Art History Overview

The School of Art and Design offers a unique combination of art history classes that addresses the varied interests of students. Several courses present the art of non-Western cultures, which is often left out of a more traditional art history curriculum. For instance, Native American Art and Architecture is an introduction to the art and visual culture of North American indigenous peoples, with a concentration on art of the Great Lakes region. Art and Architecture of Japan surveys the visual arts of Japan from pre-history to the twentieth century. Japan and the West: Crosscurrents in Art and Architecture is a challenging special-topics course that investigates the impact of Japanese art and thought on Western artists during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

History of Western Art and Architecture provides the student with a sweeping view of the panorama of Western art in one semester. It serves as an important introduction to the history of art at Northern. Twentieth Century Art and Architecture considers the significant developments in painting, photography, sculpture, and architecture from the mid-nineteenth to the late-twentieth centuries. This course is especially important for art majors interested in the backdrop to contemporary practices. Why America Looks This Way provides special insight into the ideas and events that have shaped the appearance of American homes, and cities. Each of these courses is taught in a way that is relevant to the art major as well as to the general student population. In addition, a two-semester introduction to the sources of modern art is available in the Honors Program to students who qualify. If you have any questions about the Honors Program, please contact Dr. Cynthia Prosen, Director Honors Program and if you would like to learn more about art historical studies at NMU, please contact Steve Leuthold.