If you’re already an OU Arts student, follow the link for Current Arts Students. This will take you to information about modules and resources to help you choose what to study next.
If you are new to the Arts, or to studying with The Open University, the ‘New to the Arts?’ section will help you to understand more about why you might study the Arts and what you can do with an Arts qualification. It also explains a bit more about how OU study works. It is one of our principles to provide a higher education curriculum which provides choice, makes learning and research accessible and meets the needs of our students and the societies in which they live and work. See The Open University Student Charter to learn more about our principles.
Studying the arts and humanities is rewarding and fun. Our curriculum ranges from ancient beliefs to modern film, and you’ll study some of the most significant people, events and ideas in cultural history. You’ll examine aspects of human culture through the books, plays, music, paintings, documents, philosophies, buildings and ceremonies that people have created.
You’ll learn to analyse and interpret the meanings of these various ‘objects’, to make judgments about their value then and now and to communicate your understanding clearly and coherently. You’ll learn how and why people have thought and acted in a variety of cultures as well as your own. You’ll gain fresh perspectives on the world, past and present, and new insights into contemporary society.
You’ll develop many useful skills which are highly valued by employers. Arts and humanities graduates learn to argue convincingly, to use evidence to support their views and to deal effectively with large amounts of information. You’ll have the critical and intellectual skills that employers want.
Whether you’re completely new to the arts and humanities or just new to Open University study, we encourage you to follow the links on the left to find out more about what you can gain from studying with us.
