Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Senior Seminar (Face-to-Face)

ARTH 4990-01

Course: ARTH 4990-01
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ARTD
CRN: 32619

Course Description

Advanced individualized instruction and supervised research and writings in art or design history. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 9 

Required Texts

The primary set of texts for this capstone seminar in art history is the run of quarterly issues of The Art Bulletin, the College Art Association's longstanding "journal of record" for the discipline of art history. These periodicals will be provided by the instructor.

Learning Outcomes

In this capstone art-history seminar, students must demonstrate significant competency in four areas of academic achievement, as described here: 

ARTH 4990 ELO (Essential Learning Outcome) No. 1
(Essential Learning Outcome 2.4 – Communication) Command of Content – a demonstrated understanding and use of discipline-specific content.
 
ARTH 4990 ELO (Essential Learning Outcome) No. 2 
(Essential Learning Outcome 3.1 – Creative Thinking) Acquisition of Competency – a demonstrated ability to evaluate and reflect on creative processes and products.
 
ARTH 4990 Essential Learning Outcome No. 3
(Essential Learning Outcome 4.0 – Critical Thinking) Competency in Comparative Evaluation – a demonstrated skill at conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or communication, as a guide to belief and action. 
 
ARTH 4990 Essential Learning Outcome No. 4
(Essential Learning Outcome 11.0 – Variable) Knowledge of Human Cultures – a demonstrated knowledge of human cultures and of the physical and natural world through study inthe fine arts, humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the life and physical sciences.

Course Requirements

Students’ involvement in their individual semester-long research and writing projects will be considered throughout the course of the semester, as will their participation in seminar discussions. Finally, their own finished paper will be evaluated on its inherent strengths both wiith respect to originality of thought and strength of presentation.

Course Outline

As this is a 4000-level course, students are also expected to have developed competency in understanding and writing clearly in standard Academic English, because they will need to be able to follow not merely the general range of topics under discussion, but the many specific points and counterpoints that punctuate it and, finally, to present their own thesis. Therefore, the writing assignment(s) attached to this course may be graded not only on the strength of the ideas they present, but also on the quality of language in which they are expressed. Students are advised, first, to read a number of published scholarly papers so as to develop an understanding of the standard for scholarly writing in the humanities; second, to give prolonged attention to both the images (objects) they intend to discuss in their own paper and salient published literature concerning the same or similar images; finally, to formulate a cogent argument in support of their findings, following either the MLA standard of formatting or another accepted standard.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

As this seminar is largely managed by the seminarians (students) themselves, it will be their responsibility to maintain a work schedule that enables achievement of the seminar's stated aims. With respect to a "policy on late assignments and/or makeup work": in most cases all required work must be completed and submitted for evaluation by the end of the term.

Attendance Policy

A seminar requires the regular and consistent participation of its members. Ideally, all seminar meetings will be attended by all seminarians. Should a seminarian exhibit a pattern of absence or otherwise fail to participate in meetings, they will probably not pass the course. 

Course Fees

As part of SUU's Art History program, enrollment in the ARTH 4990 Senior Seminar in Art History entails a $9 fee for each credit-hour. The total amount in fees charged, therefore, depends on the number of credit-hours the student undertakes. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.