ARTH Courses for Fall 2026
Please click on the course title for more information.
|
ARTH 100 03 - Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images
|
Course: |
ARTH 100 - 03 |
|
Title: |
Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Art and visual culture from around the world with an emphasis on thematic and historical context and cross-cultural connections specific to the instructor's area of specialization. Because images, buildings, and environments shape our ways of understanding our world and ourselves, learning how to look closely and analyze what you see is a fundamental life skill. Within a global frame, this course provides an introduction to art through a series of case studies from the ancient world to the present day, exploring concepts of gender and race, cultural appropriation, political propaganda, materials and media, cultural ownership and repatriation, and other issues relevant to our world. We will engage with the rich art and architectural resources of Wellesley's campus and beyond. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. |
|
Notes: |
This course is open to all students; required for all Art History, Architecture, and Studio Majors. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
James Oles |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - MR 9:55 AM - 11:10 AM |
|
ARTH 100 01 - Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images
|
Course: |
ARTH 100 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Art and visual culture from around the world with an emphasis on thematic and historical context and cross-cultural connections specific to the instructor's area of specialization. Because images, buildings, and environments shape our ways of understanding our world and ourselves, learning how to look closely and analyze what you see is a fundamental life skill. Within a global frame, this course provides an introduction to art through a series of case studies from the ancient world to the present day, exploring concepts of gender and race, cultural appropriation, political propaganda, materials and media, cultural ownership and repatriation, and other issues relevant to our world. We will engage with the rich art and architectural resources of Wellesley's campus and beyond. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. |
|
Notes: |
This course is open to all students; required for all Art History, Architecture, and Studio Majors. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Patricia Berman |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - MR 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM |
|
ARTH 100 02 - Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images
|
Course: |
ARTH 100 - 02 |
|
Title: |
Introduction to Art History and Visual Culture: The Power of Images |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Art and visual culture from around the world with an emphasis on thematic and historical context and cross-cultural connections specific to the instructor's area of specialization. Because images, buildings, and environments shape our ways of understanding our world and ourselves, learning how to look closely and analyze what you see is a fundamental life skill. Within a global frame, this course provides an introduction to art through a series of case studies from the ancient world to the present day, exploring concepts of gender and race, cultural appropriation, political propaganda, materials and media, cultural ownership and repatriation, and other issues relevant to our world. We will engage with the rich art and architectural resources of Wellesley's campus and beyond. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. |
|
Notes: |
This course is open to all students; required for all Art History, Architecture, and Studio Majors. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Jacqueline M. Musacchio |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - MR 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM |
|
ARTH 110Y 01 - First-Year Seminar: Michelangelo: Artist and Myth
|
Course: |
ARTH 110Y - 01 |
|
Title: |
First-Year Seminar: Michelangelo: Artist and Myth |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
This first-year seminar examines the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti (1474-1564). Although he is best known as a sculptor and painter, Michelangelo was also a poet, architect, civil engineer, and diplomat driven by complex artistic, religious, political, and economic motivations. His long career provides a framework for understanding the Italian Renaissance, and the mythology surrounding that career provides insight into changing perceptions of the artist and the individual during that time. We will focus on works of art and contemporary texts, as well as real or virtual visits to Wellesley’s Special Collections, Papermaking Studio, and Book Arts Lab, as well as Harvard's Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. Open to First-Years only. |
|
Notes: |
Ann E. Maurer Speaking Intensive Course. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Jacqueline M. Musacchio |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - MR 2:20 PM - 3:35 PM |
|
ARTH 204 01 - The Form of the City
|
Course: |
ARTH 204 - 01 |
|
Title: |
The Form of the City |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
What makes a city come alive? In this course, we explore how cities have taken shape across history and around the world, from the first urban experiments in the Ancient Near East to the capitals of medieval East Asia to Boston’s ever-changing landscape. We also consider places that stretch our very idea of what a “city” can be, like the Xingu settlements of the Amazon. Through maps, artworks, and photographs, we’ll discover how people experience, imagine, and design urban space. With its global scope and focus on both planned and emergent dimensions of urban form, this class invites you to look at cities through fresh eyes and to ask how the past continues to shape the urban worlds we move through today. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Alexander Brey |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - TF 2:10 PM - 3:25 PM |
