BA History of Art and...

Program Overview

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The BA History of Art (combined degree) is an unrivalled opportunity to study the visual arts, architecture and material culture of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The Department of History of Art and Archaeology has world-leading experts in Asian and African art history and archaeology, whose groundbreaking research informs and is informed by their teaching.

In the first year, you will be introduced to the art and archaeology of different regions. You will also receive theoretical and methodological training to prepare you for the study of Asian and African art. In subsequent years, students broaden and deepen their knowledge and have the chance to specialise in particular regions or themes. An emphasis is placed on training students in visual analysis, through the close study of images and objects.  Students are also provided with a critical introduction to the creative and cultural industries.

Some two-subject programmes are completed in three years while others take four years and include a year abroad.

Why study BA History of Art (combined degree) at SOAS?

We are ranked 15th in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2023)

100% overall student satisfaction (NSS 2022)

gain critical awareness of the world’s arts, cultures and heritage, with emphasis on SOAS’s regional specialisms (Asia, Africa and the Middle East and their diasporas)

field-trips to museums and other sites within and outside London

we partner with the British Council to offer a School of Arts student one fully funded residency at the annual Venice Architecture Biennale

become part of an active creative life, including exhibitions and other events in which students can be involved

taught in the heart of London, home to many vibrant and diverse communities and to a breath-taking array of art institutions

every year we host visiting artists from around the world, offering exceptional opportunities to meet internationally renowned artists

our graduates work in arts, music, culture and heritage roles, including in galleries, museums, archives, conservation, publishing, journalism, the music industry, broadcasting and arts administration.

Program Outline

The structure of modules reflects the importance given to conceptual clarity, methodological rigour and the independent interests of students. Special emphasis is placed on the exploration of arts and artefacts as evidence in historical, religious and cultural studies of societies and cultures, and particular importance is given to enhancing students' visual analysis skills.

One purpose of the introductory year is to provide a basis for the student's selection of modules in the second and third years. The selection of modules in the third year is normally intended to develop the chosen specialisations of the second year.

Occasionally the availability of optional modules changes as a result of staffing and other circumstances. Students who had signed up for such modules will be notified as soon as possible and given the opportunity to choose from available alternatives.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Students will take the following compulsory modules.

Module	Credits
Global Arts: connected histories (to 1800)	15
Writing Across the Arts	15
Theories of Art	15
Global Arts: decentering modernity (1800 on)	15

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And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

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Year 2

Compulsory modules

Students will take the following compulsory modules.

Module	Credits
Theories of Art II	15
Museums and Museology	15

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And

Year 2 guided options

Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from either list A

or

list B.

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And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

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Year 3 - Independent Study Project in History of Art

Year 3 guided option

Module	Credits
Independent study project in History of Art	30

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And

Students take modules to the value of 30 credits from either list A

or

list B.

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And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

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Year 3 (for students not completing an Independent Study Project in History of Art)

Students must take an Independent Study Project, either in History of Art, or in their second subject.

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Year 3 guided options

Students take modules to the value of 60 credits from either list A

or

list B.

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And

Modules from second subject

Students choose modules to the value of 60 credits from their second subject

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Guided options

List A and list B will be offered in alternating years.

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List A

Module	Credits
Arts of the African Diaspora	15
Buddhist arts of South Asia, Southeast Asia and Tibet	15
Art of the Islamic World: Objects in Context	15
Arts of Premodern East Asia	15
Place and Space in East Asian Art	15
Global Issues in Contemporary Art	15

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List B

Module	Credits
Approaches to Modern and Contemporary Arts in Africa	15
Art, state and society in South and Southeast Asia	15
Islamic Architecture: Spaces and their Interpretation	15
Modern and Contemporary Art in East Asia	15
Japanese Art	15
Collecting and Collections	15

All first year modules involve a weekly lecture and tutorial. Iin the 2nd and 3rd year, where student numbers may be lower, a seminar may replace the lecture.

For most modules, assessment involves coursework and an unseen examination.

Year 1:

In the first year

coursework entails short, concentrated pieces of work.

Year 2 and 3:

coursework emphasis shifts to longer papers.

Year 4:

In the final year students are required to complete an Independent Study Project on a subject of their choice, and are also encouraged to undertake projects, supervised by members of staff, in the form of an essay-based advanced.

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Year abroad

A four-year combined degree involves a year abroad

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Contact hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 10 or 20 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are compulsory and which optional.

As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study. It will also include class time, which may include lectures, seminars and other classes. Some subjects, such as learning a language, have more class time than others. In the School of Arts, most undergraduate modules have a one- or two-hour lecture or seminar every week. Some, but not all, also have a 1-hour seminar or tutorial every week.

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SOAS Library

SOAS Library

is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Students in the School of Arts develop a ​​critical and theoretically informed approach to global arts and culture. In addition to an intercultural awareness and practical expertise, graduates gain a wide portfolio of transferable skills which are especially sought after in the creative and cultural industries.

Recent graduates have been hired by:

Christie’s

Christine Park Gallery

Crisis

Design Museum

Hong Kong Museum Of Art

India Foundation For The Arts

Japanese Gallery

Museum of East Asian Art

Music in Detention

National Gallery

Pan Arts

People Projects Culture & Change

Roundhouse Trust

Somerset House Trust

Songlines Magazine

Sotheby's

South Asian Art UK

Stratford Circus Arts Centre

Taiwan Embassy

The Alliance for Global Education

The British Embassy

The National Museum Of Korea

The Royal Collection

Victoria and Albert Museum

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