Reimagining the Art History Survey Course: A Chronological Approach for Global Inclusivity

Author: Mary Broding

Issue: Summer Issue, 2025

Abstract

This classroom exploration article focuses on a solution to the problem of traditional Western-focused art history survey courses limiting students’ exposure to the art and architecture of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania. While most current art history survey courses claim a global focus, the Western focus is still present with the art and architecture of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania being given less than a third of the focus given to Western art. In order for these art history survey courses to be globally focused instead of Western-focused and offer a more inclusive perspective on art history, they need to be redesigned to possess a chronological design approach versus the traditional regional/chronological design approach. A chronological design approach allows for equal representation of art from different regions, fostering a more balanced and inclusive understanding of global art history. The redesign of ARH 101 Art from Prehistory Through Middle Ages for Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) occurred over the summer of 2024 with a launch in the Fall of 2024. The redesign of the course involved the use of the chronological design approach, a new Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, The Met Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (2023), to complement the new course design, and assignments that offer student choice and the need to analyze art from different periods and regions.