BA (Hons) Fine Art and Art History

Advice from graduate Sarah Hodge:

"Go to every event, performance, talk, lecture, film, exhibition, and music venue going as you never know who you’ll meet or what conversation will spark a new line of work."

Read more from Sarah in her case study.

• Benefit from our forward-thinking, focused research. 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.
• Hone existing talents and discover new ones with your own, dedicated studio space – as well as specialist shared spaces and facilities for textiles, metal and woodworking, plasterwork and ceramics workshops and life drawing classes.
• Prepare for a successful career with an internship. Thanks to the flexibility of the course, you can do it during term time or over the summer – whatever suits you. Our students have recently interned at Tate Britain, Sotheby’s, the National Trust, Plymouth Arts Centre, Peninsula Arts and the Wallace Collection.
• Expand your horizons with the option of three months of study at a European art school.
• Discover the possibilities of technology with fully equipped print and photo facilities, computers, audio-visual equipment, sound studio resources and expert technicians to support and guide you in your exploration.
• Enhance your understanding of art history and the cultural context of your own work with visiting lecturers and field trips to museums and galleries throughout the UK, plus a fieldtrip to a major European city. Students in previous years travelled to Rome, Vienna, Berlin, Florence, Paris and New York City. Field trips in 2016 will include Washington, DC.
• Learn from our dedicated staff who frequently work on major book and exhibition projects. Our degree curriculum contains a number of research-orientated modules so that our staff can teach the subjects they’re passionate about – which means you become an expert too.
• We have excellent KIS results - in 2016 100 per cent of students agreed staff were good at explaining things; 100 per cent agreed staff made the subject interesting; 100 per cent students agreed they have sufficient advice and support and 100 per cent were satisfied overall (Unistats).
  

• Year 1
• In your first year, there’s lots of supported studio time to try out different materials and ideas. You’ll sample processes including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and time-based / digital media. We’ll also introduce you to art history, exploring popular periods including contemporary critical writing and the Italian Renaissance. Visits to outstanding local and national galleries will help you to expand your horizons and bring your study to life.

  Core modules

  • 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.

  • ARHI408 Intensive Introduction to Art History and Fine Art Studio Practice

    This four-week intensive introductory module is intended to provide Joint Honours Art History/Fine Art students with a comprehensive understanding of key issues and ideas in both art history and studio practice. It will introduce the characteristic objects and materials of study; methods of analysis and research techniques deployed in the study of art and its histories; and an understanding of the critical contexts for contemporary artistic practice through independent and group-based activities. Writings and research skills will be developed through relevant exercises and group-based activities.

  • 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.

  • ART402 Fine Art Practice 1

    A diagnostic module introducing methods and approaches to contemporary Fine Art including 2D, time-based and spatial practices. The studio-based projects include seminars and workshops to relate examples of contemporary fine art practice to explorations of relevant concepts, material processes and techniques.

  • ART404 Fine Art Practice 2

    Students are required to respond individually or collaboratively to a given theme through the appropriate exploration of aspects of contemporary fine art practice. Supported by seminars and technical workshops, practice will be informed by a developing awareness of ideas and approaches established in recent work within the field.

  Optional modules

  • ART403PP Art, Site, Context

    An introductory module to contemporary fine art site-based practices delivered through a collaborative project and a field trip. Students will be introduced to relevant contemporary approaches and examples through preparatory seminars, and encouraged to use source material from a field trip to generate collaborative work.

  • 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.

• Year 2
• In your second year, you’ll expand your critical and theoretical knowledge and gain confidence in how to divide your time. There are opportunities for studio and site-based work, as well as lively debates on European Art from the 14th century to the present. Choose your areas of interest – from the influence of power and patronage to considering artistic representations of gender. A fieldtrip to a major European city will help you to consider the issues of collecting in Western museums.

  Core modules

  • ART506A Fine Art Practice 3A

  • ART507 Fine Art Practice 4

    This module provides an opportunity for students to further develop negotiated art practice and professional practice. The professional practice elements of the module are developed through a careers event and participation in placements. Students consolidate their professional skills and approaches to working with external agencies. They write a reflective essay, refine their professional portfolio and present their practice in a public context.

  Optional modules

  • ARHI510 Art After 1950

  • ARHI511 Studies in 20th Century European Art

  • ARHI501 Self-Reflexivity in Western Art and Visual Culture

  • 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.

  • HUM501 Introduction to Digital Humanities

    This module aims to provide students with an introduction to some of the ways in which digital technologies are transforming aspects of the Humanities. It is cross-disciplinary and will be offered to students taking English, History and Art History programmes. It will approach the growing field of Digital Humanities from a variety of angles, including key methodological, technical and social developments.

  • ARHI508 Questions in Contemporary Art History

    The module introduces and examines selected questions raised in the last three decades concerning the methodologies and aims of contemporary art history. Case studies drawn from art history, critical and cultural theory, and where appropriate related disciplines, will be examined.

  • ARHI509 European Art 1750-1800

• Final year
• By your third year, you’ll be ready to choose a subject to explore in your dissertation. Past examples include the depiction of prostitution in 19th century French art and the myths surrounding Leonardo da Vinci. You’ll create a body of artwork that ties into the theme of your dissertation and learn how to present your studio work for discussion with peers, tutors and examiners. There are also additional optional modules in Art History.

  Core modules

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • ART602A Fine Art Practice 6A

    Searching and increasingly independent enquiry into source material and appropriate practices, linked to theoretical research, is developed into a body of work for final presentation.

  Optional modules

  • ARHI612 Art After 1950

  • ARHI601 Self-Reflexivity in Western Art and Visual Culture

  • ARHI615 Studies in 20th Century European 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.

  • ARHI614 European Art 1750-1800

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 Fine Art and Art History 2126

International Baccalaureate

24 points.

18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma
DDM. 

All access courses
Pass a named Access to Higher Education Diploma (preferably art and design or combined), with at least 33 credits at merit and/or distinction.

GCSE
Mathematics and English Language grade C.

English language requirements.

Equivalent qualifications may be considered, please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

An interview and portfolio presentation are requirements for entry onto this course.

Find further information on our interview and portfolio guidance page.

For a full list of all acceptable qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.