# Art History (ARTH) courses

Napa Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 8 courses

Source: https://catalog.napavalley.edu/courses/arth/

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026, Spring 2027.

### ARTH-C1100 — Survey of Art From Prehistory to the Medieval Era

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/fall-2026/arth.md); Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/spring-2027/arth.md)

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. Formerly known as ARTH 105.

### ARTH-C1200 — Survey of Art From the Renaissance to Contemporary

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/fall-2026/arth.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/spring-2027/arth.md)

This course provides an overview of art and architecture from the Renaissance to the contemporary period with a focus on art from Europe. The course will further consider global interactions involving this region. This course is required for Studio Arts and Art History majors. Formerly known as ARTH 106.

### ARTH-101 — Introduction to Visual Culture

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 schedules

Examination and analysis of visual material, from paintings and sculpture to graphic design, movies, and other contemporary media. Focus will be on how images and objects communicated ideas in the past and continue to shape contemporary experience.

### ARTH-110 — History of Graphic Design

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/fall-2026/arth.md)

From the print revolution to the digital world, this course covers the ways in which societies have communicated using text and image.

### ARTH-118 — Survey of Modern Art

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/spring-2027/arth.md)

This course covers the major historical and formal developments of Modernism in art, architecture and design from the mid-nineteenth-century to the present.

### ARTH-130 — History of Asian Art

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/spring-2027/arth.md)

This is a survey of Asian art, looking specifically at India, China, Korea and Japan from the prehistoric period to the present. The course will focus on objects, images, and monuments and their role in the religious, political and social contexts in which they were made.

### ARTH-145 — Art of the Ancient Americas

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/fall-2026/arth.md)

A survey of the visual culture of select ancient civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and South America prior to European contact. Material covered will include how architecture, sculpture, textiles and ceramics function in their specific historic contexts.

### ARTH-180 — History of Photography

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** 54 hours lecture; 54 hours total
- **Advisory:** Completion of ENGL-C1000 or ENGL-120B with a minimum grade of C or appropriate placement.
- **Transfers to:** UC, CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/napa-valley-college/schedule/fall-2026/arth.md)

This course examines the history of photography from its beginnings to the present. Emphasized will be the medium's technical, artistic and social impact.