Art History I Online College Course for Credit
ART 101 3 College Credits NCCRS Credit Recommended

Art History IOnline College Course

Prehistory to the Gothic — how images, buildings, and objects carried meaning across the ancient world.

Art History I — ART 101 online college course
$250 per course
One-time · Lifetime access · No subscription
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NCCRS Credit Recommended 3 Credit Hours Self-Paced
$250 PER COURSE or UPI Study Pro subscription
97% Completion Rate Course completion rate
28–30 Days Average course completion
Save $650+ vs. avg. community college cost for 3 credits
Self-Paced · Final Exam · NCCRS Recommended

What You'll Learn

A full semester of art history i — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.

Learning Outcomes

What You'll Be Able to Do

  • Remember fundamental concepts and key terminology in art history, such as periods, styles, materials, and influential artists and patrons
  • Understand the principles and techniques used in evaluating artwork, including formal analysis, contextual interpretation, and iconography
  • Apply art historical methods to interpret the visual characteristics and symbolic elements of ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern art
  • Analyze stylistic features, cultural influences, and the function of artworks from these regions within their historical and religious contexts
  • Apply visual analysis techniques to identify the distinguishing characteristics of early European art movements (e.g., Romanesque, Gothic, and the Proto-Renaissance)
  • Analyze how evolving materials, religious themes, and humanistic influences shaped European art through the late medieval period
  • Evaluate the cultural, spiritual, and social functions of artworks across the diverse civilizations studied, including the ancient Near East, Egypt, the classical Mediterranean, the early Christian and Byzantine worlds, the Islamic world, and medieval Europe
Topics Covered

Major Course Topics

Prehistoric art
Ancient Near East
Egyptian art
Aegean & Minoan art
Greek art & architecture
Etruscan art
Roman art & engineering
Early Christian art
Byzantine art
Islamic art
Early medieval art
Carolingian & Ottonian
Romanesque art
Gothic architecture
Visual analysis methods
Iconography
Art historical writing
At a Glance

Course Details

Course Art History I (ART 101)
Format 100% online
Learning Style Self-paced — no deadlines or class times
Credits 3 College Credits
Lab Not required
Prerequisites None
Assessment 25% Attendance · 25% Quizzes · 25% Assignments · 25% Final Exam
Estimated Completion 4–8 weeks, self-paced
Credit Recommendation NCCRS Credit Recommended
Transfer Information Transferable via the credit recommendation above — your registrar can confirm your school's policy
Simple Process

How It Works

Three steps from enrollment to transferable college credit — no campus visits, no application required.

01
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Pick & Enroll

Start one or more courses covering lower or upper division requirements — instantly, today.

02
🎯

Earn College Credit

Watch short video lessons, take quizzes and the final exam — all from home, on your schedule.

03
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Transfer Your Credits

Send earned credits to your school and graduate sooner, at a fraction of the cost.

Does My School Accept This Course?

UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations — the same standard recognized by hundreds of cooperating colleges and universities. Check if your school is on our list and move forward with confidence — or schedule a call with our team.

Accepted at various NCCRS cooperating universities

UPI Study Courses Include

⏱️Self-paced, flexible learning
🎥Video-based lessons
📘Digital study materials
🧩Interactive quizzes & assessments
📄ACE & NCCRS-recommended transcripts
💬Academic support & guidance
📈Grade improvement opportunities
💻Access on desktop & mobile

Master art history i and build a foundation for your degree — and your future.

Prehistory to the Gothic — how images, buildings, and objects carried meaning across the ancient world.

🎯 Why It Matters

  • Satisfies fine arts or humanities general-education requirements at most universities
  • Visual literacy is directly useful in design, marketing, media, and museum work
  • Builds cultural and historical context that supports history and literature coursework
  • Foundation for upper-division art history, museum studies, and conservation programs

💼 In-Demand Careers

  • Museum & Gallery Assistant
  • Curatorial Assistant
  • Arts Administrator
  • Graphic & Visual Designer
  • Art Educator
  • Auction House & Art Market Roles
  • Cultural Heritage Officer
  • Content & Media Producer

🚀 How This Sets You Up

  • Complete 15 chapters from prehistory through the Gothic period
  • Chapter quizzes, one assignment, and a cumulative final exam
  • 45 contact hours, fully self-paced
  • Continues directly into Art History II (Renaissance to contemporary)
  • Satisfies a fine-arts requirement at many institutions
Student Reviews

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FAQ

Common Questions Answered.

