A survey course which is subtitled “The History of Art, Architecture, Costume and Décor from Cave-Man to the Renaissance”. The fall semester will be an introduction to the visual arts, architecture, clothing and artifacts from early man to the Renaissance. The course surveys the major periods in Western history and the visual characteristics of each period. Students will explore how the cultural, political, and religious systems influenced art, architecture, costume and decor of the times; as well as the qualities that make each period visually distinct. The class will make use of paintings, film, slides, music, and hands-on projects to connect students with each time period. Note: Prior to fall 2009, the course title was “History of Costume and Architectural Decor.”