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Art and Music Histories

Chair Amanda Eubanks Winkler, Suite 308 Bowne Hall, 315-443-4184.

Faculty Carol Babiracki, Theo Cateforis, Laurinda Dixon, Rodney Foster, Wayne Franits, Robert A. Hatfield, Bette Kahler, Mary Lou Marien, Matilde M. Mateo, Stephen Meyer, Gary M. Radke, Romita Ray, Sascha Scott, Eileen Strempel, Amanda Winkler

The Department of Art and Music Histories was one of the first in the country dedicated to the study of the history of art and music from an interdisciplinary perspective. The department offers courses in most major periods of the history of visual and musical arts from ancient to postmodern times. The research and teaching specialties of the department’s faculty include 19th- and 20th-century music, the history of opera, ethnomusicology, medieval stained glass, art and medicine in the early modern period, Italian Renaissance art, 17th-century Dutch painting, symbolism, 19th- and 20th-century European art, the history of photography, and American art. In view of the Department of Art and Music Histories interdisciplinary approach, courses examine the histories of art and music within the cultural, sociopolitical, economic, and religious contexts of the societies that created them.
    Studies in the history of architecture are offered in association with the faculty of the School of Architecture (see program description under “History of Architecture” in this section of the catalog). Cooperative programs with the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and other divisions of the University allow for the inclusion of courses in studio art, music theory, performance and composition, and public communications.
    Students who major in one of the department’s disciplines are strongly encouraged to take a foreign language and to study abroad.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
The Department of Art and Music Histories currently offers three majors.

    The fine arts major requires students to complete 30 credits in any departmental courses numbered above 299; music history courses numbered above 199 may count toward this major. Up to 12 credits of art and/or music studio work at any level may be included in the 30 credits. Students may petition to have up to 9 credits of appropriate courses in art history or music history taken outside the department (non-FIA courses) count towards the fine arts major.
    The major in art history also requires 30 credits numbered above 299. However, all courses above 299 must be art history courses. Students in this more specialized major may include only 6 credits of art studio work at any level in the required 30 credits. Students may petition to have up to 9 credits of appropriate courses in art history taken outside the department (non-FIA courses) count toward the art history major.

Additional requirements for the art history major follow:

Distribution Requirement
Course offerings in art history are divided into five broad categories: ancient/medieval; Northern/Italian Renaissance; Baroque/18th-century European; modern/American; and non-Western. Art-history majors are required to take at least one course in four of these five categories.

500-level Course Requirement
500-level courses are customarily open to advanced undergraduate majors as well as graduate students in the M.A. program in art history. Such courses offer more detailed study of particular fields within art history than those numbered at the 300 and 400 levels. Art history majors are required to take at least one course at the 500 level.

Senior Seminar Requirement
During the fall semester of their senior year, art history majors are required to successfully complete a senior seminar for 1 credit. This seminar will serve to explore the practical aspects of the discipline, paying particular attention to potential careers within it.

The major in music history and cultures is designed for students who wish to study music in its historical, social, and cultural contexts and in relation to other arts. Although majors will be encouraged to develop performance skills, the focus of the degree will be on the study of musical cultures and styles in a liberal arts environment.

Lower-Division Requirements (9-15 credits)

Musical skills (0-6 credits) Students are required to demonstrate competency in basic musical skills, either by successfully completing a first-year music theory sequence (FIA 125,126/MTC 125,126 or MTC 145-MTC 146) or by passing a competency examination.
Introduction to music history and culture (9 credits) Students are required to successfully complete three courses from the following list: FIA 165,166,266,267,268,285. One of these three courses must be from the lower-division music history sequence (FIA 266,267, 268, or 285).

Upper-Division Requirements (21 credits)

Distribution requirement (9 credits) Students must complete at least one course in ethnomusicology, in American Music, and in European Art Music.
Major electives (6 credits). Students must take at least 6 additional credits in any FIA upper-division course. These electives do not need to be music courses; indeed, students are encouraged to explore the related fields of art and architectural history.
Music history and cultures majors take two special classes. During their junior year, students take FIA 396 Junior Seminar: Music Research and Writing (3 credits, spring semester). During their senior year, students enroll in FIA 496 Senior Project (3 credits, fall semester).

Performance Requirements (0-4 credits)
In addition to the course requirements listed above, students in the B.A. in music history and cultures program are required to complete at least two semesters of individual studio lessons. Students are also required to participate in a Syracuse University performing ensemble for at least two semesters.

Students may petition to have up to 9 credits of appropriate courses in music history taken outside the department (non-FIA courses) count toward the music history and cultures major.

Minor in Fine Arts
The minor in fine arts requires 18 credits of coursework. 12 of these credits must be earned in upper-level FIA courses (300 level and above) drawn from any combination of the department’s constitutive disciplines (histories of art, music, and architecture). Up to 6 credits of coursework may be earned in 200-level FIA courses. Students may also petition to have up to 6 credits of appropriate courses in these disciplines taken outside the department count toward the minor.

Minor in Art History
The minor in art history requires 18 credits of coursework. These courses must be upper-level FIA courses (300 level and above) in art history, drawn from the list of departmental offerings below. However, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of selected topics courses in art history (FIA 300 or FIA 400) count toward the minor. In addition, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of art history courses taken outside the department count toward the minor. FIA 105/106 are prerequisites but do not count toward the minor.

FIA 301,303*,304*,306,308*,312*,317, 318,321,323,328,341,346,347,395,406*,407*,411*,413*,
414*,415,416,418*,421,422,423,424,426,427,428,429*,432,433,434*,435,436,437,439*,441,442,
445,446,447,448,449,458,463,503*,508,518,534,546,550, 594, 597,598

(*Denotes courses taught abroad through SU Abroad.)

Minor in History of Architecture
The minor in the history of architecture requires 18 credits of coursework. These courses must be upper-level FIA courses (300 level and above) in the history of architecture, drawn from the list of departmental offerings below. However, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of selected topics courses in the history of architecture (FIA 300 or FIA 400) count toward the minor. In addition, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of history of architecture courses taken outside the department credited toward the minor.

FIA 105/106 or ARC 133/134 are prerequisites but do not count toward the minor.

FIA 321,FIA 331/ARC 331,FIA 332/ARC 332, 336/ ARC 436,358/ARC 335,359/ARC 336, FIA 426,FIA 427,FIA 428,FIA 451/ARC 433, FIA 454/ARC 431, FIA 455/ARC 337,FIA 456/ARC 338, FIA 457/ ARC 435,FIA 552/ARC 432,FIA 554/ARC 566

Minor in Music History and Cultures
The minor in music history and cultures requires 18 credits of coursework drawn from the list of departmental offerings below. Of these 18 credits, 6 may be earned in courses from the lower-division, music history sequence (200 level) while the remaining 12 must be earned in upper-level (300 level and above). Moreover, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of selected topics courses in music history (FIA 300 or FIA 400) count toward the minor. In addition, students may petition to have up to 6 credits of music history courses taken outside the department count toward the minor.
FIA 165/166, and FIA 195 do not count toward the minor.

FIA 266,267,268,285,361,362,363,364*,368,371, 375,377,378,381,382,383,384,385/MHL 385,387, 391,392,393,482,494,497,560,561,571,573,582,597,598

(*Denotes courses taught in London through SU Abroad.)