Visual and Material Culture Major

Core Requirements:

All students who major in the Visual and Material Culture Program are required to complete the following courses:

• VMC 103 - Introduction to the History of Art (4 Cr.) (ARH 103)
• VMC 110 - Preserving our Heritage (4 Cr.)
• Two 200-level VMC courses (8 credits)
• One 4-credit elective. Students choose from the following, in consultation with your VMC advisor:

​     - COM 341 - American Cinema (4 Cr.)  

     - COM 342 - World Cinema (4 Cr.)  

     - FR 250 - Introduction to French Transnational Studies (4 Cr.)  

     - FR 251 - Special Topics in Transnational Studies (2 or 4 Cr.)   

     - PHL 253 / VMC 253 - Philosophy and/of Art (4 Cr.)  

     - SOA 100 - Culture and Society (4 Cr.)  

     - or a 100- or 200-level ART course

• Three 300-level VMC courses (12 credits); Students may also include 2-credit 300-level courses, but all courses taken at the 300-level must add up to a total of 12 credits.
• VMC 497A - Visual and Material Culture Capstone I (2 Cr.)
• VMC 497B - Visual and Material Culture Capstone II (2 Cr.)

• (VMC 497A and VMC 497B to be taken over the course of 2 semesters)

Writing Proficiency in the Major

• One paper, website, or virtual exhibition at the 300-level demonstrating research and critical analysis with a grade of “B” or better, written for a course in the major.

Honors in the Major

All Visual and Material Culture majors are encouraged to pursue Honors in the major.

1. Minimum GPA in the major and overall GPA. To achieve honors, graduating seniors must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in all courses taken within the major, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.30.
2. Research Project and Presentation. VMC 497A  and VMC 497B  take place over the course of two semesters in their senior year (*arrangements can be made, in consultation with VMC faculty, for those students who cannot take the course in consecutive semesters). During the first semester, students build upon a project that they have investigated in a prior VMC course, or they formulate a new project that integrates skills gained from their VMC studies. In the second semester, students produce their final product and present the product in a public forum (either at the student symposium or during year-end presentations). All students applying for Honors in VMC must achieve a minimum grade of “B+” in both semesters of VMC 497A and VMC 497B.