This BA (Honours) in Arts and Humanities (Art History) degree gives you the freedom to combine the study of different subject areas in the arts and humanities. You'll develop a specialism in art history, exploring art and visual culture across different periods and places. You can combine this with a second specialism or choose to develop broader interests in classical studies, creative writing, English language, English literature, history, modern languages, music, philosophy, and religious studies.

This BA (Honours) in Art History and Visual Cultures degree will equip you with the knowledge and critical skills to investigate works of art, images, objects and architecture, from the local to the global and from prehistory to the present. This will be a rich and rounded experience as you discover the power of images and works of art to influence debates and shape everyday life.

You will gain a deep understanding of visual culture, media, and communication, introducing you to the evolution of visual forms and their impact on society. You will also be able to pair theory with practical applications, allowing you to start honing your creative skills.

There is a strong harmony between the disciplines of Fine Art and History of Art, with the former exploring the theory and making of art and the latter the historical analysis of art. A combination of the two subjects can lead to an especially well-rounded understanding of art. Experience in making art deepens the understanding of past practices studied by art historians, while knowledge about the development of art in the past broadens the frame of reference informing the work of practising artists.

The Art History programme combines new media technologies with more traditional disciplinary practices to equip you with the professional skills you’ll need to succeed and shape the cultural and creative industries.

Our BA Art History degree helps you to develop a range of key skills, from critical thinking and writing, to historical research and visual analysis. We will explore the cultural and political contexts of artworks, buildings and exhibitions, and think more broadly about the role of images within society. Our modules make a creative and enjoyable use of the art galleries, museums and other facilities in London and beyond, including an exciting study trip abroad in spring.

You'll study the history of art, which will be invaluable as you develop skills in curating in spaces such as museums, galleries, or other cultural and heritage sites, as well as in institutions outside of the art world. You may further have the opportunity to partake in field trips to encounter objects in their various institutional settings.

You study the disciplines of philosophy and art history together in order to appreciate the relationships between the two disciplines with a degree of critical awareness. In so doing you are offered a unique approach to develop skills which are now vital in a society dominated by the visual image and visual forms of communication.

The evolution of body art – from its ancient origins to its contemporary manifestations – is just part of the story on our new BA (Hons) Body Art degree course at UCA Canterbury. You’ll critically examine the multifaceted realm of body art – including a comprehensive study of its historical, cultural, and practical dimensions – emphasising its significance as both an artistic medium and a sociocultural phenomenon.

Our joint honours course allows students to pursue their own areas of interest within History and History of Art whilst also providing them with a solid foundation in the discipline and a range of personal and professional skills which will serve as a springboard for their future career development. The Program is carefully designed to enable students to gradually develop their knowledge and skills and become autonomous, effective and independent learners.

Our distinctive curriculum allows you to take advantage of the most up-to-date developments in the field, and to understand the interactions and differences between literature and the visual arts in history.

In a hyper-visual world increasingly dominated by ever-evolving forms of media, being able to understand and analyse the history and operations of visual and media cultures has never been more essential.

The moving sun creates shadows that dance over a building by Sir Christopher Wren. You’ll watch the spectacle. Pause and really take it in. Then back in the classroom we’ll talk about the historical and theoretical context that makes the moment even more significant.