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Get a UCSC General Catalog (available on-line at: http://reg.ucsc.edu/catalog/) from the Bay Tree Bookstore; go online to read the campus handbook The Navigator: Undergraduate Handbook of Academic & Student Affairs. The web address is: http://reg.ucsc.edu/Navigator. Also check out the on-line Schedule of Classes at: http://gazos.ucsc.edu/soc/index.cfm. Read these materials thoroughly, they are full of valuable information. Pay attention to requirements and deadlines as you are ultimately responsible for making sure you adhere to University policy.
(2)
Come by the History of Art and Visual Culture Office for information and materials on the major and minor (available on-line at: http://havc.ucsc.edu). We have guidelines on how to write art history papers, information about internships and graduate pro-grams, a directory of Bay Area museums, and other publications and handbooks.
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You must declare a major during the third quarter of your sophomore year. If you don’t, your college may block your enrollment for the following quarter. Start the major by taking History of Art and Visual Culture “10” and “80” courses. You need to complete two “10” courses in order to declare the major. “10” courses may not be satisfied by AP credit; one studio course can be satisfied by AP credit (if you elect to take studio courses as part of the major).
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Concentrate on fulfilling your general education (GE) requirements during your first two years. These requirements are the foundation of a liberal arts education and allow you to explore several disciplines before deciding on a major. The broad concepts learned in lower-division courses provide the groundwork for materials studied at the upper-division level. Upper-division courses are more focused and will form the heart of your academic major.
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Get in the habit of consulting with faculty in History of Art and Visual Culture and other programs, too. If you are unsure about appropriate courses to take, consult with your college preceptor or a faculty member. The History of Art and Visual Culture faculty directory is posted in the glass case across from the History of Art and Visual Culture Office.
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Show up for the first day of class or you will be dropped! If you must miss the first class, you must contact the instructor before the first class meeting in order to hold your place (instructors are not compelled to do this). Be sure to check your enrollment each quarter to make sure you’re registered in the correct courses by the deadline.
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Buy your books prior to the first day of class, this will give you the opportunity to become familiar with the material before the course begins. There is almost always an assignment the first day. Many courses have readers (selected articles bound in book format; usually not available until the class meets) or a series of short books rather than textbooks. Read the syllabus carefully and make sure you can attend all scheduled exams and required activities (e.g. field trips, film screenings, etc.). Mark the due dates for papers, exams, and assignments on your calendar.
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Become familiar with the locations of computer services and labs on campus. Check The Navigator (http://reg.ucsc.edu/Navigator ) for information on how to set up an account to use University computer services.
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Sit in the front rows of the classroom and participate in discussion (in class and in section). Get to know the instructor and your TA if there is one. You may want letters of recommendation to apply to EAP or graduate school so establishing a good rapport with your instructor and TA is important.
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Get to know the campus libraries. Go on a scheduled library tour. Learn how to access MELVYL (computerized catalog) for research projects. In addition to using MELVYL for general use, learn to use CURRENT CONTENTS (magazines) and ART INDEX. Don’t limit yourself to computer databases as they generally go back only 15 years. Learn to use the reference areas, especially hard-bound art indexes on Tables 5 & 6, and general humanities indexes on Table 4. The reference area also has databases on CD-ROM. Become familiar with the slide library (first floor, McHenry Library).
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The quarter system is fast. It’s important initially to take no more than the standard workload (three five-credit courses) because the quarter goes by so quickly that you’ll be through it before you realize that there may not be enough time to do all the work. In fact, many faculty give midterms or have papers due as early as the third week of class. It’s not a good idea to take three History of Art and Visual Culture courses in any quarter unless you absolutely must.
Colleges and some majors offer partial credit courses which can’t be counted to-wards the History of Art and Visual Culture major, but offer interesting topics to explore. This is a good way to increase your course load without adding another full-credit course. Check these courses out.
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UCSC courses are different than those you took in high school. A History of Art and Visual Culture professor isn’t going to give you a narrative account of subject matter, rather you‘ll get a critical account and be expected to do critical writing, too.
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Get to know other students in your courses. Form study groups to share insights, perspectives, and approaches to the course material.
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many resources available: faculty, your college, History of Art and Visual Culture staff, TAs, various campus support services, writing tutors, other students, etc.
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All students should have a writing or style manual such as
• Kate Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
• Strunk and White, The Elements of Style
• Blanche Ellsworth and John A. Higgins, English Simplified
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If you are interested in internships, EAP (UC study-abroad program) and other study-abroad programs, the UC/DC program (UC campus in Washington DC), inter-campus exchange programs (at other UC campuses) or domestic exchange programs (at the Universities of New Hampshire or New Mexico), be sure to check the materials in the History of Art and Visual Culture Office and posted on the bulletin board outside the office.
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The History of Art and Visual Culture Department is in the advanced stages of developing a Ph.D. in Visual Studies. It is our hope to admit our first cohort of students for the fall of 2009.
Graduate programs usually have a language requirement. In fact, most art history graduate programs require German and/or French at the MA level so it’s a good idea to start taking your languages early. If you plan to go to graduate school, be sure to meet with your History of Art and Visual Culture adviser as soon as possible. Other campus resources: other faculty and TAs; SAA/EOP Graduate Information Program; Career, Internship, and Student Employment Services. There is also information on graduate programs in the History of Art and Visual Culture Office. Ask to see the directory of MA and PhD Programs in Art and Art History.
