University High School - Advanced Placement Art History
Teacher: Ms. Whitney Sheets
Email: whitney.sheets@tusd1.org
Room: LL4, Lower Level in the Education Building
This is a college level course in the history of world art from prehistoric through the contemporary
period. It is equivalent to Art History 201 and 202 at the University of Arizona. The prerequisite for
this course is sophomore standing at University High School. This course earns students 1 credit of
Fine Arts for graduation. The course is designed to prepare students for the College Board Advanced
Placement Art History Exam. The AP Art History Exam presumes at least one year of college-level
preparation.
Course Description and Objectives
This course has been designed to ensure that students will be able to meet the following objectives:
1.
Identify the time periods, geographical centers, and stylistic characteristics of major art
movements from the prehistoric period to the present and name artists working in each movement.
2.
Discuss the work of major artists in terms of their artistic concerns and stylistic characteristics,
the media they used, and the principal influences on them.
3.
Define and use common terms of art history.
4.
Recognize and discuss the iconography of specified works of art, as well as the iconography
popular during various historical periods.
5.
Identify significant philosophical movements, religious concepts, and historical figures, events,
and places and discuss their relation to works of art.
6.
Attribute unfamiliar works of art to an artist, a country and or style, and a period.
Course Website
www.mssheetsaparthistory.weebly.com
The course website includes the class schedule, information about homework and tests, lecture
PowerPoints, class documents, and Ms. Sheets’ contact information.
Required Textbook
Helen Gardner, Art Through the Ages, Harcourt Brace Company, Tenth Edition, 1996.
Marilyn Stokstad, Art History (Prentice Hall), Revised Second Edition.
Supplemental Textbook (Optional but HIGHLY recommended)
Strickland, Carol; The Annotated Mona Lisa (John Boswell Associates Book).
Required Materials
Students are required to take notes. Students may keep a spiral notebook or a folder of printed-out
PowerPoints that they will take notes upon. Students may alternatively take notes on their laptops.
Students must also have a large three-ring binder (2” or 3”) that they will keep throughout the year.
This will include the 250 “Snapshots” created by the student.
Course Schedule
The AP Art History course will be divided into twenty-three units. Each unit will have an exam,
including slide identifications, definition of terms, multiple choice, and short answer responses.
Course Policies
 Attendance is critical to student success at University High School. Absences can result in
missed information, which can affect the student grades. If you are absent, it is YOUR
responsibility to ascertain what you have missed. There are numerous ways to do this: check
the class website; ask a friend; read the textbook; check the classroom schedule.
 Please be on time. Tardiness interrupts the education process, not only for the student, but for
the teacher and other students as well.
 Electronic devices (including, but not limited to: cell phones, iPods, calculators) are not to be
used in class. In addition, they are not allowed to be out during the duration of an exam,
EVEN IF the student has turned in their exam.
 Students may not work on other homework during class.
 Reading the textbook is an expectation for this course. It is not feasible to cover all the material
in your textbook during class; it is the student’s responsibility to keep up with the textbook
readings or any other assigned readings.
 Test taking will simulate the actual AP.
 I am available during Conference period and after-school in Room LL4. If you need to meet
with me at another time, just ask or email.
 There is extra credit offered for this course. It is only in formats designated by Ms. Sheets.
Since this is extra credit, there is no negotiation on this matter.
 College students are typically awarded 6 units of credit if a score of a 3, 4, or 5 on this AP exam.
If a student scores a 4 on the AP, one semester grade will be raised a letter grade. If the student
scores a 5 on the AP, both semester grades will be raised a letter grade. This arrangement does
not apply to grades that were originally an F.
 Assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise stated. Students will have until
the end of the quarter to turn in any late work; after the end of the quarter, any homework from
that quarter will no longer be accepted. Assignments turned in late will be reduced by 50%.
 At the end of each semester, the student’s lowest test score will be dropped.
 Missed tests, quizzes, and essays must be scheduled to take after-school, during lunch or during
Conference time. Students have one week from the original date to make the assessment up.
 After all students have taken a particular quiz or test, students are welcome to come either
during Conference period or after school to look at their individual exam. Class time will not be
spent on this, so students must budget their time accordingly. Exams will not be returned.
 This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
 The choice by the instructor to not implement a policy does not prohibit the instructor from
implementing that policy in the future.
Student Evaluation
Quarterly and semester grades are based on total points, and will be determined by the composite
score earned from chapter exams, written papers, class participation, and review quizzes.
Grading Scale
A = 100-89.5% B= 89.4-79.5% C= 79.4-69.5% D= 69.4-59.5%
F= 59.4% and below
Because this grading scale has rounding accounted for, there will be no rounding when issuing quarter
or semester grades.
UHS Honor Code Policy
The UHS Honor Code will be implemented in this class. Any instances of cheating or plagiarism will
result in a zero on the assignment, with no opportunity to replace the grade, and will be referred to the
administrators.
Mature Content
Included in the course are artworks that address sexuality and that include nudity. As this is a collegelevel art history course, there is a level of maturity required and expected by the students in the room.
AP Art History
Ms. Sheets
I have read and understand the course syllabus for AP Art History. I understand that my
child will need internet access for this course to obtain PowerPoints, study guides, homework,
and the syllabus; I will let Ms. Sheets know if my student does not have internet access to
accommodations can be made. I also understand that the UHS Honors Code will be upheld
within this class and UHS administration will be notified of any infractions. Lastly, I
understand that some works of art will address sexuality, and/or include artistic nudity.
Student Name: ________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________________
Parent Email (please print): _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________