Welcome to ARTH101: Art Appreciation

Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.

Course Description

Explore visual art forms and their cultural connections by learning about the history of art and its principles. Study the elements, media, and methods used in creative thought and the creative process.

Course Introduction

This course explores visual art forms and their cultural connections across historical periods, designed for students with little experience in the visual arts. It includes brief studies in art history and in-depth inquiry into the elements, media, and methods used in a range of creative processes. At the beginning of this course, we will study a five-step system for developing an understanding of visual art in all forms, based on: Description: A work of art from an objective point of view – its physical attributes and formal construction. Analysis: A detailed look at a work of art that combines physical attributes with subjective statements based on the viewer's reaction to the work. Context: Historical, religious, or environmental information that surrounds a particular work of art and which helps to understand the work's meaning. Meaning: A statement of the work's content. A message or narrative to express the subject matter. Judgment: A critical point of view about a work of art concerning its aesthetic or cultural value. After completing this course, you will be able to interpret works of art based on this five-step system, explain the processes involved in artistic production, identify the many kinds of issues that artists examine in their work, and explain the role and effect of the visual arts in different social, historical and cultural contexts.

This course includes the following units:

Unit 1: Defining Art. Unit 2: Who Makes Art – Process and Training. Unit 3: How Art Speaks – Finding Meaning. Unit 4: How Art Works – The Principles of Visual Language. Unit 5: Artistic Media. Unit 6: Architecture. Unit 7: Our World. Unit 8: Other Worlds. Unit 9: Art in Time and Place – The Western and Near Eastern World

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

[1] Identify and describe the elements and principles of art; [2] Compare and contrast different methods, mediums, and materials artists use to create two- and three-dimensional works of visual art; [3] Interpret and analyze examples of visual art; [4] Identify the processes and materials involved in art and architectural production; [5] Explain the roles and effects of the visual arts through history and in different societies and cultures; [6] Connect formal attributes of art with their meaning and expression; [7] Articulate the political, social, cultural, and aesthetic themes and issues that artists examine in their work; [8] Evaluate and communicate information about visual art in its various forms and contexts

Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.

Course Materials

This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos.

All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course by clicking on Resources in the navigation bar.

Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score

Only the final examination is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn 70% or higher on the final exam. The exam will be password-protected and requires a proctor.

Your score on the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. There is a 14 days waiting period between each attempt. You may only attempt the final exam a maximum of 3 times. Be sure to study in between each attempt! If you do not pass the exam after 3 attempts, you will not complete this course.

There is also a practice exam that you may take as many times as you want to help you prepare for the final exam. The course also contains end-of-unit assessments in this course. The end-of-unit assessments are designed to help you study and do not factor into your final course grade. You can take these as many times as you want to until you understand the concepts and material covered. You can see all of these assessments by clicking on Quizzes in the course's navigation bar.

Tips for Success

ARTH101: Art Appreciation is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take 31 hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.

Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:

  • Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
  • Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.

Technical Requirements

This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.

To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require login.

For more details and guidance, please review our complete Technical Requirements and our student Help Center.

Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App

You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

Download on Google Play Download on the App Store

Fees

This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and course completion certificate.

Last modified: Monday, 9 June 2025, 10:55 AM