Why Bachelor of Arts?
Art history examines creativity through the ages and how it has informed our beliefs and values. By studying the visual language of cultures past and present, you’ll understand humanity’s deepest anxieties – and highest hopes.
See the world through a new lens. Learn how art reflects and challenges ideas about race, gender and social class. Build real connections in the creative industries.
You’ll develop visual literacy skills for dynamic careers in creative and cultural fields. Graduate as a visionary thinker, ready to enrich contemporary society with out-of-the-box ideas.
Overview
Our Bachelor of Arts is flexible and future-facing, focused on career preparation and real-world experience.
In the Art History and Visual Culture major, you’ll study how art has shaped identities and society through the ages. Develop visual and digital literacy through courses on Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary art. Tackle big questions: How do materials affect meaning? Why is representation important? How does visual art intersect with other media, like movies?
Learn how new technologies are transforming art creation and viewing. Explore the relationship between visual culture and the natural world. Apply different theoretical frameworks for critical analysis, advancing your writing, speaking and research skills.
Our hands-on approach means you’ll gain real experience in the creative industries and establish meaningful professional connections. Study in the heart of Adelaide's art and cultural precinct. Visit local museums and galleries to analyse real artworks up close. Build creative skills for versatile careers in cultural entrepreneurship, philanthropy, media, policy and more.
Key features
Take field trips to local art galleries, museums, studios and workshops.- Learn to use and apply digital technologies.
- Build specialist visual literacy, research, writing and communication skills.
- Curate online exhibitions of old and new artworks.
- Research and reflect on your future career path.
- Undertake an industry internship aligned with your aspirations.
What you'll learn
Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Arts offers unrivalled choice and flexibility, preparing you to meet the complex challenges of tomorrow.
Refine your career path by reflecting on your strengths and interests. Build real-world skills through an internship of your choosing. Our interdisciplinary approach will set you up for success as a versatile, self-directed professional with bold ideas and problem-solving skills.
In the Art History and Visual Culture major, you’ll take creative courses in:
- Art and power
- Global art cinemas
- Reframing the Renaissance
- Drawing and printmaking in theory and practice
- Screening gender and sexuality
- Baroque to Neo-Baroque
- Tradition and transformation in contemporary art
- Creative nonfiction: theory and practice.
You’ll advance the following capabilities for your future career:
- Visual literacy: Understand and analyse images and objects across various cultures and time periods, considering the social, political and economic contexts in which they were created and received.
- Research skills and critical thinking: Review primary sources, image databases, gallery collections and literature to develop meaningful research questions.
- Cultural intelligence: Employ interpersonal skills to respectfully collaborate across diverse visual cultures and beliefs. This includes peer-review processes and proactive cultural leadership.
- Practical communication: Articulate complex ideas in speech and writing, addressing the rhetoric and politics of visual cultures both historically and contemporary, from local and global perspectives.
You’ll study in the heart of Adelaide, surrounded by the Art Gallery of South Australia, South Australian Museum and Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.
Majors
The Bachelor of Arts is also available with majors in the following:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Archaeology and Classical Studies
- Anthropology
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Creative Writing
- English Literature
- Environmental Management
- French Studies
- Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Geography
- German Studies
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Population and Migration Studies
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish Studies.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 18 units for Core courses, and
- 96 units for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 18 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for all Electives
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Art and Power
|
Course code
HIST1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Reframing the Renaissance
|
Course code
HIST2005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Baroque to Neo-Baroque
|
Course code
HIST3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Art Cinemas
|
Course code
MDIA1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Screening Gender and Sexuality
|
Course code
MDIA2018
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Drawing and Printmaking in Theory and Practice
|
Course code
VISU2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Tradition and Transformation in Contemporary Art
|
Course code
VISU3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Nonfiction: Theory and Practice
|
Course code
WRIT3000
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 1
|
Course code
SOCI1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
Complete one Major from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Studies
|
Course code
ABORBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Anthropology
|
Course code
ANTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Archaeology and Classical Studies
|
Course code
ARCYBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Writing
|
Course code
CREWBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
English Literature
|
Course code
ENGLBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Management
|
Course code
ENVMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
French Studies
|
Course code
FRENBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Geography
|
Course code
GEOGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
German Studies
|
Course code
GERMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Chinese Studies
|
Course code
CHINBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Cultural Studies
|
Course code
CULTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Gender and Sexuality Studies
|
Course code
GENDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
History
|
Course code
HISTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Development
|
Course code
INTDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Security
|
Course code
INTSBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Italian Studies
|
Course code
ITALBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese Studies
|
Course code
JAPNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
|
Course code
LINGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy
|
Course code
PHILBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Politics
|
Course code
POLIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Population and Migration Studies
|
Course code
POPUBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Screen Studies
|
Course code
SCRNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Sociology
|
Course code
SOCIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Spanish Studies
|
Course code
SPANBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Social Research and Policy Analysis
|
Course code
SOCRBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Kaurna Languages
|
Course code
KAURBARTS
|
Units
48
|
Career outcomes
This degree amplifies your adaptability, priming you for creative careers. You could be a museum administrator, an archivist or a cultural director. You might be a teacher, helping others understand Basquiat and Boyd. Perhaps you’ll curate exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia, Mona, or the Museum of Modern Art.
You could also be a:
- Public program coordinator
- Education outreach specialist
- Copyright specialist
- Conservator
- Policy advisor
- Event manager
- Cultural diplomat
- Art critic
- PR specialist
- Editor
- Art dealer
- Philanthropy manager
- Art therapist.
Industry trends
Digital technology is transforming the art world, with more and more online galleries, VR exhibitions and augmented reality experiences. AI and blockchain are reshaping how art is made and tracked. It's becoming increasingly important to understand these digital tools and how they help create, share and experience art.
Studying our Bachelor of Arts majoring in Art History and Visual Culture is a direct way to build the higher-order cognitive, interpersonal and digital skills needed to thrive in a fast-evolving industry. Forecasts indicate creative skills like these will remain crucial for future workforce needs, with their value and transferability only increasing (ANA think tank, 2020).
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Ask Adelaide University
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
