Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: ARTS-1303 (Section: 71, CRN: 90578)
Art History I (Prehistoric to 14th Century)
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Mary Catherine Wilbur
Email wilburmc@lamarpa.edu
Phone 4099846209
Office Performing Arts Center - Room: 155
Office Hours MW 1pm-2:30pm
TR 12:45pm-2:15pm
F 10am-12pm
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description A chronological analysis of the historical and cultural contexts of the visual arts from prehistoric times to the 14th century. Primarily an examination of Western painting, sculpture, architecture and related visual arts from prehistoric times to the end of the Gothic Period in the late Middle Ages. May be taken in either year of this curriculum.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History by Fred S. Kleiner, 16th Edition

Publisher: Cengage

May be print, e-book, or summoned via ritual.


Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Additional Materials/Resources Additional required readings will be available through Blackboard
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes

By the end of this semester, students will be able to:

Identify and describe works of art based on their chronology and style, using standard categories and terminology. 

Investigate major artistic developments and significant works of art from prehistoric times to the 14th century. 

Analyze the relationship of art to history by placing works of art within cultural, historical, and chronological contexts.

Critically interpret and evaluate works of art

Core Objectives
  • Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.

  • Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.

  • Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.

  • Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.

  • Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.

Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
Lecture Topics Outline
 

Week

Topic/ 

Assignments due in bold (Subject to change: check Blackboard for any updates)

Readings

1

8/25

Welcome to the Course: Community introduction and Icebreaker


Students should be getting their books. Seahawk Book Bundle provides day 1 access. 


Syllabus Quiz: Due 8/29

Familiarize yourself with this course and policies on Blackboard


Syllabus on Blackboard

2

9/1

Labor Day Holiday 9/1

Topic - Chapter 1: Art in the Stone Age


Chapter 1 Quiz: Due 9/6


Chapter 1: Art in the Stone Age

3

9/8

Topic - Chapter 2: Ancient Mesopotamia and Persia


Visual Analysis 1: Due 9/13

Chapter 2 Quiz: Due 9/13

What is Visual Analysis in Art History? 


Chapter 2: Art in the Stone Age

4

9/15

Topic - Chapter 3: Egypt from Narmer to Cleopatra


Compare and Contrast 1: Due 9/16

Chapter 3 Quiz: Due 9/16

Compare and Contrast Slides

 

Chapter 3: Egypt from Narmer to Cleopatra

5

9/22

Topic - Chapter 4: The Prehistoric Aegean


Visual Analysis 2: Due 9/6

Chapter 4 Quiz: Due 9/6


Assignment Opened: Art History Research Paper Proposal. Due 10/11


 

How to do Research for Art History


Art History Research Paper folder 


Chapter 4: The Prehistoric Aegean

6

9/29

Topic - Chapter 5 & 6: Ancient Greece & The Etruscans


Chapter 5 & 6 Quizzes: Due 10/4

The Greek Age of Heroes: Myth Becomes Heroes by Carol G. Thor


Chapter 5 & 6: Ancient Greece & The Aegean

7

10/6

Topic - Chapter 7: The Roman Empire


Art History Research Proposal Due: 10/11

Compare & Contrast 2: Due 10/11

Chapter 7 Quiz: Due 10/11

Chapter 7: The Roman Empire


 

8

10/13

Topic - Chapter 8 & 9: Late Antiquity & Byzantium


Assignment Opened: Art History Research Paper Draft. Due 11/8

Compare & Contrast 2: Due 10/18

Chapters 8 & 9 Quizzes: Due 10/18

Art History Research Paper Assignment 


Chapters 8 & 9: Late Antiquity & Byzantium

9

10/20

Topic - Chapter 10: The Islamic World


Visual Analysis 3: Due 10/25

Chapter 10 Quiz: Due 10/25

Chapter 10: The Islamic World

10

10/27

Topic Chapter 11 & 12: Early Medieval Europe & Romanesque Europe


Compare and Contrast 3: Due 1/11

Chapter 11 & 12 Quizzes: Due 1/11

Chapters 11 & 12: Early Medieval Europe & Romanesque Europe

11

11/3

Topic Chapter 13 & 14: Gothic Europe & Late Medieval Italy


Chapter 13 & 14  Quizzes: Due 11/8

Art History Research Paper Rough Draft Due 11/8

Chapters 13 & 14: Gothic Europe & late Medieval Italy


 

