums and art galleries, enrollin a variety of humanities graduateprograms, and pursue careers inlaw, government, and business.Majors begin by taking threesurvey courses (AHI 101, AHI102, and AHI 103) that introducethe issues and major monumentsof art history. Building on thisfoundation, students complete sixupper-level courses, distributedamong four geographic areas: theAmericas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.These advanced courses providemore focused examinations of thehistory and concerns of specificsocieties. Majors are additionallyrequired to take a pro-seminar,which provides a basic introductionto the debates and methods of thefield; a methods course; and foursequential semesters of languagestudy, or the equivalent. While asenior honors thesis is not required,majors are encouraged to considerundertaking such a project duringtheir final year.These requirements apply toall majors admitted to the Departmentof Visual Studies beginningwith the fall 2004 semester. Majorsaccepted previously have the optionof completing either the new or theolder requirements.Transfer PolicyAll art history transfer coursesmust be evaluated and approvedby the department. Forms maybe obtained from the Office ofAdmissions, 15 Capen Hall. Generally,the following transfer courseswill be accepted: the equivalent ofAHI 101 and AHI 102 coveringthe history of art from ancient tomodern, and any two of the areacourses. Transcripts are required forall courses, and course descriptionsare required for any of the areacourses.University at Buffalo • Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08 47