|
ARTH 228 01 - Modern Architecture
|
Course: |
ARTH 228 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Modern Architecture |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
This course explores modern architecture from the turn of the 20th-century to the present. What makes architecture “modern”? We will consider fluid definitions of modernism and modernity when studying the built environment across cultures and geographic boundaries. Rather than following a linear narrative, we will approach modern architecture thematically by looking at topics that include urban planning, tall buildings, domesticity, race, gender, environmentalism and sustainability. A diverse range of architects, designers, and practitioners will be explored in the context of these themes. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. ARTH 100 recommended. |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Kathryn O'Rourke |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 352 Classroom - MR 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM |
|
ARTH 264 01 - African Art: Powers, Passages, Performances
|
Course: |
ARTH 264 - 01 |
|
Title: |
African Art: Powers, Passages, Performances |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
As an introduction to the arts and architecture of Africa, this course explores the meaning and the contexts of production within a variety of religious and political systems found throughout the continent, from Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mali, to name a few. We will consider important topics such as the ancient art outside the Nile Valley sphere, symbols of the power of royalty, and the aesthetic and spiritual differences in masquerade traditions. We will pay special attention to traditional visual representations in relation to contemporary African artists and art institutions. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Cross Listed Courses: |
AFR 264 01 - African Art: Powers, Passages, Performances
|
|
Instructors: |
Nikki Greene |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - TF 9:55 AM - 11:10 AM |
|
ARTH 267 01 - Art and the Environmental Imagination
|
Course: |
ARTH 267 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Art and the Environmental Imagination |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Exploring the relationship between art and the environment, this course will focus on the land of the United States as it has been shaped into forms ranging from landscape paintings to suburban lawns, national parks, and our own Wellesley College campus. Among the questions we will consider are: What is “nature”? What do we value in a landscape and why? How are artists, architects, and landscape designers responding to environmentalist concerns? |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Cross Listed Courses: |
ES 267 01 - Art and the Environmental Imagination
|
|
Instructors: |
Rebecca Bedell |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 450 Classroom - TF 11:20 AM - 12:35 PM |
|
ARTH 278 01 - The Art of Science in the Islamic World
|
Course: |
ARTH 278 - 01 |
|
Title: |
The Art of Science in the Islamic World |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
In the medieval Islamic world, creating scientific instruments wasn't just practical—it was an art form. Artists and builders used their knowledge of chemistry, metallurgy, geometry, astronomy, and anatomy to produce objects and monuments that were both beautiful and crucial to the discovery of new phenomena. In this class, we'll analyze the intertwined practices of artistic creation and scientific exploration, spanning the seventh to the fifteenth centuries. You'll investigate the discoveries behind objects, images, and monuments, such as astrolabes and zoological manuscripts. We'll cover fascinating topics like the secrets of constructing robotic automata, the alchemy of turning plants into vibrant textile dyes, and the geometric principles guiding the design of astronomical observatories and tile patterns. Our field trips to Special Collections and hands-on activities will bring these concepts to life. You'll learn to see the world through both an artist's and a scientist's eyes, gaining insights into how medieval Islamic innovations continue to influence our modern world. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
None. Not open to students who have taken ARTH 348/MAS 348. |
|
Notes: |
This course is also offered at the 300 level as ARTH 348/MAS 348. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Cross Listed Courses: |
MAS 278 01 - The Art of Science in the Islamic World
|
|
Instructors: |
Alexander Brey |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 352 Classroom - R 2:20 PM - 5:00 PM |
|
ARTH 306 01 - Seminar: Architectural Modernism in the Americas
|
Course: |
ARTH 306 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Seminar: Architectural Modernism in the Americas |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Through analysis of buildings and texts created in North and South America, this course explores major themes, works, and problems in American architecture, and approaches to understanding architectural history in this region. Topics will include architects’ and clients’ understandings of land and landscape; nationalism and internationalism; social change; institutionalism; and architectural theory. Through changing case studies, the course will examine the status and meanings of architectural modernism when understood comparatively within the western hemisphere, and from the vantage of places distinguished by persistent engagements with racial and class difference, colonialism, and pluralism. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
ARTH 228 or permission of the instructor. |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Kathryn O'Rourke |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 452 Seminar Room - M 9:55 AM - 12:35 PM |
|
ARTH 315 01 - The Object of Performance: From Theory to Practice
|
Course: |
ARTH 315 - 01 |
|
Title: |
