Citrus College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Fall 2026 |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Total Contact Hours: | 54 |
| Lecture Hours : | 54 |
| Lab Hours: | 0 |
| Hours Arranged: | 0 |
| Outside of Class Hours: | 108 |
| Total Student Learning Hours: | 162 |
| Strongly Recommended: | ENGL C1000. |
| District General Education: | C2. Humanities, C1. Arts |
| Transferable to CSU: | Yes |
| Transferable to UC: | Yes - Approved |
| Grading Method: | Standard Letter |
Catalog Course Description
Common Course Description:
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. This is an honors course.
Citrus College Details:
Particular focus will be on placing artworks within their cultural, historical, political and religious contexts. Students are expected to work and participate at an honors level which includes strong critical thinking skills, thorough analysis of art historical readings, presentation and leadership skills demonstrated through class participation/presentations. Student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor. Formerly ART 100AH. 54 lecture hours.
Course Objectives
- Evaluate the ways visual objects' aesthetics, subject matters and functions were informed by their historical, philosophical, religious and cultural contexts.
- Demonstrate knowledge of representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Recognize the change in art styles and techniques in representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Evaluate forms, functions, and the interrelationship of representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Compare and be able to recognize historic and national styles as well as individual art styles of representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Distinguish and recognize major art monuments representative of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Comprehend terms, techniques and processes of representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
- Appreciate and assess the media, and art forms in the representative works of art and architecture from prehistory through the medieval period.
Major Course Content
Common Core Language:
This course critically examines the art and architecture of the following periods with an integration of history, theory, aesthetics, and cross-cultural connections:
1. Prehistory, visual analysis before writing
2. Mesopotamia
3. Ancient Egypt
4. Ancient Aegean cultures
5. Ancient Greece
6. Etruria
7. Ancient Rome
8. Contextualizing Monotheism
a. Judaism
b. Early Christianity
c. Early Islam
9. Byzantine
10. Medieval
Citrus College Language:
- Development of Art History as a Discipline
- Problematizing the Art Historical 'Canon'
Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook
Academic articles and other resources distributed by the instructor or linked off the Learning Management System.
Examples of Required Writing Assignments
Write a two to three page review of an article on Western art history (from Prehistory through Medieval). The review will require students to identify the author's thesis/argument and evidence as well as offer their own analysis of the argument's strengths, weakness, connections to course materials and/or other readings.
Write an essay comparing and contrasting multiple cultures' artworks, including discussion of at least five artworks and major art historical concepts.
Write a substantial paper (8-12 pages) that synthesizes themes and trends considered in the works of art presented in the course. Example of paper topics might include: gender and art, monumental art, art and ritual, spatial approaches to art history. Paper will require research including at least five sources.
Write an essay comparing and contrasting multiple cultures' artworks, including discussion of at least five artworks and major art historical concepts.
Write a substantial paper (8-12 pages) that synthesizes themes and trends considered in the works of art presented in the course. Example of paper topics might include: gender and art, monumental art, art and ritual, spatial approaches to art history. Paper will require research including at least five sources.
Examples of Outside Assignments
Choose one work by an artist displayed in the collection of a local museum and analyze the formal qualities of the piece and relate them to relevant artworks and cultures from class.
Instruction Type(s)
Lecture, Online Education Lecture
IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities
3A. Fine Arts