12

11/10

Topic Chapter 15: South and Southeast Asia before 1200


Chapter 15 Quiz: Due 11/15

Assignment Opened: Art History Final Draft Due 11/29

Chapter 15: South and Southeast Asia before 1200

13

11/17

Topic Chapter 16: China and Korea to 1279


Quote Response 1: Due 11/22

Chapter 16 Quiz: Due 11/22

Chapter 16: China and Korea to 1279

14

11/24

Thanksgiving Holiday 11/27-28

Topic - Chapter 17: Japan Before 1333


Chapter 17 Quiz: Due 9/6

Art History Final Draft Due 11/30

Chapter 17: Japan Before 1333

15

12/1

Topic - Chapter 18 & 19: Native American Cultures before 1300 & Africa Before 1800


Final Exam Opens 12/3 and closes 12/9

Extra Credit due 12/5

Chapters 18 & 19: Native American Cultures before 1300 & Africa before 1800

16

12/8

Final Exam Closes 12/9

 
Major Assignments Schedule
 

Week

Topic/ 

Assignments due in bold (Subject to change: check Blackboard for any updates)

Readings

1

8/25

Welcome to the Course: Community introduction and Icebreaker


Students should be getting their books. Seahawk Book Bundle provides day 1 access. 


Syllabus Quiz: Due 8/29

Familiarize yourself with this course and policies on Blackboard


Syllabus on Blackboard

2

9/1

Labor Day Holiday 9/1

Topic - Chapter 1: Art in the Stone Age


Chapter 1 Quiz: Due 9/6


Chapter 1: Art in the Stone Age

3

9/8

Topic - Chapter 2: Ancient Mesopotamia and Persia


Visual Analysis 1: Due 9/13

Chapter 2 Quiz: Due 9/13

What is Visual Analysis in Art History? 


Chapter 2: Art in the Stone Age

4

9/15

Topic - Chapter 3: Egypt from Narmer to Cleopatra


Compare and Contrast 1: Due 9/16

Chapter 3 Quiz: Due 9/16

Compare and Contrast Slides

 

Chapter 3: Egypt from Narmer to Cleopatra

5

9/22

Topic - Chapter 4: The Prehistoric Aegean


Visual Analysis 2: Due 9/6

Chapter 4 Quiz: Due 9/6


Assignment Opened: Art History Research Paper Proposal. Due 10/11


 

How to do Research for Art History


Art History Research Paper folder 


Chapter 4: The Prehistoric Aegean

6

9/29

Topic - Chapter 5 & 6: Ancient Greece & The Etruscans


Chapter 5 & 6 Quizzes: Due 10/4

The Greek Age of Heroes: Myth Becomes Heroes by Carol G. Thor


Chapter 5 & 6: Ancient Greece & The Aegean

7

10/6

Topic - Chapter 7: The Roman Empire


Art History Research Proposal Due: 10/11

Compare & Contrast 2: Due 10/11

Chapter 7 Quiz: Due 10/11

Chapter 7: The Roman Empire


 

8

10/13

Topic - Chapter 8 & 9: Late Antiquity & Byzantium


Assignment Opened: Art History Research Paper Draft. Due 11/8

Compare & Contrast 2: Due 10/18

Chapters 8 & 9 Quizzes: Due 10/18

Art History Research Paper Assignment 


Chapters 8 & 9: Late Antiquity & Byzantium

9

10/20

Topic - Chapter 10: The Islamic World


Visual Analysis 3: Due 10/25

Chapter 10 Quiz: Due 10/25

Chapter 10: The Islamic World

10

10/27

Topic Chapter 11 & 12: Early Medieval Europe & Romanesque Europe


Compare and Contrast 3: Due 1/11

Chapter 11 & 12 Quizzes: Due 1/11

Chapters 11 & 12: Early Medieval Europe & Romanesque Europe

11

11/3

Topic Chapter 13 & 14: Gothic Europe & Late Medieval Italy


Chapter 13 & 14  Quizzes: Due 11/8

Art History Research Paper Rough Draft Due 11/8

Chapters 13 & 14: Gothic Europe & late Medieval Italy


 

