History of Art major
Art is not a singular entity, but changes in time and space as cultures, that produce it, change. The History of Art major introduces you to art within the whole spectrum of our visual experience. It encompasses studies in visual arts, literature, film and new media, architecture, landscape architecture and the impact of other art and design practice on the history of cultures. Learning to experience aesthetic pleasure through emotional intuition and intellectual learning is an essential means of exploring the serious issues of past and present cultures from many parts of the world including Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) analyse a range of images, texts and items of visual culture and their social, political, economic, religious or aesthetic contexts; (2) apply the key concepts, theories and methodologies of the discipline of Art History in the study of art; (3) show a good general knowledge of several periods in the history of art as well as more detailed knowledge of particular subject areas studied in the major; (4) communicate by reasoned argument in written texts and general discussion the ideas and approaches of the discipline; (5) undertake independent research in the discipline of Art History; (6) demonstrate understanding of the significance of the visual arts and complex images in the construction of identities, ideologies, social formations and our place in the world; and (7) demonstrate understanding of the key contemporary issues of the discipline and their relevance to the study of art of diverse periods and cultures.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
History of Art can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP001 Bachelor of Arts
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
History of Art is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- three Level 2 units
- three Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2021 |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2022 or 2023.
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | HART1000 | Great Moments in Art |
|
| S2 | HART1003 | Ways of Seeing: Themes and Theories in Art |
Level 2
Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | HART2041 | The Art of Photography | |
| N/A | HART2043 | Zen Gardens to Manga Mania: A Survey of Japanese Art | |
| N/A | HART2044 | Contemporary Art and Tradition in China | |
| N/A | HART2201 | Art and Urban Experience | |
| N/A | HART2202 | Art and Social Justice | |
| N/A | HART2203 | (Inter)national History of Art Study Tour |
|
| S1 | HART2207 | Caravaggio and the Baroque | |
| S2 | HART2222 | Contemporary Art | |
| N/A | HART2223 | Modernism and the Visual Arts | |
| N/A | HART2234 | Film Noir to the New Wave | |
| N/A | HART2237 | Nineteenth-Century British Art | |
| N/A | HART2243 | Imagist Avant-Garde Film | |
| S2 | HART2274 | Introduction to Museum and Curatorial Studies | |
| N/A | HART2275 | Italian Renaissance Art Now | |
| S1 | HART2370 | Global Art Histories |
Level 3
Take the following unit:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | HART3330 | Art Theory |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | HART3040 | Breaking Art |
|
| N/A | HART3044 | Contemporary Art and Tradition in China |
|
| N/A | HART3203 | (Inter)national History of Art Study Tour |
|
| N/A | HART3276 | Prints from Dürer to Toulouse-Lautrec |
|
| N/A | HART3301 | Manet and the French Avant-Garde |
|
| N/A | HART3302 | Michelangelo |
|
| N/A | HART3310 | Art and Games: from Dada to Data |
|
| N/A | HART3331 | Visual Culture and Art in America: 1900–2000 |
|
| S2 | HART3333 | Picturing the Self: Portraiture in Nineteenth-century Europe |
|
| N/A | HART3340 | Materialist Avant-Garde Film |
|
| S1 | HART3361 | The Dutch Golden Age and the Art of Exploration |
|
| N/A | HART3371 | The Northern Renaissance |
|
| N/A | HART3375 | Twenty-first Century Art |
|
| S1 | HART3666 | Australian and Aboriginal Art |
|
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the History of Art degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the History of Art degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Arts course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .