This course explores how art historians do art history. You will examine the key theories (ways of thinking) and methodologies (ways of researching) that have shaped the discipline of art history from its founding to the present day. By helping you learn how to identify the theories and methods of fellow art historians, and apply them to your own research, this course will prepare you for Senior Honours courses and the Dissertation. In addition, you will undertake a work placement in an arts, heritage, or other organisation. You will gain valuable experience in how to do art history in professional contexts.

1 x 1hr lecture; 1 x 1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

The placement part of the course will normally consist of weekly or fortnightly sessions of 30 hours in total within the Semester 2 teaching period, according to a schedule mutually agreed between the course convenor, the placement provider, and the student. The course may be taken both full and part-time.

HISTART4031 Methodology of Art History

None

The standard assessments for this course:

■ Essay (3000 words) - 75%

■ Critical review of a source (1000 words) - 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ There is no alternative to the critical review of a source, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

The course will provide the opportunity to:

■ cultivate critical understanding of research methodologies to prepare students for Senior Honours courses and Dissertation through engagement with analytical approaches.

■ provide students the opportunity to study topics informed by staff research expertise, and which complement and support those studied in the Junior Honours.

■ develop transferable skills including written/oral communication, critical argumentation, independent learning, information retrieval, concept formulation, and problem-solving.

■ apply art-historical knowledge and skills in professional contexts during a relevant work placement.

■ acquire a range of transferrable skills of relevance both to further study in the discipline and to future employment.

■ increase awareness of, and the ability to articulate, one's own attributes, competencies, knowledge, and experience relevant to diverse careers in arts, heritage, the creative industries, and beyond.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain and compare key theories and methodologies of art history

■ Parse examples of art historical scholarship to analyse their underlying methodology

■ Apply relevant theories and methodologies to their own research projects

■ Debate the merits of current methodological developments in art history