ARTH 1101 Art: Prehistoric to Middle Ages

A fundamental course for understanding the visual arts in the Western World: painting, sculpture, and architecture. Major monuments in the history of art will be discussed in historical and cultural context beginning with Paleolithic cave art through the art of the medieval period. This course will examine some of the ancient material from an archaeological perspective, but its main emphasis will be on style and meaning in art. Assignments will include museum visits and the study of significant works of art in Greater Boston.

Course overview

Department
Art History
School
MCAS
Credits
3
Level
Undergraduate
Offered
Every Fall

Catalog details

Satisfies core
Arts

Catalog text is imported from the reviewed Boston College course snapshot. Confirm eligibility in EagleApps.

Requirements fulfilled

  • Islamic Civilization and Societies: Departmental Foundation Courses: Two Courses — Art, Art History, and Film (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
  • Art History with Museum Studies: Introductory Art History Surveys (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
  • Studio Art: One Art History class from the following courses (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
  • University Core: Arts (All undergraduates)

Requirement eligibility can vary by school, cohort, and section. Confirm the selected section in EagleApps or with an advisor.

Official evaluation summary

3.87 / 5

Based on 351 aggregate responses from BC Avalanche/Blue evaluations.

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-08-02. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

  • John Lansdowne
    Fall 2026, Fall 2025, Fall 2024 · Official rating 4.39/5
  • Evelyn Staudinger
    Fall 2023 · Official rating 4.14/5
  • Kenneth Craig
    Fall 2021 · Official rating 3.97/5
  • Monica Bulger
    Spring 2024, Spring 2023 · Official rating 4.38/5
  • Sharon Smith
    Spring 2025 · Official rating 3.29/5
  • Kyle Marini
    Spring 2026 · Official rating 4.41/5

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · John Lansdowne · Stokes Hall 195S TuTh 01:30PM-02:45PM · Offered