BA (Hons) Art History

• Benefit from assessment by coursework, with no written exams.
• Take advantage of our small class sizes and one-to-one teaching from staff who are leading experts in their field.
• Cover a wide range of art from the Renaissance period to the present, from 14th-century fresco painting in Italy to artistic responses to the atomic bomb.
• Learn from the latest research we are working on. In the last national Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) ‘Art and Design: History, Theory and Practice’ at Plymouth scored 100 per cent for its ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ research environment, and 90 per cent for the international impact of its research case studies. This makes our unit a top five performer among Plymouth University’s research groups overall.
• Prepare for your future career by participating in an internship. Our students have successfully interned at Tate Britain, Sotheby’s, the National Trust, Plymouth Arts Centre, Peninsula Arts and the Wallace Collection. 
• Gain experience in museum studies with our museum fieldwork classes.
• Be inspired by regular visits to major UK galleries and museums, including the National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate St Ives, Peninsula Art Gallery and Plymouth City Museum.
  
• Expand your horizons with the international field trip module. Past destinations have included Rome, Vienna, Paris, Florence and New York City. The field trip in 2016 will be to Washington, DC.
• To complement your formal learning we offer regular PALS sessions that provide the opportunity for you to learn with and from your peers. Share knowledge, discuss ideas, and ask questions in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• 100 per cent of students were satisfied overall; 100 per cent of students agreed staff were good at explaining things; 100 per cent of students agreed staff made the subject interesting and 92 per cent of students agreed they got sufficient advice and support (source: 2016 NSS results available on Unistats*). 

• Year 1
• In your first year, we’ll introduce you to the discipline of art history. You’ll investigate the development of museums and galleries across the world, engaging in fieldwork using outstanding local examples. You’ll explore popular periods of art history, including 19th century French art and the Renaissance. To round off the year, you’ll analyse contemporary critical writings on art and develop your own critical skills.

  Core modules

  • ARHI401 Intensive Introduction to Art History

    This four-week intensive introductory module provides Single Honours Art History students with a comprehensive understanding of the discipline. It introduces the characteristic objects of study and methods of analysis typical of Art History. Writing and research skills will be developed in relevant exercises and group-based activities.

  • ARHI402 Art Historiography

    This module provides Single Honours and Joint Honours Art History students with a comprehensive understanding of the paradigms of Art History and their methodological implications. Basic research literacy will be developed in a number of exercises and group-based activities.

  • ARHI403PP Art History and Its Objects

    This module is geared toward fieldwork and independent study in a museum and/or gallery context. Following a Fieldtrip to a public collection in London and/or the Southwest students complete an Object Report on an artwork of their choice seen in situ.

  • ARHI406 Lives and Afterlives of Renaissance Artists

    This module will introduce stage one students to the major artists and themes of the Italian Renaissance through the lens of the crucial early modern source, Vasari's Lives. Designed as a primer for the higher level Renaissance modules to be taken at stage two or three, it will also ask students to think about Renaissance artists¿ changing reputations since the period.

  • ARHI407 Late 19th-century French Art: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

    French art of the later nineteenth century has probably been more popular with the general public, in the past three or four decades, than any other kind of art. This module is designed to offer both an introduction to the art made in France between about 1855 and 1900 and an introduction to the current concerns that make the art of this period so important.

  • ARHI412 Image of the Artist

    To explore and critically engage with representations of artists throughout the history of art. To consider: the change in the status of the artist from 'craftsman' to 'creator'; the construction of their identity in writings and art criticism; their negotiation of the art market; the rise and fall of their reputations.

• Year 2
• In your second year, you’ll visit a major European city - a trip designed to complement your second year modules and give you the chance to get hands-on with fieldwork. Previous destinations include Rome, Vienna and Paris. You’ll also hone your critical skills by investigating critical art theory.

