Course summary

Art & Design History Art and Design History is an exciting discipline that encompasses the study of visual and material artefacts, museum and gallery practices and the production and circulation of meaning around art and design. The Art and Design History combined honours degree provides a systematic understanding of art and design practices and theories with a strong emphasis on critical thinking. Exclusive partnerships with National Museums Liverpool and Tate Liverpool, plus close collaborations with FACT and Bluecoat Gallery and Display Centre, offer you privileged access to important collections in Liverpool and experts working in the field. There is also the possibility to participate in overseas study tours – in recent years the department has visited Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bilbao, Milan, Paris, Florence, Venice, Berlin and New York. Another distinctive element of this degree is the curriculum, which covers key developments in art and design history. Furthermore, students in the second and third year will take ‘Professional Practice for Art and Design History’. These courses look at theoretical approaches to museology, as well as more practical considerations such as conservation, exhibition planning and design, curatorial practices and educational activities. Conservation Biology Conservation biology is concerned with the protection and management of nature and the Earth’s biodiversity. It involves an evaluation of human and other factors that affect all living organisms with the aim of protecting and conserving species, their habitats and ecosystems. It is an interdisciplinary subject that draws on natural sciences to devise satisfactory processes and approaches by which to sustain and protect plant and animal biodiversity in the UK and abroad. This course mainly focuses on conservation in terrestrial environments. It develops knowledge of key areas such as the principles and practices of ecology, habitat management, nature conservation and the functioning of natural systems, particularly with regard to different points of view including scientific, ethical and philosophical perspectives. Opportunities are provided to apply knowledge and understanding of conservation biology during field courses within the UK and abroad giving first-hand experience of a range of ecosystems.