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Art History IOnline College Course
Prehistory to the Gothic — how images, buildings, and objects carried meaning across the ancient world.
What You'll Learn
A full semester of art history i — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
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
Major Course Topics
Course chapters and lessons
Art History I has 15 chapters across 45 instructional hours, as listed in the course syllabus. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
- Chapters
- 15
- Lessons
- 72
- Instructional hours
- 45 hrs
- Semester hours
- 3
Chapter 1
Introduction
- 1.1 Common Questions about Dates
- 1.2 A Beginner's Guide to the History of Western Culture
- 1.3 Patronage and the Status of the Artist
Chapter 2
The Birth of Art
- 2.1 Prehistoric Art: Paleolithic Origins
- 2.2 Paleolithic Art Explained
- 2.3 The Neolithic Revolution
- 2.4 Jericho
- 2.5 Çatal Höyük
- 2.6 Stonehenge
Chapter 3
The Ancient Near East
- 3.1 Ancient Near East
- 3.2 Sumerian Art
- 3.3 The Invention of Writing
- 3.4 Ziggurat of Ur
- 3.5 Art of Akkad and Ur
- 3.6 Theories on the Meaning of the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
Chapter 4
The Art of Ancient Egypt
- 4.1 Ancient Egypt
- 4.2 Egyptian Art
- 4.3 Materials & Techniques
- 4.4 The Great Pyramids of Giza
- 4.5 Pyramid of Khufu
- 4.6 Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx
- 4.7 Pyramid of Menkaure
Chapter 5
The Art of Ancient Greece—Part I
- 5.1 The Early Aegean (3000–700 BCE)
Chapter 6
The Art of Ancient Greece—Part II
- 6.1 Petra: An Introduction
- 6.2 Petra: Rock Cut Facades
- 6.3 Petra: Urban Metropolis
Chapter 7
The Art of the Etruscans
- 7.1 Etruscan Art
- 7.2 Sarcophagus of the Spouses
- 7.3 Etruscan Necropolises
- 7.4 Etruscan Art Explained by the Met
Chapter 8
The Art of Ancient Rome—Part I
- 8.1 Augustus of Primaporta
- 8.2 Ara Pacis
Chapter 9
The Art of Ancient Rome—Part II
- 9.1 Hadrian's Villa
- 9.2 Column of Trajan
- 9.3 Equestrian Sculpture of Marcus Aurelius
- 9.4 Arch of Constantine
Chapter 10
Early Christian Art
- 10.1 Introduction to Early Christianity
- 10.2 Early Christian Art
- 10.3 After Constantine
- 10.4 Santa Maria Antiqua Sarcophagus
- 10.5 Santa Pudenziana
- 10.6 Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
- 10.7 Santa Sabina
Chapter 11
Early Medieval, Carolingian, and Ottonian Art
- 11.1 Early Medieval Art
- 11.2 Fibulae
- 11.3 Sutton Hoo Ship Burial
- 11.4 Medieval Manuscripts
- 11.5 The Bestiary
- 11.6 The Lindisfarne Gospels
- 11.7 Carolingian Art
- 11.8 St. Michael's Church
Chapter 12
Byzantine Art
- 12.1 Iconoclasm
- 12.2 Hagia Sophia
Chapter 13
The Arts of the Islamic World
- 13.1 Introduction to Islamic Art
- 13.2 Mosque Architecture
- 13.3 The Early Period
- 13.4 Dome of the Rock
- 13.5 Great Mosque of Cordoba
- 13.6 Medieval Period
- 13.7 Pyxis of Al-Mughira
- 13.8 The Alhambra
- 13.9 Later Period
Chapter 14
Romanesque Art
- 14.1 Introduction to Romanesque Art
- 14.2 Pilgrimage Routes
- 14.3 Church Architecture
- 14.4 Abbaye of Fontenay
- 14.5 Saint Trophime
- 14.6 Historiated Capitals
Chapter 15
Gothic Art
- 15.1 Gothic Architecture
- 15.2 Southwell Minister
- 15.3 Salisbury Cathedral
- 15.4 Blanche of Castile
These chapters come straight from the official course syllabus, which also sets out the graded assignment and the proctored final exam.
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 | Self-paced · no deadlines |
| Credit Recommendation | NCCRS Credit Recommended |
| Transfer Information | Transferable via the credit recommendation above — your registrar can confirm your school's policy |
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- Full Art History I course — all chapters & lessons included
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- Official transcript on completion
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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
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A 56-second look at Art History I.
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?
Do I need art background or drawing skill for Art History I?
Does Art History I satisfy a fine arts requirement?
What is the difference between Art History I and II?
How is Art History I graded?
How long does Art History I take to complete?
Are images included?
Will Art History I credit transfer to my university?
Is there a CLEP exam for Art History?
What periods does Art History I cover?
Do I need any art background to take Art History I?
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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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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.
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.
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.
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.