The Art History department specializes in high quality research and teaching relating to several areas of art and architectural history. These include Byzantine art; the Renaissance (both in Italy and in Northern Europe); art and art theory from the seventeenth through to the twentieth century; recent and contemporary art practice; a cross-period interest in gender studies; eighteenth and twentieth-century architecture; and Heritage Studies. Our fully illustrated teaching books (co-published with Yale University and Tate) have attracted international recognition and many are best sellers. We run a popular MA in Art History and supervise PhD students.
A particular feature of our Art History provision is that we provide both specialist courses in the discipline and interdisciplinary courses where art is studied in conjunction with History, Literature, Philosophy, Classical Studies, Music and Religious Studies. Our undergraduate courses span the whole range from access or starter level to advanced or Honours degree standard.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Art History was rated third highest department in the Open University and we were rated in the top ten departments nationally for our subject area. We are particularly proud of our collaborations with museums and galleries, including the Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Walker and Milton Keynes Galleries. You can find out more if you explore our website.
Follow this link for our 10 top reasons to study Art History with us.
Our department blog is our way of reflecting on art and heritage today, whether it is something in the news, caught on the media or experienced. Visit our blog now ...