  Core modules

  • ARHI502 Collecting and Exhibiting Cultures in the 19th and 20th Centuries

    This module examines historical and contemporary cultures of collection, exhibition, and display. Artworks and objects will be considered from a range of international contexts. Specific attention will be given to the politics and ideologies of art ownership, theft, looting, and repatriation.

  • ARHI504 The Interdisciplinary City

    To examine a particular European city considered to represent across a variety of different fields a cultural turning point. By tracing the links between different areas of activity such as art, medicine, psychiatry and sexology, and assessing the impact of socio-political change on this activity, we will identify what made the city so distinctive.

  • ARHI505 The Dawn of a Modern Century in Art, 1900-1950

    This module aims to explore the history of the beginnings of modern art across Europe and/or the United States, incorporating its theory, practice and reception, through an analysis of the development of selected moments, schools and individuals central to the Modernist tradition. Building on stage 1 modules, emphasis will be placed on aspects of continuity and change.

  • ARHI506 International Field Trip

    The module is an intensive 1-week period of study of painting, sculpture, architecture and environments which are not available in this country. The emphasis is upon sustained first-hand study of artefacts and buildings, through staff-led visits and group-work, introducing students to advanced fieldwork skills.

  • ARHI507 Victorian Values

    This module examines the visual culture of the Victorian age, Pre-Raphaelitism, Aestheticism and British Impressionism, say, to question modern stereotypes about `Victorian Values¿ both moral and cultural. We will not only consider the definitive role of social principles in the art of this period, but also debates about art and beauty as independent realms of meaning and value.

  • ARHI513 Power, Patronage and Ideology: Aspects of Renaissance Art

• Final year
• In your final year, you’ll continue to prepare for your career in the arts with further training in art historical research methods, as well as giving you dedicated career guidance. You’ll have the chance to study optional modules, including power patronage and ideology and studies in 20th century European art. You’ll write a substantial dissertation on the topic of your choice, previous topics include the representation of Salome in French Symbolism, and the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth.

  Core modules

  • ARHI605 Dissertation 1: Theories and Methods

    On this module students research and write a dissertation on a topic of their own choosing, negotiated in consultation with Art History staff.

  • ARHI608 Dissertation 2

    On this module students research and write a dissertation on a topic of their own choosing, negotiated in consultation with Art History staff.

  Optional modules

  • ARHI604 The Dawn of a Modern Century in Art, 1900-1950

    This module aims to explore the history of the beginnings of modern art across Europe and/or the United States, incorporating its theory, practice and reception, through an analysis of the development of selected moments, schools and individuals central to the Modernist tradition. Building on stage 1 modules, emphasis will be placed on aspects of continuity and change.

  • ARHI607 Victorian Values

    This module examines the visual culture of the Victorian age, Pre-Raphaelitism, Aestheticism and British Impressionism, say, to question modern stereotypes about `Victorian Values¿ both moral and cultural. We will not only consider the definitive role of social principles in the art of this period, but also debates about art and beauty as independent realms of meaning and value.

  • ARHI611 The Interdisciplinary City

    To examine a particular European city considered to represent across a variety of different fields a cultural turning point. By tracing the links between different areas of activity such as art, medicine, psychiatry and sexology, and assessing the impact of socio-political change on this activity, we will identify what made the city so distinctive.

  • ARHI613 Power, Patronage and Ideology: Aspects of Renaissance Art

  • ARHI616 Working with Culture: Professional Development Project

    In this module students will be asked to identify a specific professional working relationship with a mentor in which they will undertake a period of first-hand work and learning experience. This initiative, chosen in consultation with a member of staff who will act as a project supervisor, should reflect the student's personal development planning aims and support their career ambitions and life-long learning.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA Hons Art History 0665

UCAS tariff

104

A level
A minimum of 2 A levels, General Studies accepted.

International baccalaureate
26 points.

18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma
DMM.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

All access courses
Pass a named Access to Higher Education Diploma with at least 33 credits at merit and/or distinction.

GCSE
Five passes including Mathematics and English Language grade C.

Equivalent qualifications and ability may be considered.