12

11/10

Topic Chapter 15: South and Southeast Asia before 1200


Chapter 15 Quiz: Due 11/15

Assignment Opened: Art History Final Draft Due 11/29

Chapter 15: South and Southeast Asia before 1200

13

11/17

Topic Chapter 16: China and Korea to 1279


Quote Response 1: Due 11/22

Chapter 16 Quiz: Due 11/22

Chapter 16: China and Korea to 1279

14

11/24

Thanksgiving Holiday 11/27-28

Topic - Chapter 17: Japan Before 1333


Chapter 17 Quiz: Due 9/6

Art History Final Draft Due 11/30

Chapter 17: Japan Before 1333

15

12/1

Topic - Chapter 18 & 19: Native American Cultures before 1300 & Africa Before 1800


Final Exam Opens 12/3 and closes 12/9

Extra Credit due 12/5

Chapters 18 & 19: Native American Cultures before 1300 & Africa before 1800

16

12/8

Final Exam Closes 12/9

 
Final Exam Date December 3, 2025 - 8:00 AM   Through  December 9, 2025 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade

Syllabus Quiz

5%

Chapter Quizzes

35%

Discussion Posts

25%

Final Exam

15%

Research Essay

20%

Course Policies
Instructor Policies

Uploading Assignments

All assignments must be uploaded in the required format. All assignments – unless instructed otherwise – i.e. a video or PowerPoint submission – must be submitted as a Word document. Do not submit Google docs, pages, or PDF’s, unless asked. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have submitted your assignment as directed in the instructions. If I cannot open your assignment, I will not grade it.  

Additionally, if you have difficulty uploading your assignment due to Blackboard or other technical issues, you should email me a copy of the assignment immediately – not the next day. It will be considered late if I do not have an email copy of the assignment by the due date. You should then contact Blackboard technical support to address the problem and work to get the assignment uploaded into Blackboard. 

When you submit an assignment, Blackboard sends you a confirmation email with an individual submission number. Please make sure that you receive, and save, this confirmation. If there are issues regarding the submission of your assignment, I may ask to see the submission confirmation. 

Important Information About Taking Exams: 

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have an adequate amount of time, the proper atmosphere, and a secure connection to the internet to take the exams. I strongly suggest using a laptop or desktop computer—not your phone—and using a wired internet connection to avoid wi-fi fluctuations that may occur.  

Finally, you should also give yourself enough time to take these— don’t wait until the last minute—so that if your internet is “down” you can find another place to take them. Blackboard is a stable platform, so the ONLY way I will consider “re-setting” an exam is if you submit a screenshot or picture of the error message showing that the site itself was at fault. 

 Just “forgetting” that you had an exam due will not suffice for a reason to re-set it, so do not ask. You have plenty of time to take the exams and the dates are set from the beginning of the course, so plan ahead. (see the schedule) I will not reset an exam after the due date/time has passed under any circumstances.


Late Work 

For every day a quiz or discussion is late, 10% will be subtracted from the grade. Up to 4 days late, then the assignment will receive a zero. For example:

E.g., a paper that would have received a 100 will receive a 90 after one day late, and so on.


For every day that any part of the Art History Research Paper (Proposal, Draft, Final Paper) is late, 10% will be subtracted from the paper. Up to 2 days late, then the assignment will receive a zero.

The Final Exam cannot be taken late. Once it is closed, it cannot be made up.

Communication

You are required to put the class and section number in the subject line of the email. I will respond promptly in 24-48 hrs. I am available during business hours Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. I do not respond to emails in the evening or the weekend. 

Please use your lamarpa email to communicate with me as emails from Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, etc. may end up in a clutter folder and I will not see it, and therefore, not respond. Include your first and last name and your course number and section.

For any announcements concerning class, I will send out an announcement on Blackboard, so please make a point to check often.

Most questions can be answered by reading the class syllabus, assignment sheet, or other directions available to you in Blackboard. Students should always be aware of the tone and structure of their correspondence. 

Civility in the Classroom (or…Online Space)

Student incivility, rudeness, or attacks of a personal nature will not be tolerated, whether directed at the instructor or another student. Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities on campus or in online classes will be required to cease such behavior. Disruptive behavior will be reported on the first offense. If the behavior continues after the first warning, the student will no longer continue as a student of the course.

Syllabus Change Policy

I reserve the right to adjust this syllabus, assignments, and due dates as needed.  Any changes will be announced in class and sent as an announcement through the Blackboard system. You should check your email daily for any announcements about the course

Attendance Policy

Attendance

You must log in to the class regularly. If you fail to log in and submit assignments, I will conclude that you are no longer participating.

Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
Chair:CASP
Email:CASP
Phone:(409) 983-4921