University of York
Bachelor of Arts Honours in History of Art
The Bachelor of Arts Honours in History of Art in History is offered by University of York.
Program Length: 3 YEARS.
Bachelor of Arts Honours in History of Art offered by the University of York
See the bigger pictureThe BA History of Art will give you three distinctive and complementary years of studying the history of art and architecture.You'll start with a year-long introduction to the history of art and then build on this, in years two and three, with rounded training in the discipline and practice of art history. The interdisciplinary nature of art history allows you to develop your existing skills and interests and is reflected in our close relationship with other departments and centres in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.They'll introduce you to an extraordinary variety of art and architecture from many areas, including Europe the Americas, but also covering the Middle East, North Africa, and East, South and South East Asia. You can also study an exciting range of time periods, from the late antique to the contemporary.History of Art is a traditional humanities subject with a strong vocational element, allowing you to develop valuable transferable skills. We have partnerships with the Tate, the National Gallery, the V&A and York Museums Trust. We also work on art beyond the museum and gallery system, including with partners in country houses, maritime museums, and churches. These partnerships contribute to the teaching and research in our department and you'll benefit from our collaborative links with these institutions.
Course contentThe course is designed and taught by expert art historians, many are curators with international reputations. In the first year of the course you'll receive a revealing and rigorous introduction to the history of art and architecture. As you progress in the second and third years you'll be able to specialise more, choosing your own blend of modules taught by experts in the field and introducing you to the newest and most exciting research and ideas. By the end of your course, you'll have been able to study modules from across three chronological periods: Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern. You'll also be able to learn a language which can enhance your experience of art history, and benefit your career.History of Art is a subject with a strong vocational element that will allow you to develop many transferable skills. We have a number of established partnerships, not just with art museums and galleries; we're also distinct in the number of partnerships we have with country houses, maritime museums and churches.Here are just some of their partners:TateNational GalleryV&AYork Museums TrustYork MinsterYorkshire Country House partnershipHull Maritime MuseumStudy abroadThere are other opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:Explore global opportunitiesThey also offer BA History of Art (with a year abroad).Year 1Your first year introduces you to the fundamental concepts and skills you'll need as an art historian.Core modules (20 credits each)The Materials of Art and ArchitectureObjects in FocusCritical readings in the History of ArtTheory for Art HistoriansTransmissions and Connections
Option modulesYou will also choose one of these 20-credit modules to support your studies.The Art of DescribingLearn a language. You can chose from specialist art history language courses or more general language skills.
Academic integrity moduleIn addition to the above you will also need to complete the online Academic Integrity module.Year 2In your second year you'll be able to start exploring your own interests from a wide variety of time periods, contexts and media. You'll spend time on a dissertation training module: building the skills you'll need when you embark on your dissertation in the third year. You'll develop your ability to work independently and design imaginative research strategies. You'll learn to how to devise a topic for your dissertation and gain crucial insight into conducting academic research.Core modulesMuseology and Curatorship (20 credits)Dissertation training (20 credits)
Intermediate seminar modulesYou'll choose four modules from a wide range, with the opportunity to cover a number of different time periods and types of art.Current module examples, 20 credits each:Action/Re-action: Live Art, Performance & ParticipationArt and Colonialism in South Asia c.1750–1900Art in the USA 1945-1975Art in Venice from Bellini to TitianImage and Icon: Representing the Sacred in the Early Medieval WorldSeeing & Being Seen: English Art in the 14th CenturyThe English Country House, 1550–1900The Power of the Real in Seventeenth-Century Spanish Painting and SculptureThe Rise of the Print in Europe, 1400-1800Note: We often update the modules we run to reflect the active research in our department. These modules are some of the ones running for the current students.Year 3In your third year, you'll focus on two special subject modules and your dissertation.Special subject modulesCurrent module examples, 40 credits each:Architecture and Politics in Stuart England c.1603-1688Art Law for Art HistoriansIlluminating the Bible 1200-1500Interwoven: fashion and clothing culture in Art HistoryJourneys, Histories, and Methods of DisplayMonuments of the Islamic World: Innovation and Change From Spain to IndiaStained Glass in the Great Church c.1170-1350Note: We often update the modules we run to reflect the active research in our department. These modules are some of the ones running for our current students.DissertationYour dissertation will draw on the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout your degree. It will consist of 7,000-8,000 words and represents a year-long, independent research project on a topic that most interests you. You will also choose special subject modules that might either support your dissertation or broaden your horizons in a different direction.