Diploma in Arts (Art History)

Course 319-AH (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Year and Campus: 2009
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Undergraduate
Course Overview:

The art history program is housed in the School of Culture and Communication. The first program of its kind in Australia, it was founded in 1946. The School develops joint projects with many Australian museums including the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Students of art history have the opportunity to undertake fieldwork overseas. Subjects taught in Rome and New York provide unrivalled access to major art collections such as those of the Vatican museums and the Museum of Modern Art. Alliances with the Centre for Cultural Material Conservation (CCMC) and Ian Potter Museum of Art also bolster the pre-eminent position of the School within the academic community of the Asia-Pacific region. Students benefit directly from these close links with industry and the arts community and are able to develop a wide range of transferable skills. Graduates of the art history program occupy key curatorial, museum and administrative positions in the arts throughout Australia and overseas. Students have the opportunity to further explore their academic interests and develop specialist knowledge in art history through an articulated structure of higher degree options at the University of Melbourne.

Art history is concerned with the visual and material aspects of culture and how painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, design, photography and museums, may be interpreted. Students of art history should develop critical and historical skills about the work of art as a physical object and the representation of subject matter. Art history subjects cover a broad spectrum from ancient classical art to the art of the postmodern. The School has particular research and teaching strengths in the study of Australian culture and Aboriginal art, the medieval, Renaissance and baroque periods and in Asian art, including a unique course on Japanese curatorship.

Objectives: See the Bachelor of Arts course objectives.
Course Structure & Available Subjects:

The Diploma in Arts (Art History) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. It consists of a three-year sequence of study, and adds one year to the duration of your degree.

Students must complete 25 points of first-year art history subjects and 75 points of second/third-year art history subjects. Alternatively, students who have completed appropriate background studies at first year may complete 100 points of second/third-year art history subjects.

There are no prerequisites for first-year subjects in art history.

The prerequisite for a second/third-year subject in art history is usually one first-year subject in art history (12.5 points). Students who believe they have completed a suitable alternative first-year subject are advised to consult with the Head of School for permission to enrol. Exemptions may also be granted where second/third-year subjects are taken as part of an approved interdisciplinary program with its own entry requirements.

Subject Options:

First Year Subjects

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Second/Third Year Subjects

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Semester 1
12.500
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Not offered in 2009
12.50
Summer
25.000
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Not offered in 2009
12.500
Entry Requirements: The Diploma in Arts (Art History) is only available to students who are enrolled in a non-Melbourne Model degree course at the University of Melbourne. Students need to be able to fit a three-year sequence of study alongside their degree to be eligible for the Diploma in Arts.
Core Participation Requirements: The Diploma in Arts requires a standard level of ability across all disciplines. It will be assumed students are able to access and attend classes on a regular basis, are capable of learning in a University environment and will be able to take responsibility for their own learning. Any ability beyond this threshold will be robustly supported through the curriculum. There are no pre-requisites for first year subjects, and any intensive use of IT or technologies will be adequately supported. Certain subjects have more specific requirements and demands, such as fieldwork or travelling, which are clearly outlined in the Handbook's subject description.

However, the University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. The Faculty Disability Contact Officer works with students, the University Disability Liaison Unit and teaching staff to assist students with their special requirements, with a particular focus on accommodations for in-class and examination assessment tasks. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability.

Further Study: Arts offers many opportunities for further study. A postgraduate diploma, leading on to a masters degree or PhD, can add vocational and/or research skills to your undergraduate arts degree and increase your employment options. Arts graduates also use postgraduate study to explore in greater depth and detail subjects they found interesting during their undergraduate study or to study a completely new field of knowledge.
Graduate Attributes: See the Bachelor of Arts graduate attributes.
Generic Skills: See the Bachelor of Arts course objectives.

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