Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Bachelor of Arts with Honours - BAH
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Full-Time

F2F-JMU-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

To provide for all students a distinctive, relevant, coherent and intellectually stimulating taught programme offering an interdisciplinary, thematic and issue-based approach to the critical study of the history of art and the museum;

To develop a range of analytical and theoretical skills and approaches pertinent to the study of historical and visual material which are adaptable, flexible and transferable; 

To provide students with a variety of historical and critical perspectives on the production and consumption of visual culture and facilitate maximum exchange with a range of methodologies relevant to the History of Art and to Museum Studies (which is also a considerable element of the programme e.g. 'Introduction to Museums and Galleries' module);

To foster links with local, national and international institutions of art and visual culture and to take advantage of the wealth of cultural institutions on Merseyside in order to emphasise their importance and to frame the study of the history of art;

To prepare students for possible employment in a variety of cultural industries by emphasising the importance of 'professional development' in the students' direct experience of local, national and international arts organisations (such as Guggenheim and Tate);

To give students from varied backgrounds, including traditionally under-represented groups, access to a programme that will enrich their intellectual and personal development and enhance skills that further their employment prospects and help them to contribute to society and culture;

To support students' learning through diverse teaching and assessment practices underpinned by staff development and research;

To encourage students to engage with the development of employability skills by completing Future Focus documents.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Demonstrate knowledge of current debates in historiography and museology.
2.
Produce and develop logical and structured narratives and arguments supported by relevant evidence.
3.
Plan and deliver individual research projects.
4.
Communicate and present illustrated written and verbal papers.
5.
Use information stores and services such as libraries, computers and primary and secondary source material.
6.
Participate constructively in discussion.
7.
Demonstrate effective time management in working to briefs and deadlines across concurrent projects.
8.
Use images and read written material to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
9.
Enhance problem solving skills through recognising, comparing and reviewing options, results and approaches.
10.
Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate historical, intellectual and cultural contexts for the study of the History of Art and for the study of Museum Studies.
11.
Demonstrate knowledge of a range of historical and critical processes through which artefacts are produced and consumed.
12.
Demonstrate knowledge of specialist descriptive and interpretative vocabulary with consideration for the communication of the visual in written and verbal forms.
13.
Select, assemble, compare and critically appraise evidence and apply it to the examination of the History of Art and Museum Studies.
14.
Synthesise and evaluate primary and/or secondary research material.
15.
Demonstrate independence of thought and judgement.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching is through lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, practical demonstrations and field visits. Learning is consolidated in the student-centred context of seminars and tutorials through close reading of text, discussion, presentation and exchange of ideas. Experiential learning is consolidated through work-related and work-based tasks and professional development. The assessment of knowledge and understanding is through formative and summative assessment. Summative assessment is through coursework (essays of various lengths, seminar presentations, project work, case studies, reflective essays and portfolios, blogs, textual analysis and dissertation). Formative assessment includes peer and self evaluated tasks. Assessment methods are specified in each module handbook and on Canvas. All learning outcomes in a module are assessed. Cognitive skills are developed through a combination of teaching methods and assessment tasks. Lectures aim to transmit ideas and information. Seminars and field visits aim to promote discussion, debate and analysis. Workshops offer practical demonstrations and foster the development of presentation skills, and tutorials and group work foster independent practice. The assessment of cognitive skills is through a combination of coursework assignments. Written coursework (on-line and hard-copy) and verbal presentations measure the students' work in terms of research, critical analysis and communication/ presentation skills.

