BA (Hons) Art History and History

BA (Hons) Art History and History at the University of Lincoln is conceived and delivered as an exploration of past cultures that employs the approaches of art historians and historians—ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern, as well as archaeologists, conservators, and specialists in media, heritage and museum studies. Modules range chronologically from antiquity, through the medieval and early modern periods, to the twentieth Century, and geographically from Britain to Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Students can select from a wide range of optional modules on offer from Art History, History, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Philosophy and Classical Studies.

The first year provides students with the opportunity to develop a solid foundation of art-historical and historical knowledge, introducing the skills required to undertake more advanced work at levels two and three.

It consists of eight compulsory modules (four per semester). Two modules are specifically designed to develop students’ skills, focusing on writing, communication, and the understanding of research into past cultures as a process of inquiry. Two modules provide a historical survey from late antiquity to the twentieth Century that draws on the research interests of historians at Lincoln.

Four modules are specifically related to Art History and Visual Culture. The core of the first year is A World History of Art and Architecture, which consists of two modules, providing a solid survey of art and architecture from ancient times to the Revivals (semester A), and from the nineteenth Century to the present (semester B). Students can develop a strong knowledge-base in relation to art, artists, styles, and artistic movements. Furthermore, this module aims to develop the analytical skills in visual analysis. In Introduction to Visual and Material Culture students can engage with artefacts to understand their functions and possible meanings, in order to reveal the identities, ideologies, and values of the societies that produced them. Materials, Techniques and Technologies in the History of Art focuses on the making of art and artefacts by exploring the relevance of materials and techniques in artistic production, adding a material dimension to the understanding and analysis of art.

In the second year, students may engage more deeply with the complexity of Art History, focusing on theory and historiography (New Directions in Art History and Historiography) and gathering ideas for their dissertation and future careers (Dissertations and Beyond). Furthermore, in Neoclassicism to Cubism (core) students can explore how the artistic hegemony of Neoclassicism was challenged through the seminal transformations of Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism and Cubism. This module explores a fundamental period in the development of Art History through an exploration of changing art practices, and can equip students with advanced skills in visual analysis.

An additional four optional modules are chosen from the offerings of our art historians and historians. These modules are based on our own research and teaching specialisms. For example, modules might include Understanding Exhibitions; Introduction to Exhibitions, Curatorship and Curatorial Practices; Renaissances; Art and Power: Projecting Authority in the Renaissance World; 100 Years of Photography: Images, History and Impact (1839-1939); Digital Heritage; Material Histories: Objects, Interpretation, Display. Please note: as a research-intensive department, subjects may occasionally be unavailable when the lecturer is on research leave. Similarly, it is also likely that members of staff may decide to run new modules relating to their evolving research activities. The list of modules should therefore be viewed as indicative rather than wholly definitive.

The third year contains one compulsory module, Independent Study, that carries a double weighting, and six optional modules. Options may include Curatorial Practice; Rome and Constantinople: Monuments and Memory (200-1200); Rulers and Kings: Visualising Authority in Medieval Europe; Imperial Cities of the Early Modern World; Gothic Visions: Stained Glass in Britain (c. 1220-1960); English Landscape Painting: a Social and Cultural History; Pre-Raphaelites and Aesthetes: Progressive British Painting (1840-1898); Art Cinemas. As with the level two courses, these modules may occasionally be unavailable when the module tutor is on research leave and may be augmented by additional offerings as our staff develop their teaching portfolios.

What You Need to Know

We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. To help you choose the course that’s right for you, we aim to bring to your attention all the important information you may need. Our What You Need to Know page offers detailed information on key areas including contact hours, assessment, optional modules, and additional costs.