History of Art (BA) (Full-time evening study) - 2013/2014 entry
Have you always wanted to understand more about the artworks you see in galleries and museums, or the buildings around you? Perhaps you would like to work in the visual arts? This course covers a wide range of Western art, from the Parthenon to performance art, and aims to enhance your understanding of works of visual culture in their historical context, to develop your skills of visual perception and critical analysis of texts and images, and to familiarise you with current approaches to the discipline.
This course is also available for part-time study.
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Course structure
The 11 modules required for this programme are structured as broad introductory modules in the first year, as more focused thematic and period-based modules in the second year, and as a range of specialised seminar modules in the final year, requiring increasing independence of thought as the degree progresses. You also write a dissertation in your final year. You may take two modules in other disciplines as part of the programme, in consulation with your personal tutor.
Year 1
- Debates in Art History
- Introduction to European Art before 1800
- Introduction to Modern Art
- Introduction to the History of Art and Screen Media.
Year 2
- Dissertation Part One
and three period modules, chosen from:
- Art and Architecture in Europe 1250–1400
- Art and Architecture in Europe 1400–1550
- Art and Society in the Nineteenth Century
- Art and Society in the Twentieth Century.
Year 3
- Three specialist subjects, chosen from about 10 on offer
- Dissertation Part Two.
Specialist modules may include:
- Narrative Art in the Age of Giotto
- Electronic Visions: Video, Animation, Kinetic and Computer Art since the 1950s
- ‘Marvellous Works’: Naturalism in Renaissance Art, Theory, and Science
- Art and War: 1914 to the Present
- Landscape and the Nineteenth Century
- Art and Architecture in Rome 1500-1527
- The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago de Compostela: Construction and Display
- Fin-de-Siècle Vienna
- Art and Architecture at the Early Stuart Courts
- Portraiture in England in the Long Eighteenth Century.
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Study resources
Birkbeck Library is well stocked with relevant books, and subscribes to many digital resources including image-banks.
Find out more about our world-class research resources, as well as our specialist resources.
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Further study opportunities
We offer an MA History of Art and an MA Museum Cultures and PhDs.
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Careers information
Graduates go on to careers in museum and gallery administration, as curators, in auction houses, as researchers, and as journalists.
- To speak to an independent careers advisor, booking onto one of our Future Focus — Careers Workshops
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Further details
- What our graduates have to say
Hannah Collett
I did a BA degree at Birkbeck after retiring from teaching as a new challenge and a way of preventing my brain from atrophying. I chose History of Art as I have been a gallery-goer for many years, and wanted to know more about what I was looking at.
The course was extremely stimulating with a very high standard of lectures, some excellent trips abroad and some pretty demanding essays and exams. As a result, my interest in the subject has greatly increased, and I derive enhanced pleasure from attending exhibitions with friends from Birkbeck.
Colin Dunn
The idea of doing a degree in History of Art seemed quite perverse to me until a friend happened to show me that I could attend lectures and be a student again, but in the evenings.
Intellectually and visually, you develop enormously on this programme. Your critical faculties are sharpened, and you find yourself changing your mind about certain artists. I had revelations every year. First year was my Florentine Renaissance year. Second Year was Durer. Third Year was Raphael. Fourth Year was Giovanni Bellini and Titian. I had dismissed Titian as a dreadful old bore, but on seeing the range of his work and reading and listening in lectures, I realised that he was a terrifically versatile artist.
My advice on doing a History of Art degree? Do not delay. Become familiar with the National Gallery and don't just read the cards beside each work, use your eyes. And come into it with an open mind. You'll love it. I did, and now I mourn the loss of my twice-weekly lectures.
Marianne Yule
I graduated from the BA History of Art programme in 2005. Having worked in scientific research for many years, I felt the need of a change. Visiting art galleries and museums had been my leisure-time interest, and I decided to gain in-depth knowledge of the history of art.
I chose Birkbeck because it offered the opportunity of part-time study, a degree in only four years, and a wide choice of modules. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, the high standard of teaching, and the company of enthusiastic fellow-students. I have now changed career and work on the documentation of the art collections at University College, London.
Find out more about our students.
- What our graduates have to say
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Apply now
- How to apply
Applications for entry will only be considered through UCAS.
- Application deadlines and interviews
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Admission based on written exercise and interview.
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- Online application
Apply via UCAS – see their website for details. - Our Application Workshop will give you an overview of what Birkbeck looks for in an undergraduate degree application and includes practical writing exercises to help you write a more effective personal statement
- How to apply
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Key information set
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Welcome to Birkbeck, London's evening university: Number 1 in London for teaching and student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2012).
Birkbeck specialises in part-time, evening study. The Key Information Set has been developed for full-time, daytime courses. We are providing some additional information about our evening courses to help you make an informed choice.
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