The Object of Performance: From Theory to Practice |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
This course considers a history of performance art, a genre that features time-based media, technologies, and the archive. The curriculum covers performance art through a global lens and emphasizes queer artists and artists of African, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous descent. This seminar prepares students to answer critical questions necessary for defining the field: What are the ethical, physical, and psychological quandaries that artists face from theory to practice in performance art? How does using the body as a medium challenge the “object-ness” of performance, and how does that impact its reception? What roles do artists, museums, cultural institutions, and their audiences play? What are the institutions' responsibilities for fundraising, staff support, and conservation of performance art? Students explore these questions along with key topics on ephemerality, experimentation, documentation, and audience reception to develop performance projects of their own. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
Permission of the instructor. Not open to First-Years. |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
Nikki Greene |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 454 Seminar Room - W 1:30 PM - 4:10 PM |
|
ARTH 336 01 - Seminar: Museum Studies
|
Course: |
ARTH 336 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Seminar: Museum Studies |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
This seminar considers the art museum as both physical and conceptual space. We will explore the philosophical and social implications of categorizing, collecting and displaying fine and popular arts--mainly from the Americas--with attention to the ethical issues that shape museum practices today. Although our focus will be on the art museum, we will explore intersections with commercial galleries and auction houses. Using the Davis and Boston-area art museums as a primary resource, students will investigate the historical, critical, and museological contexts for collecting strategies, patronage, exhibition development, conservation, and pedagogy and community engagement. Beyond theory, students will build practical research and writing skills essential to museum work. Guest visits and field trips will be scheduled. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
Open to Art History, Architecture, and Studio Art majors only; all others by permission of instructor only.
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Instructors: |
James Oles |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 352 Classroom - T 9:55 AM - 12:35 PM |
|
ARTH 348 01 - Seminar: The Art of Science in the Islamic World
|
Course: |
ARTH 348 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Seminar: The Art of Science in the Islamic World |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
In the medieval Islamic world, crafting scientific tools wasn't just practical—it was an art form. Artists and builders used their knowledge of chemistry, metallurgy, geometry, astronomy, and anatomy to produce objects and monuments that were both beautiful and crucial to the discovery of new phenomena. In this seminar, we'll dive into the intertwined practices of artistic creation and scientific exploration, spanning the seventh to the fifteenth centuries. You'll investigate the discoveries behind objects, images, and monuments, such as astrolabes and zoological manuscripts. We'll cover fascinating topics like the secrets of constructing robotic automata, the alchemy of turning plants into vibrant textile dyes, and the geometric principles guiding the design of astronomical observatories and tile patterns. Our field trips to Special Collections and other exhibits will bring these concepts to life. You'll learn to see the world through both an artist's and a scientist's eyes, gaining insights into how medieval Islamic innovations continue to influence our modern world. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
Previous course in Art History, Middle Eastern Studies, or Medieval and Renaissance Studies required. Not open to students who have taken ARTH 278/MAS 278.
|
|
Notes: |
This course is also offered at the 200 level as ARTH 278/MAS 278. |
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Cross Listed Courses: |
MAS 348 01 - Seminar: The Art of Science in the Islamic World
|
|
Instructors: |
Alexander Brey |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 352 Classroom - R 2:20 PM - 5:00 PM |
|
ARTH 382 01 - Seminar: Ancient Nubian Art
|
Course: |
ARTH 382 - 01 |
|
Title: |
Seminar: Ancient Nubian Art |
|
Credit Hours: |
1 |
|
Description: |
Ancient Nubia, located on the Middle Nile, is the source of more than 8,000 years of art and material culture: colossal statuary of kings, monumental architecture, exquisite gold jewelry, and some of the most innovative ceramics ever produced. Yet seldom does it receive the attention it deserves, especially compared to its northern neighbor, Egypt. This course will examine Nubia's art and material culture, identifying what makes it unique and what it adopted, adapted, and rejected from its neighbors to the north and south especially. Students will select a topic of research, present aspects of it throughout the semester and deliver it both orally and in paper (or electronic) form as a final project at the end. Pending approval from the Sudan Antiquities Department, students will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Virtual Database of the now-destroyed Sudan National Museum. Guest lecturers and field trips will round out what is presented in class. |
|
Prerequisite(s): |
At least one course in Art History, Archaeology, Africana Studies, Anthropology, or permission of the instructor. |
|
Notes: |
|
|
Distribution(s): |
Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video |
|
Cross Listed Courses: |
AFR 382 01 - Seminar: Ancient Nubian Art
|
|
Instructors: |
Rita E Freed |
|
Meeting Time(s): |
Jewett Arts Center 452 Seminar Room - M 2:20 PM - 5:00 PM |
|