BA (Hons) History of Art

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) History of Art degree from Goldsmiths, University of London, fosters critical engagement with art and visual culture. Students explore modern and contemporary art, art theory, and visual culture globally, emphasizing key debates. The program offers practical experience through partnerships with institutions like the V&A Museum, and prepares graduates for careers in curating, journalism, museums, and creative industries.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• The BA (Hons) History of Art degree encourages students to develop an
independent critical engagement with art and visual culture.
• The program examines changing historical conceptions of art and the
artist, and explores the visual arts in their broader cultural and political contexts.
• Students investigate modern and contemporary art, art theory and visual
culture from around the world, with an emphasis on key areas of debate rather than chronology.
• The program explores visual culture in all forms, including those found in
museums and galleries, as well as everyday environments like architecture, cityscapes, advertisements, film, websites, and fashion.
• Goldsmiths, University of London, offers the program and is ranked among
Rankings by Subject 2022).
• The program is based in vibrant South-East London, surrounded by art spaces,
studios, and cultural attractions.
• The program utilizes London's extensive resources, including galleries, museums,
cultural facilities, and specialist libraries.
• Students get the opportunity to gain practical experience through the
"Visual Cultures as Public Practice" module, working with institutions like V&A Museum, Hackney Museum, and The Live Art Development Agency.
• The program emphasizes developing key communication, presentation, critical
thinking, and creative skills.
• Students can participate in student-led activities and personal development
projects.

Outline:

• The program consists of three years of full-time study.
• The program comprises a series of modules structured around five thematic
pathways:
• Art and ideas
• Space and place
• The Curatorial
• Sound and image
• Embodiment
• Students can choose modules from these pathways to personalize their
learning experience.
• The first year introduces students to the discipline of history of art and
engages them in discussions about contemporary visual culture.
• The second year focuses on specific themes and theories in art and visual
culture.
• The third year allows students to specialize in specific areas of
interest through special subjects and an independent dissertation.

Assessment:

• The program is assessed through coursework only.
• Assessments include essays, creative projects, group projects, multimedia
projects, presentations, symposia, reviews, and studio work.
• All three years of the program are assessed solely through coursework.

Teaching:

• The program utilizes scheduled learning, including a mix of lectures and
seminars.
• Independent study is a significant component, requiring extensive reading,
project preparation, and essay writing.
• The first year involves 19% scheduled learning and 81% independent
learning.
• The second and third years increase the proportion of independent study
to 84% and 93% respectively.

Careers:

• The program prepares graduates for careers in various fields, including:
• Curating and exhibition management
• Journalism and marketing
• Museums and galleries
• Cultural institutions
• Art education
• Creative industries
• Many graduates find employment in prestigious institutions such as Tate
Modern, V&A Museum, and Edinburgh Castle.

Other:

• The program encourages student engagement through personal development
projects and student-led activities.
• The program provides a unique learning experience by emphasizing
independent critical thinking and exploration.
• Students benefit from the program's location in South-East London, surrounded
by art and cultural opportunities. and theoretical development.

Annual tuition fees These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year. Home - full-time: £9250 Home - part-time: £4625 International - full-time: £20160 Additional costs There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme.