COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA in Art History at UEA offers a dynamic and immersive academic journey, beginning in Year 1 with a foundational exploration of artists, artworks, and the creative process. Students engage directly with art through hands-on study at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, developing key visual analysis skills and learning to interpret works from a wide range of cultural and historical contexts. Modules such as Learning on Site, Makers and Making, and Portraiture and Identity foster an understanding of the social, political, and aesthetic significance of art and artefacts. Students are introduced to the discipline of art history through case studies and discussions, while also exploring the ethical and historical roles of museums and galleries. In Year 2, students begin to shape their individual academic pathways by choosing from a diverse selection of optional modules. Core modules like The Lives of Objects and Art in the Contemporary World deepen their engagement with theoretical approaches and methodologies, including object biographies and critical museum studies. The interdisciplinary nature of the course encourages students to consider how art interacts with anthropology, archaeology, and contemporary debates such as decolonization and cultural representation. In their final year, students select three advanced modules that allow them to specialize further, with topics ranging from global perspectives on identity and ecology to material culture and memory. The program culminates in an independent dissertation, where students undertake an extended research project on a subject of personal academic interest, working closely with a faculty supervisor. Throughout the degree, students develop sophisticated critical thinking, research, and communication skills, preparing them for careers in the arts, heritage, museums, or further study. The course’s blend of hands-on experience, theoretical depth, and creative freedom makes it a distinctive and intellectually rewarding program.