COURSE CURRICULUM

The BA in Art History, Museums and Galleries with a placement year is a four-year degree that offers a comprehensive and immersive approach to understanding art, its histories, and the institutions that collect and display it. The first year provides students with foundational knowledge in art history and museum studies, combining close visual analysis with historical and theoretical approaches. Through modules such as Introduction to Art History, Learning on Site, and Galleries & Museums: Histories/Politics/Ethics, students develop the visual, critical, and research skills that underpin the rest of their studies. These are complemented by workshops that begin preparing students for their future professional placement.In the second year, students deepen their understanding of how objects function within cultural and historical contexts. Core modules like The Lives of Objects and Art in the Contemporary World encourage critical reflection on the meaning and value of art today, while Artists/Museums introduces ways in which contemporary practice engages with and critiques the role of museums. Students also choose from a range of optional modules to explore more focused areas of interest, all while continuing to develop career-oriented skills.Year three is dedicated to a work placement in a relevant professional setting. Students take on real-world responsibilities, gaining invaluable experience in fields such as heritage, museums, creative industries, and the public sector. With support from UEA and an assigned mentor, they learn how to apply their academic training to practical challenges, building a strong foundation for post-graduation careers.In the final year, students return to UEA to specialise further. The Museum Work: Theory & Practice module explores all facets of institutional work, from curation to participation, while the Dissertation module gives students the opportunity to undertake an independent research project on a subject of their choice. With a wide range of optional advanced modules available, students can tailor their final year to reflect their intellectual passions and career goals, engaging with topics such as decolonisation, identity, and sustainability within global and historical frameworks.