Course summary

Are you fascinated by visual culture and history relating to a specific artist, period or movement? Do you want to learn about the methods of art history and how to apply them to particular historical problems? This programme provides you with the opportunity to choose from a range of subject areas and historical periods in History of Art. It is ideal for those who wish to develop a solid foundation in History of Art, either as preparation for further research or for related careers. You will have the opportunity to develop both academic and professional contacts to support your personal and professional development. Our students are normally taught within the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, an internationally renowned art gallery located at the University of Birmingham campus. Students are part of small seminar groups and benefit from furthering their study. Classes are taught not only at the Barber Institute, our ‘house gallery’, but also at the galleries on campus and in town. It is important to remember that our academic excellence is not confined to a single building or gallery. Our university boasts award-winning art installations across the campus and the wider city of Birmingham, providing you with countless opportunities for artistic inspiration and academic growth. Our expert academics, renowned in their fields, will guide you through your learning in exciting and innovative ways, ensuring that your studies continue to be engaging and transformative. The programme offers a range of topics all of which relate to our staff research interests and expertise. Optional modules rotate annually, and typically cover topics such as: art, globalisation and migration; queer studies, sexuality and visual culture; art, gender and feminism; nineteenth and twentieth-century art practices in Britain, France and Germany; Renaissance art and architecture; medieval manuscripts; and aesthetics and intermediality. We also have a strong expertise in exhibition cultures and curatorial studies. There is an optional module on Enterprising Cultures, which explores the ways in which arts organisations can generate revenue and provides you with the opportunity to pitch your own business ideas in the arts sector. Unusual nowadays, we also offer modules on art in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.