Calabasas High School offers a wide variety of courses with different levels of difficulty. Many of them become popular classes for students throughout different grade levels, whereas others act as classes students take purely from course interests or career interests. AP Art History falls into the category of a course that students can choose to take based on their interest in global studies. However, enrollment has been dropping for the course with each year. So what exactly does AP Art History offer, and should more students put their attention toward taking it?
AP Art History is a course that studies art from different cultures, religions, and peoples across the world. It is split into 10 units that focus around global studies. It is one of the only global study courses offered at CHS where students can learn more about not only art but also different beliefs and religions. The course also discusses architectural design and traditions within art as well as changes over time. The topics discussed are unique and apply to modern cultures, allowing students to contextualize the present day with history from artistic expression.
The course, taught at an Advanced Placement level, offers students preparation for college. It is more structured like a college course than other AP courses at CHS, where Kelly Ortiz lectures about a variety of different art pieces.
The class is taught by Ortiz, who also teaches English, Yearbook, and advises ASB. She currently teaches one period of AP Art History, and loves the setup of the class and what it offers for students.
“I think this is a great course to kind of give students a basic knowledge of various cultures so I think it would open up their mind to sort of a diverse understanding of art for different groups of people,” said Ortiz.
Additionally, Ortiz expressed how the course prepares students for the environment of higher education and life.
“It prepares you for the college setting because it’s such a class that is strongly based in straightforward lecturing, and you have to take notes and you have to do well on tests,” said. Ortiz.“I think it also is a course that can kind of prepare you for life itself because it exposes you to cultural experience. Whether it’s travel, visiting a museum, just being knowledgeable about art.”
Senior Audrey Rumteen, a current AP Art History student, feels that the course adds to and enriches her education in ways that can’t be replicated.
“Students can benefit from this course because they get a holistic understanding of different art in history,” said Rumteen, “We learn about different religions from different cultures, and I don’t think there is another history class at CHS that gives that holistic standpoint of history.”
She expressed how students should take advantage of the course being offered at CHS in order to grow as a student.
“Students should 100% take Art History,” says Rumteen, “When you take Art History you learn more about specific things you see day to day that you would never think you would learn about.”
AP Art History is a distinctive course offered at Calabasas that offers students a chance to broaden their horizons on their worldview. Currently, AP Art History is facing a challenge at continuing to be offered at CHS. Less students are aware of the course offers, and consequently, are not enrolling. Students should consider whether or not AP Art History can benefit them throughout their high school career.
