ARTH C100: Survey of Art from Prehistory to the Medieval Era
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Eff Term | Fall 2026 |
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 11/14/2025 |
| Top Code | 100100 - Fine Arts, General |
| Units | 3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3) |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 108 |
| Total Student Learning Hours | 162 |
| Total Student Learning Hours | 54 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Open Entry/Open Exit | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Global Society Requirement (CGLB) | Yes |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
This course introduces students to visual art and architecture from prehistory to the medieval era with a focus on art from Europe, North Africa, and the near East. The course will further consider global interactions involving these regions. Common Course Number: ARTH C1100. Transfer Credit: A. C-ID: ARTH 110.C-ID: ARTH 110.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Upon encountering a work of art (painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.), be able to analyze the visual characteristics to interpret the meaning of the work.
- Upon encountering a work of art (painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.), be able to analyze the visual characteristics to identify the artist and/or determine to which historical period or art movement the work belongs.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify, examine, and assess representative works of art and architecture from prehistory to the medieval era employing appropriate art historical terminology.
- 2. Analyze works of art and architecture in terms of aesthetic, sociopolitical, religious,historical, technological, and cultural contexts in which they were created.
- 3. Develop critical thinking, information literacy, and problem solving through an engagement with art, architecture, artists, and patrons from prehistory to the medieval era.
Lecture Content
Part 1: Required Topics
This course critically examines the art and architecture of the following periods with an integration of history, theory, aesthetics, and cross-cultural connections:
- Prehistory, visual analysis before writing
- Mesopotamia
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Aegean cultures
- Ancient Greece
- Etruria
- Ancient Rome
- Contextualizing Monotheism
- Judaism
- Early Christianity
- Early Islam
- Byzantine
- Medieval
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lectures, multimedia presentations, discussions, essays, and a museum visit.
Reading Assignments
Students will be given readings from the most appropriate texts, blogs and websites as determined by the instructor. Students will be expected to do approximately two to three hours of reading per week.
Writing Assignments
Students will be expected to spend an average of one hour per week on writing assignments. Writing assignments will be determined by individual instructors and may include papers focused on response, image analysis, compare and contrast, and research.
Out-of-class Assignments
Out-of-class assignments will amount to an average of three hours per week and will be determined by individual instructors. Assignments may include video reviews, online discussions, individual/group projects, field trips, and studying for quizzes and exams.
Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended
108
Methods of Student Evaluation
- Short Quizzes
- Written Assignments
- Essay Examinations
- Objective Examinations
- Report
- Projects (Individual/Group)
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Written assignments, which may include museum responses, research essays, reaction papers to videos, directed discussions and/or comparison essays. Assignments demonstrating image analysis and/or comparison.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Written assignments, which may include museum responses, research essays, reaction papers to videos, directed discussions and/or comparison essays. Objective exams and quizzes
Resources Subscreen
- Textbook: Fred S. Kleiner, Ph.D. %7C . Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Volume I . Cengage (16th Edition %7C Copyright 2020).
- Textbook: Fred S. Kleiner, Ph.D.. Gardner's Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective, Volume I . Cengage (16th Edition %7C Copyright 2021 ).
- Textbook: Art History, Volume 1, 7th edition . Marilyn Stokstad . Pearson ((February 18, 2025) © 2025 ).
- Textbook: Penelope J.E. Davies . Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition, Reissued Edition, Volume 1, 8th edition . Pearson ( (August 14, 2021) © 2016 ).
- Open Education Resource: (Khan Academy). Smarthistory’s. (2025).
- Open Education Resource: Smart History. OER Commons. (2025).
- Open Education Resource: Smart History. Reframing Art History. (2025).
- Open Education Resource: Gustlin and Gustlin. A World Perspective of Art History: 1400CE to the 21st Century . (2025).
- Open Education Resource: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. (2025).
Eligible Discipline(s)
- Art: Master’s degree in fine arts, art, or art history OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in humanities OR the equivalent. NOTE: “Master’s in fine arts” as used here refers to any master’s degree in the subject matter of fine arts, which is defined to include visual studio arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, and metal and jewelry art; and also, art education and art therapy. It does not refer to the “Master of Fine Arts” (MFA) degree when that degree is based on specialization in performing arts or dance, film, creative writing or other non plastic arts.