History and Art History

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■ History and Art History

Phone: 703-993-1250
Web: historyarthistory.gmu.edu

Faculty

Mathy Professor: Mattusch (art history)

Robinson Professor: Crew, Bakhash (history)

Professors: J. R. Censer (dean), J. T. Censer, Holt, Kierner, Petrik, Sherwin, Stearns (provost), Stewart, Wade, Zagarri (history)

Associate professors: Bristol, Carton, Chang, Cohen, Copelman, Deshmukh, Hamdani, Karush, Kelly, Landsberg, Lytton, O’Malley, Platt (chair), Scully, Smith (history); Butler, DeCaroli (director), Todd (art history)

Assistant professors: Barnes, Bottoms, Bristol, Collins, Hamner, Lair, McDow, Schrag (history); Greet (art history)

Term faculty: Leon, Manuel-Scott, McCord, Orens, Scheinfeldt, Schrum, Walmsley (history); Gregg, Richardson (art history)

Postdoctoral teaching fellows: Hudgins, Salinas, Scales, Wolf

Course Work

This department offers all course work designated HIST and ARTH in the Courses chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

History

The department offers a BA in history. History majors study a variety of historical time periods, from Greek and Roman antiquity to the late twentieth-century. They learn to interpret and evaluate the past by analyzing a variety of sources, from historical books and novels to images, films, oral interviews, newspapers, and other texts.

History majors have the opportunity to study with faculty who are internationally known for their work on the use of techology in the study of history. They can do an internship with one of them in the Center for History and New Media or at places like the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, or one of many other institutions in the Washington, D.C. area. There are also many opportunities to study abroad while earning credit towards the history major.

Advising

Students majoring or minoring in history are advised by the undergraduate director.. History majors are urged to discuss their program of study periodically with the director.

Honors in the Major

History majors who have completed 75 credits (a minimum of 15 in history, 6 of which must have been taken at Mason) with a 3.50 overall GPA and a 3.50 GPA in history are eligible to apply to graduate with honors in history. Applicants must have completed or be enrolled in HIST 300. The statement of application should include references from two Mason history faculty members. If a major part of the student’s work includes transfer credit, transcripts may be required. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed acceptance into honors in the major.

To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete HIST 490 and 491, linked individualized courses usually with the same instructor. Students must have completed at least one course in the field (or with the professor) chosen for these honors courses. HIST 490 should be taken before 491, although they may be taken concurrently. Either course may be taken concurrently with HIST 499 Senior Seminar in History. These 6 credits must be passed with a minimum 3.50 GPA, and the overall history GPA presented for graduation must be a minimum of 3.50. These 6 credits may be counted toward the 36-credit major requirement in history, but they do not replace HIST 499.

Minors

The department offers a minor in history available to students in any major.

The department faculty participate in a number of interdisciplinary minors including African and African American Studies Minor , Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology Minor , Asia-Pacific Studies Minor , Islamic Studies Minor , Latin American Studies Minor and Middle East Studies Minor . Students can earn credits toward these minors by taking selected history and art history courses. For details, see the Interdisciplinary Minors section and the Latin American Studies section of this chapter.

The minor in sport and American culture is offered jointly by the Department of History and Art History and the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism. For details, see the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism section in the College of Education and Human Development chapter of the catalog.

Art History

The department offers a BA in art history. Art history majors investigate works of art to learn how they were made, why they were made, and by and for whom they were made. They develop the skills to interpret a work of art as a record of the culture in which it was made. Through art history courses, students will learn to ask questions that touch on cultural, technological, and economic concerns. The major has flexible requirements, and students in art history receive individualized attention which helps them tailor their studies to their own individual interests and career goals.

Art history majors have the opportunity to study with faculty whose expertise covers many world regions - the United States, Latin America, Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and China - and all historical periods - from classical antiquity, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque, to the modern era.

Students are encouraged to do an internship at one of the many arts organizations in the Washington, D.C. region, such as the National Gallery of Art or the Corcoran Gallery. There are also many opportunities to study abroad while earning credit towards the art history major.

Honors in the Major

Majors who have completed 75 credits (a minimum of 15 credits in art history, with 6 credits taken at Mason) with a 3.50 overall GPA and a 3.80 GPA in art history are eligible to apply to graduate with honors in art history. Eligible students should apply to the undergraduate director by November 15 or April 15 with a statement of application including the names of two references from Mason art history faculty members. Transfer students should also submit transcripts. Not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements are guaranteed acceptance into honors in the major.

To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete ARTH 492 and 493, linked individualized courses that culminate in a research paper. Students must have completed at least one course in the field (or with the professor) chosen for these honors courses. ARTH 492 should be taken before 493, but they may be taken concurrently. These 6 credits must be passed with a minimum 3.50 GPA, and the overall art history GPA presented for graduation must be a minimum of 3.50. These 6 credits may be counted toward the 33- to 34-credit major requirement in art history, but they do not replace the 6 required credits in ARTH 400, 420, 430, 440, 460, 471, 472, or 482.

Minors

The department offers a minor in art history available to students in any major.

The Art History Program coordinates the Ancient Mediterranean Art and Archaeology Minor . See the Interdisciplinary Minors section of this chapter.

Graduate Programs

History

The department offers a master’s and a doctoral degree in history. In both programs, students select a specialization in American history, European history, or world history. Master’s degree students chose from one of four concentrations: predoctoral history, applied history, enrichment, or teaching. Doctoral students focus their studies in one of four areas: college/university teaching, new media and information technology, public and applied history, or preprofessional development.

Graduate students in history have the opportunity to take courses in new media, studying with faculty who are internationally known for their use of techology in the study of history. Many students work along side the faculty in the Center for History and New Media, a leader in the use of digital media and computer technology to democratize history. The center uses ditigal media and technology to preserve and present history online, transform scholarship across the humanities, and advance historical education and understanding.

Students can do an internship in applied history at one of the many institutions in the Washington, D.C. area or study abroad while earning credit towards their degrees.

Funding

The department offers teaching and research assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Other sources of funding such as grants, loans, and employment on campus are also available. Students awarded assistantships must register for a minimum of six credits a semester and show satisfactory progress toward their degree.

Art History

The department offers a richly interdisciplinary master’s degree in art history. It draws on faculty strengths in traditional research and new media and the vast cultural recources of the Washington, D.C. area. Students learn methods of art historical analysis, a variety of art historical interpretations, and practical applications of the field. The program places a special emphasis on the development of skills in new media, museology, and pre-professional internships - program features that are unique to this region.

The master’s degree in art history is designed to meet the needs of a student population with diverse interests and career goals. Because of the focus on skill building in traditional research as well as new media, graduates of this program have the tools necessary for independent research, professional work, and the dissemination of knowledge in art history.