The forms of assessment are arranged over the three years of the programme to allow students to develop independent thinking, research formulation and enhanced communication techniques. Students will learn, often through work-related and work-based learning, the professional practical skills needed to work in the museums and gallery industry and in other Art History fields. These skills include: curatorial skills; research; public presentation; archival and writing. Other, non-assessed practical skills can be acquired via uptaking of the Liverpool School of Art & Design opportunities to acquire studio skills. These skills include: photography, drawing, computer aided design, printmaking etc. Assessment of professional skills occurs usually in reflective reports following project work. Also, the outcomes of projects (as in the 'Major Project Practice') can be assessed as a physical outcome. Some formative assessment by industry professionals also occurs (as in the 'Internship & Professional Development Practice' mock interview and in 'Curating: Histories and Practices'). Subject practical skills are promoted via the co-ordination of assessment tasks across the three levels of the programme. At Level 4 teaching methods focus on the acquisition of appropriate research methodologies and analytical skills. This includes the acquisition of linguistic competence in the history of art and museology. At Level 5 the application of specialist critical and theoretical knowledge is emphasised in learning tasks. Some of these tasks are in real contexts ('Internship & Professional Development Practice'). Greater reflection is expected. At Level 6 the demonstration of those skills in a variety of real or applied contexts is facilitated via self-managed projects. The promotion of key skills is via all core modules which teach the key skills of organising research, group discussion, independent study, effective use of resources and communicating ideas in different formats. Students receive induction to the LJMU Careers Centre. IT skills and Canvas are used to support students' learning on all modules. PDP is taught in all modules and is embedded rather than attached, as for example in the 'Frameworks in Art History' 1 & 2 modules. A variety of assessment methods test students' practical skills. These include illustrated seminar presentations, preparation for coursework (including observance of submission deadlines), and individual research projects. 

Opportunities for work related learning

Work-Related Learning is embedded into many modules across all three levels: Level 4: 'Introduction to Museums and Galleries' - students visit most regional museums and galleries, see their inner workings and network and communicate with staff from those institutions; 'Collaboration with Contemporary Art' - students experience talks and workshops with the most contemporary artists, curators, museum professionals and writers. They can also undertake practical workshops and network; Level 5: 'Curating: Histories and Practices' 1 & 2 - this is taught in liaison with museum professionals. Students access real museum collections and propose and research an exhibition. They are introduced to relevant museum professionals; 'Internship & Professional Development Practice' - students undertake a real work-based internship and acquire knowledge and skills of professional industries. The students also experience a mock interview on which they are assessed. Part of this interview panel is comprised of industry professionals. Teaching on this module is supplemented by staff from the LJMU Careers Centre and heavy use of the LJMU Careers Centre is made by students. Level 6- Research Project - for students who wish to progress to masters programmes, this prepares them for the tasks involved at that level. It also enables other students to acquire useful transferable skills such as good time-management and research skills; Major Project- Research & Development and Practice modules - These projects are self-directed and are usually related to the students' desired careers. Students will also be provided with membership of the Museums Association, and can thereafter participate in their professional development courses, such as decolonising in the museum. For example, if they intend to become curators, they can curate a real exhibition; if they intend to progress to a PGCE they can create a project within schools. These projects obviously involve work-based and work-related learning and enable the acquisition of a multitude of transferable skills; Symposium- this task involves researching and presenting a conference paper in a public venue. This necessitates negotiating with the professionals and public at the venue, working as a group and acquiring other professional skills such as desktop publishing, fund raising and public presentation and public speaking skills.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

All modules are core. There will be an option in Level 5 for students to apply for replacement of 60 credits of Level 5 with appropriate study abroad using 5124HA Study Abroad module or to replace 120 credits by using 5125HA Study Year Abroad. The study abroad option will comply … For more content click the Read More button below.

Approved variance from Academic Framework Regulations

A variance to the Academic Framework Regulations to allow the 40 credit module 6107HA Research Project and Symposium was approved on 27th March 2023

Entry Requirements

A levels
Access awards
Alternative qualifications considered
BTECs
GCSEs and equivalents
IELTS
International Baccalaureate
Irish awards
NVQ
Reduced offer scheme
T levels
UCAS points
Welsh awards

Extra Entry Requirements

Is a DBS check required?

No

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH20-01) history and archaeology