COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA Art History, Heritage and Museum Studies at Essex provides an interdisciplinary curriculum combining the study of visual culture, heritage, and museum practices. In the first year, students build a foundation through compulsory modules such as Ways of Seeing, Art and Ideas I, Writing and Researching Art History, Collect, Curate, Display: A Short History of the Museum, and Introduction to Heritage and Museum Studies, exploring both celebrated and marginalised forms of visual culture and developing an understanding of museum and heritage practices. Optional modules allow further study in art history or history, while the Beyond the BA module supports career preparation. The second year deepens analytical and critical skills through Art and Ideas II, heritage-focused modules, and additional art history options, helping students engage with historiography, curatorial practices, and ethical issues in heritage management. Students also complete modules that support research and applied skills, preparing them for advanced study. In the third year, students consolidate their learning through the Capstone project and Art and Ideas III, alongside optional modules in heritage or art history, allowing specialization and independent research. Across the program, students develop research, critical thinking, and practical skills relevant to careers in museums, galleries, heritage organizations, curating, and further academic study, combining theoretical knowledge with applied expertise in visual culture and heritage management.