Art History

Art History is the subject for you if you are interested in any or all of the diverse aspects of visual culture, artistic creativity and the role of imagery within society. For millennia, the beliefs, aspirations and fears of humankind have been expressed through the production of objects.

Art History interrogates these objects, situating them within historical, stylistic and aesthetic frameworks and contexts. The inherent interdisciplinary nature of Art History enables dynamic connections with a broad range of subjects across the Arts and Humanities and the Social Sciences.

Our teaching programme offers a dynamic curriculum that enables students to examine the art, architecture and visual culture of different ages, from ancient times to the present day, whether traditional or new, nontraditional media. Students are encouraged to develop a range of critical, historical and historiographical modes of inquiry so as to comprehend our visual and artistic cultures.

Click here to Download Course Pathways document.

First Year

First year modules introduce students to the key periods, artists and movements of European art and architecture from antiquity through to the birth of modern art in the early 20th century. Typical modules include: Art History in the Making • Antiquity to High Renaissance • Late Renaissance to Romanticism • The Modern World 1848-1914

Second & Final Years

Students have the opportunity to develop an increasingly in-depth visual and critical understanding of the history of art, crossing over boundaries of media, chronology and geography.

Typical modules include: The Modern to the Contemporary • European Architecture • Medieval Art and Architecture: characteristics and influences • From Medieval to Modern • History of Photography • Early Islamic Art & Architecture • Art/ Resistance/Activism • Georgian Dublin • Genre Painting in the Age of Vermeer • Women & Modern Architecture • From Constantinople to Istanbul: Art, Faith, Politics

Students attend lectures, tutorials and seminars, and undertake independent study. We have a strong commitment to small-group learning and gallery, museum and field trips are integrated into the curriculum.

A combination of end-of-trimester examinations and continuous assessment are used. In your final year, you may also prepare a minor dissertation.

Opportunities to study abroad may include:
 

• Universität Wien, Austria
• Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, France
• Università degli Studi di Roma III, Italy
• Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
• Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
• University of Lund, Sweden
• University of Nottingham, UK
• University of California, USA
• University of Otago, New Zealand
• Waseda University, Japan

Graduates develop key skills from critical thinking and writing to effective visual analysis, that have diverse applications and can lead to employment opportunities in: Museums and Galleries, Cultural and Heritage Sector, Education and Academia, Digital Media, Journalism, Publishing, Auction Houses, Archives.Art History has multiple applications. We equip graduates with the skills needed to reflect on the role of the visual arts within society and to evaluate the images and environments surrounding them.

Graduates are prepared to undertake graduate study in a range of areas, including two taught Masters degrees at UCD: MA Art History, Collections & Curating and MA Cultural Policy & Arts Management. Graduates are also prepared to pursue doctoral research.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access

UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
p. +353 1 716 8162
e. helena.mccann@ucd.ie

By joining the UCD College of Arts and Humanities you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable, just and equitable future. Our courses are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen arts and humanities subjects. Our research and teaching and learning connect with many of the SDGs, most notably:

• SDG 4: Quality Education -Promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality - Advances gender equality by addressing social norms, histories, and cultural practices that contribute to gender disparities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Encourages understanding and action against social, economic, and political inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Enhances cultural understanding and heritage preservation, fostering sustainable communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions through critical inquiry into human rights, ethics, and governance.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Encourages global partnerships and collaboration by fostering international understanding and dialogue.

Our programmes equip students with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, essential for addressing complex global challenges.

Art History was perfect for me because I wanted to study some form of History and I had an interest in the arts and visual culture. The wide variety of field trips to art galleries and museums constantly encourage us to genuinely experience the art we learned about in lecture halls and tutorials. The abundance of guest speakers, such as artists, exposed us to the different views and opinions in the art world, as well as introducing us to the contemporary artists working in Ireland today. Anyone who enjoys not only art and architecture, but also the story behind the artist and their creations, will definitely enjoy this course.

Justyna Kaczorowska, Student