Objectives-to provide a broad-based knowledge and understanding of art and its histories; -to develop the student's understanding of the production, circulation, and interpretation of visual culture in specific historical contexts; to promote awareness of the role of the visual arts within different cultures and societies, including our own; -to foster awareness of the role of museums and galleries in the production and reproduction of cultural values; -to enable students to choose pathways of learning that reflect their own interests; -to develop students' intellectual and academic skills so that they are able to undertake independent research; -to produce graduates who are ready to embark on a range of career paths, or continue on to postgraduate study.
Entry requirementsSelected entry requirements English language: Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent; eg. NCUK EAP minimum Grade of A with range of 70-79 TOEFL: PBT score of 600; CBT score of 250; TWE score of 5.5; IBT score of 100. A level: Grades ABB-BBB not incl Gen Studs. Two AS-levels may be accepted in place of one A-level. Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications. Unit grades will not normally form part of offer conditions, except for Mathematics programmes. GCSE: Minimum grade C in English. Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification. However, as the opportunities to take these modules are not open to all applicants, currently this is not an essential requirement of the University. International baccalaureate: 33-32 points overall including 6, 6, 5 at Higher level. Relevant work experience: It is not necessary to have been employed in Art or Art History fields, before taking this course. However, we welcome students who can show an active interest in and enthusiasm for the subject by visiting museums and galleries or by their choice of reading. Professional entry qualification: It is not necessary to have studied Art or Art History before taking this course. However, we welcome students who can show an active interest in and enthusiasm for the subject by visiting museums and galleries or by their choice of reading. Additional entry requirements Additional entry requirements exist for this course. You may view these by selecting from the list below.
Academic titleBA History of Art
Course descriptionCourse description BA (Hons) History of Art is a wide-ranging and in-depth degree which explores Art History and Visual Culture from Antiquity to the present. While the main emphasis is on western art and architecture, there are plenty of opportunities to study the art of other regions, including South America, the Middle East and South Asia.
As you progress to Years 2 and 3, you select pathways of study that suit your individual interests. There is emphasis on flexibility and choice within the degree.
Special features BA (Hons) History of Art allows for both unusually broad choice of subject areas and for in-depth study and research. The teaching team has particular strengths in Classical, Early Christian, Medieval, Renaissance, Post-Renaissance, Modern and Contemporary Art as well as certain areas of non-western art, including Islamic and South Indian.
We pride ourselves on the quality of the student experience on our courses. You will have close contact with staff at all stages of your university career and will be taught wherever possible in small groups and through a variety of methods. The University has its own art gallery, museum and special library collections and much is made of the rich cultural heritage of Manchester and the North-West.
Course content for year 1
In your first year you will follow four main course units. The lecture/seminar courses "Introduction to Art History" and"Frameworks for Art History" are designed to familiarise you with a range of materials from the ancient world to the present and also introduce you to key issues in the discipline of Art History. "Cities" is a lecture course which introduces students to a variety of factors which have informed the conception and construction of cities from antiquity to the present day, and to ways in which the urban fabric can be constructed, experienced, imagined and represented. Lectures are complemented by weekly "Works in Focus" seminar courses, which are designed to develop your skills in analysing works of art and to engage you in current issues in Art History and Visual Studies. Finally, you must take one outside course unit from a wide-ranging selection of courses in other disciplines.
Course content for year 2
In your second year you can choose courses which cover a very broad range of subject matter from a wide range of historical periods. You also take the compulsory semester-long "Perspectives in the History of Art", a theoretical course which allows you to examine key thinkers and debates which shape Art History and Visual Studies as a discipline, and "The Afterlife of Objects", a more museological course on the reception and display of works of art.
Course content for year 3
In the third year you take two seminar courses each semester allowing you in-depth contact with a wide range of subjects (many of which are the specialist areas of the members of teaching staff). These `Option' courses are focused on an area of study defined by genre, artistic identity, medium or approach. They are taught in small groups and encourage participation and active learning.
Finally you will also write a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words on a topic of your own choosing. The dissertation, supervised by a member of staff, gives you the chance to research a subject in depth and helps you to refine your research and study skills. It also gives you the skills necessary to organise a coherent argument over a long piece of writing.
Career opportunities
A History of Art degree can provide the basis for a career in a range of areas associated with the arts, including museums, galleries and auction houses. It also acts as a general Humanities degree for broader career prospects such as writing, journalism, teaching and consultancy work.