AP Art History
Explore the History of Art Across the Globe
AP Art History invites students to explore the nature of art, its uses, its meanings, and art making across various cultures and time periods. Students analyze works of art within their historical and cultural contexts.
Academic Level
College-Level
Subject Area
Arts and Humanities
Course Rigor
Advanced
Governed By
College Board
Course Overview
What You Will Learn in This Course
Students learn to visually analyze art, understand cultural contexts, and trace the evolution of artistic traditions. The course prepares students for college-level art history and humanities studies by exploring the nature and meaning of art across diverse cultures and eras. Participants study 250 required works of art, ranging from prehistory to the contemporary global art scene. The curriculum emphasizes the relationship between the form, function, content, and context of each piece. Students develop the ability to articulate their observations through evidence-based comparisons and historical analysis. By examining how art reflects and shapes societal values, they gain a deeper appreciation for human creativity and cultural expression. This visual literacy training is essential for careers in museum curation, architecture, and historical research, providing a bridge between history and aesthetics.
Course Overview
Why Choose This AP Course
This course builds essential visual literacy and prepares students for careers in history, museum studies, architecture, and the fine arts. In an increasingly visual culture, the ability to decode the meaning and history behind images is a vital professional skill. Students learn to view art not just as aesthetic objects, but as powerful documents of human belief and social change. The curriculum fosters a global perspective by examining artistic traditions from every corner of the world. Participants develop the descriptive and analytical writing skills necessary for careers in curation, auction houses, and cultural heritage. This course also provides a rich context for students of architecture and design to understand the evolution of form. It enriches the student's personal experience of the world while building a rigorous academic foundation. It is the perfect choice for those who want to combine a passion for beauty with scholarly inquiry.
Critical Thinking
Technical Skills
Problem Solving
Academic Growth
Colaboration
Career Readiness
Prerequisites
Analytical Thinking
Ability to evaluate visual evidence and synthesize arguments
Recommended
Writing Proficiency
Basic mastery of argumentative writing and thesis development
Required
Prior History Experience
Previous World History coursework is highly beneficial but not strictly mandatory
Optional
Reading Comprehension
Ability to read and understand complex, college-level historical texts
Required
Key Learning Outcomes
Build skills in writing art historical arguments
Analyze artistic traditions and cross-cultural connections
Evaluate the materials, processes, and techniques of art making
Prepare for advanced arts and humanities coursework
Develop proficiency in visual and contextual analysis
Master the study of 250 required works of art
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Course Framework
Structure & Assessment
Unit 1–10 covering global art from prehistory to the present
1
Multiple-choice questions testing visual analysis and historical context
2
Free-response questions requiring comparative analysis and contextual essays
3
Emphasis on applying art historical skills to both known and unknown works
4
Duration
Full academic year (150+ hours)
Scoring
Scale of 1–5 (3+ generally considered passing)
Grading Basis
Combination of multiple-choice and free-response sections
Strategies for Success
Syllabus
You'll learn about the origins of human art across the globe during the stone ages.
Unit 1
Global Prehistory, 30,000–500 BCE
You'll study the many forms of modern art from across the globe.
Unit 10
Global Contemporary, 1980 CE to Present
You'll study a broad range of artistic works from the civilizations of the ancient Near East and Egypt, as well as the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman cultures.
Unit 2
Ancient Mediterranean, 3500 BCE–300 CE
You'll explore the evolution of art from the early middle ages through the mid-18th century in Europe and the Americas.
Unit 3
Early Europe and Colonial Americas, 200–1750 CE
You'll study the effect of rapid societal change on art from the modern period in Europe and the Americas.
Unit 4
Later Europe and Americas, 1750–1980 CE
You'll understand the roots and evolution of indigenous American art from the ancient civilizations of Central and South America to Native North American societies.
Unit 5
Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE–1980 CE
You'll explore the diversity of African art and the role it played in the many and varied societies on the continent.
Unit 6
Africa, 1100–1980 CE
You'll learn about the techniques, materials, and evolution of art throughout West and Central Asia.
Unit 7
West and Central Asia, 500 BCE–1980 CE
You'll study the tradition of Asian art from prehistoric times to modern works.
Unit 8
South, East, and Southeast Asia, 300 BCE–1980 CE
You'll study the wide-ranging types of art from the vast network of islands in the Pacific Ocean stretching from Australia to Hawaii.
Unit 9
The Pacific, 700–1980 CE
Strategies for Success
Study & Success Tips
Build skills in writing art historical arguments
Tip 4
Analyze artistic traditions and cross-cultural connections
Tip 3
Master the study of 250 required works of art
Tip 2
Develop proficiency in visual and contextual analysis
Tip 1
Prepare for advanced arts and humanities coursework
Tip 6
Evaluate the materials, processes, and techniques of art making
Tip 5
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