Apr 03, 2025  
2025-2026 NOVA Catalog 
    
Catalog Navigation
  Catalog Home
  A Message from the President
  Course Descriptions
  Course Content Summaries
  General Education Electives
  Programs of Study by Area of Interests
  The College - General Information
  Administration
  Academic Policies and Information
  Academic Programs and Requirements
  Admission Information
  Enrollment Information
  Financial Information
  NOL - NOVA Online
  Placement
  Student Services and Resources
  CPL: Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Manual
  Emeritus
  Faculty Credentials
  What’s New
  Catalog Updates
  My Portfolio
HELP
2025-2026 NOVA Catalog

Liberal Arts: Art History Major, A.A.

Location(s): AL, AN, LO, MA, NOL, WO

CIP Code: 24.0103

NOVA Code: 648-01 

Purpose: The Art History major, which falls within the Liberal Arts parent degree, provides students with an understanding and appreciation of the multiple facets of human civilization, in addition to fostering intellectual growth and exploration. The major offers a foundation in the arts and sciences to best prepare students for transfer into a Bachelor of Arts program. This degree develops critical thinking skills, writing and editing abilities, creative problem solving, and cultural sensitivity, which enables students to work with a diverse group of colleagues. These skills prepare students for a wide range of professions from non-profit management to grant writing and work in the traditional art-historical institutions of museums and galleries, in addition to being applicable to inter-disciplinary studies in the sciences and beyond.

Transfer Information: Students are advised to work closely with the faculty and counseling staff for program and course scheduling. Electives should be chosen carefully to meet requirements of the transfer institution. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student.

Two Years

1st Semester

Total 13-14 credits

2nd Semester

Total 15-16 credits

3rd Semester

Total 16-17 credits

4th Semester

Total 15-17 credits

Total credits for the A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts with a Major in Art History: 60-62 credits

Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

1 Placement testing determines initial foreign language level. Students who place directly into intermediate-level foreign language or ASL may take any General Education course to meet the required number of credits. Waivers or credit by exam for prior experience is available for some languages. See the ‘World Language Credit and Waiver’ section of the [Credit for Prior Learning Manual]. Students must complete enough General Education Electives  courses to accumulate a minimum of 60 credits applicable to the Liberal Arts degree. 

2 Students who plan to take MTH 245  should take MTH 154  or MTH 161  first. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 155  and MTH 245 , or for both MTH 261  and MTH 263 , or for both MTH 262  and MTH 264 . Students should consult with an advisor to ensure mathematics courses meet their intended transfer institution requirement.

3 Select any course listed under General Education Electives  or any ART course.

4 Select any ENG 200-level UCGS literature course listed under General Education Electives ; UCGS courses are designated with an asterisk (*). 

5 See physical and life science courses listed under General Education Electives .

6 See non-HIS social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives . 

7 Select from the following: ART 100 , ART 103 , or ART 200 . If following the VCCS Art History Pathway Curriculum, consider: ART 121 , ART 131 , or ART 132 . 

8 Select any HIS courses listed under social/behavioral sciences in General Education Electives . 

9 See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives . This elective is not needed if selections for all other requirements total 60 credits or more.

10 Select any course listed under General Education Electives .