Art History and Visual Culture, BA (Hons)

This course explores the global history of fine arts and visual media, examining their ongoing influence on modern society. Students develop essential skills such as project management and creative problem-solving, while benefiting from strong industry connections. It covers the creation, distribution, and social contexts of art history and visual media, including topics like moving image, photography, printmaking, and exhibition histories. Engaging with a diverse community, learners participate in small group projects to build experience in communication, research proposals, and ethical practices.Why choose this program? It offers freedom to delve into preferred topics, fosters career-ready skills in critical thinking and networking, and boasts high student satisfaction (89% in the 2022 National Student Survey). Modules span art history from the Renaissance to contemporary times, cultural perceptions of media, and independent research projects, with options for industry placements and a range of electives on themes like the British Empire's legacy and protest movements.

Year one mandatory modules cover the history of art (from Renaissance to contemporary), methods for critical debate and analysis of art and media, global media and cultural flows and the production and distribution of media. In year two, you will study social and cultural perceptions of media, art and screen culture, development of media technologies and complete a group project. In your final year, you will devise and complete an independent research project of your own choosing. Across all three years, you can choose from a range of optional modules covering topics including revivalism, the cultural legacy of the British Empire, exhibition histories and practices, protest, dissent and civil society and be able to apply for an industry placement.