Everything you need to know about Art History I — credits, grading, transfer, and how it compares to traditional options.

What is Art History I?
A college-level survey of Western and Near Eastern art from prehistory through the Gothic period. It is ART 101 with 15 chapters.
Do I need art background or drawing skill for Art History I?
No. This is an art history course, not a studio course. No prior knowledge or artistic ability required.
Does Art History I satisfy a fine arts requirement?
Commonly yes. Some schools count it under humanities instead. Your registrar can confirm in minutes.
What is the difference between Art History I and II?
Art History I covers prehistory through the Gothic. Art History II covers the Renaissance through contemporary art.
How is Art History I graded?
Chapter quizzes, one assignment, and a cumulative final exam. 70 or above is required to pass.
How long does Art History I take to complete?
45 contact hours; typically 28–30 days, and often one of the faster courses to complete.
Are images included?
Yes — the course includes visual material with analysis on the UPI Study platform.
Will Art History I credit transfer to my university?
If your university recognizes NCCRS credit recommendations. Check Find My College first.
Is there a CLEP exam for Art History?
No — College Board doesn't offer an Art History CLEP, so an ACE/NCCRS-recommended course like this is the main way to earn the credit without a semester class.
What periods does Art History I cover?
Prehistoric art through the Gothic period — Egypt, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, the Islamic world, and the medieval West.
Do I need any art background to take Art History I?
No — it's a survey course with no prerequisites; visual analysis skills are taught from scratch.
Should I take Art History I before Art History II?
The sequence is chronological, but each half stands alone — you can take either first.

Still have questions? Our team answers within hours — not days.

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Why It Matters

Why Take College Credits?

Quick answers about transferable online credits, test-out style learning, and ACE & NCCRS-recommended options through UPI Study.

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Which universities accept these credits?

UPI Study courses carry NCCRS recommendations recognized by various NCCRS cooperating colleges and universities across the U.S., Canada, and UK.

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👤

Who can take self-paced college courses?

Anyone can enroll — including high school students, incoming college students, adult learners, and students trying to test out of traditional courses.

No prerequisites required →
💰

Why choose this over traditional classes?

Save time and reduce tuition costs. Many students complete prerequisites faster and shorten their time to graduation — at a fraction of the cost.

$60M+ saved by students →
📜

How many credits can I earn?

This course is NCCRS-recommended for 3 semester credit hours. Transfer as many credits as your university allows — students have transferred anywhere from 3 to 90+ credits depending on their school's policy.

3 credits this course →
What's Included

Everything You Need to Succeed

🎥

Video-Based Lessons

HD video lectures broken into short, focused modules. Watch at your own pace — pause, rewind, replay any time.

🧩

Quizzes & Final Exam

Evaluate your understanding after every section with quizzes and a comprehensive final exam that mirrors real college assessment.

📋

Structured College-Level Course

Structured lessons covering every topic — designed as a standard Art History I college-level course.

🏛️

Official Transcript

Complete the course, request your transcript, and transfer 3 credit hours to cooperating universities. No separate exam required.

Two Ways to Enroll

Pick What Fits You

Pay Per Course

Lifetime Access

$250
one-time · this course only
  • Full Art History I course — all chapters & lessons included
  • Lifetime access — no subscription, no expiration
  • Official transcript on completion
  • Best if you only need this one prerequisite
Enroll Now — $250 →
Membership

UPI Study Membership

from $99
see plans for full course access & terms
  • Access this course as part of your membership
  • Ideal if you're planning to complete several prerequisites
  • Same NCCRS-recommended credit and official transcript
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Ready to Start?

Earn 3 College Credits
for $250.

Self-paced. No deadlines. NCCRS-recommended, recognized by various NCCRS cooperating universities. Join 135,000+ learners on the UPI Study platform.