The History of Art major introduces you to art within the whole spectrum of our visual experience.
Introduction
This major covers key moments in the development of a number of disciplines such as audio-visual arts, literature, film and new media, architecture, landscape architecture and the impact of other art and design practice on the history of cultures.
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Course description, features and facilities
Art is not a singular entity, but changes in time and space as the cultures that produce it change.
The History of Art major introduces you to art within the whole spectrum of our visual experience.
It encompasses studies in visual arts, literature, film and new media, architecture, landscape architecture and the impact of other art and design practice on the history of cultures.
Learning to experience aesthetic pleasure through emotional intuition and intellectual learning is an essential means of exploring the serious issues of past and present cultures from many parts of the world including Europe, America, Asia and Australia.
Students will attend weekly lectures which are supported by small group discussions and roundtables.
The Visual Arts discipline at UWA is unique in its focus on art history, and benefits from its grouping in the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts with other disciplines that represent a breadth and depth of relevant design experience. Students have the benefit of seeing exhibitions of art work in the Faculty's Cullity Gallery as well as the University's Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery.
A number of Visual Arts staff members are practising artists and bring their experience to bear both in the History of Art major and also in art practice units that may be taken alongside history units.
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Student profile
Student profile – Jade Balfour
Having finished high school six years ago, the thought of tertiary study was never on my agenda. The constant changes in life and the self however, has seen me put my career on hold to come to UWA to study. Unsure of what I wanted to ‘do’ I enrolled in a range of different Bachelor of Arts units.
Studying under the BA umbrella means that I can specialize in my favourite subject, whilst fine-tuning my critical thinking and writing skills. This major offers an exploration from the greatest moments in art history, to specialty areas in upper level units.
I also have the option of doing a double major, which for me will be Psychology. I now know that what I aspire to ‘do’, isn’t so much as important as making sure my interests are upheld along the way, which in turn has provided the most enjoyable and rewarding experience.
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Structure
UWA's streamlined course structure allows you to pursue studies in a wide range of areas and to take one or two majors in your degree. Your second major can be from a similar field to your first (degree-specific) major, or from a different area or degree entirely.
As well as the units specified in your major, you will study broadening units outside your main area of study and may be able to take a number of elective subjects as well.
You can explore the structure of this major in detail in the University Handbooks.
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Professional recognition
Graduates who complete a History of Art honours course to a sufficiently high standard may be admitted to the Master of Fine Arts in Curatorial Studies, which is a professionally recognised course.
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Career opportunities
A major in History of Art equips you for a range of employment options including work as a:
- Curator
- Gallery or Museum Administrator
- Art Historian
- Conservator
Working in:
- Galleries and museums
- Art education
- Film and television production
- Libraries
- Visual resource companies
- Auction houses
- Government agencies (e.g. for public art schemes or heritage management)
- Publishing
- Antiquarian book trading
- Art investment
I want to be a…
This course could lead to becoming a:
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Further study opportunities
Graduates who complete a History of Art honours course to a sufficiently high standard may be admitted to the Master of Fine Arts in Curatorial Studies, which is a professionally recognised course.
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Check the Entrance requirements
This course is available to Australian and international students.
On this page
- Prerequisites and minimum scores
- Additional information
- English competency
- Advanced standing
Prerequisites and minimum scores
| Qualification and prerequisite subjects | Course entry score |
|---|
| Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) | 80 |
| International Baccalaureate | 29 |
Additional information
Please note: to study this major within the Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) will require a minimum ATAR of 98 (or equivalent).
English competency
University study demands strong English language competency. To be eligible for admission to a undergraduate program at UWA, you must demonstrate satisfactory performance in a UWA-approved test of English. This is the case even if English is your first language.
The minimum requirement is a scaled score of 50 or more in WACE English, Literature or English as an Additional Language/Dialect achieved at Stage 2 or Stage 3 – or an equivalent level of achievement in an interstate or international qualification.
Advanced standing
If you have undertaken prior tertiary study within the last five years, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit and/or exemption).
Applications for advanced standing are assessed upon acceptance of any offer of admission made by the University.
On this page
- Prerequisites and minimum scores
- Advanced standing
Prerequisites and minimum scores
| Qualification and prerequisite subjects | Course entry score |
|---|
All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE)
| 12 |
Canadian Matriculation (except Quebec)
| 60 |
French Baccalaureat
| 12 |
GCE or Cambridge Advanced-level Examinations
| 8 |
Chinese Gao Kao
| 525 |
German Abitur
| 3.17 |
Indian School Certificate (CISCE)
| 60 |
International Baccalaureate
| 29 |
Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)
| 270 |
Norwegian Vitnemål
| 4.14 |
Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels
| 8 |
South African National Senior Certificate
| 4.60 |
Swedish Slutbetyg
| 15.70 |
Western Australian Universities Preparatory Program (WAUPP)
| 63 |
Trinity College Foundation Program
| 85 |
Chinese Unified Examinations (UEC)
| 12 |
UWA Foundation Programme (UWAFP)
| 66 |
These are the required prerequisites for applicants who have completed these particular qualifications.
If you are applying for a place based on other qualifications
you need to demonstrate that you have knowledge at least equivalent to the subjects specified.
Advanced standing
Students with previous tertiary level qualifications will be considered for advanced standing (credit).
How to apply
This course is available to Australian and international students.
On this page
- First semester entry
- Second semester entry
- Information for…
- Contact details - admission information
We have two intakes of undergraduate students each year: first and second semester.
First semester entry
Australian citizens or permanent residents, including humanitarian visa holders, and New Zealand citizens apply through the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre.
Contact the Admissions Centre for advice.
Second semester entry
Apply online for second semester entry to a range of courses at UWA.
After the closing date, contact the Admissions Centre for advice.
Information for
UWA Admissions Centre (M353)
- Address
- The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley, Perth
Western Australia 6009
- Location
- UWA Map
- Telephone
- (+61 8) 6488 2477 – General enquiries
- 1800 653 050 – General enquiries (country callers)
- Fax
- (+61 8) 6488 1226
- Enquire on-line
- askUWA
- Opening hours
- Monday – Friday, 9am–4pm
On this page
- First semester entry
- Second semester entry
- Fees
- Information for…
- Contact details - admission information
First semester entry
International undergraduate applicants must complete this application form and submit it through an authorised UWA overseas representative or directly to the UWA International Centre.
You must also:
Second semester entry
International undergraduate applicants must complete this application form and submit it through an authorised UWA overseas representative or directly to the UWA International Centre.
You must also:
Fees
$24866, per year.
This figure has been arrived at by assuming that you study a full-time study load for one year made up of units all within the same fee band. As some units vary in cost, the actual student fee will depend on the mix of units you choose. The international student fees page has further details.
Information for
UWA International Centre (M352)
- Address
- The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley, Perth
Western Australia 6009
- Telephone
- (+61 8) 6488 3939
- Fax
- (+61 8) 9382 4071
- Contacts
- International Centre
- Enquire on-line
- askUWA
- Location
- UWA Map
- Opening hours
- Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm
- About UWA
- Find out what makes UWA an internationally recognised university.
- Foundation and preparatory courses
- There are a range of programs available to help give you the opportunity to gain the academic qualifications or prerequisites required for admission to UWA.
- Social life on campus
- There are over 20,000 students enrolled at UWA - lots of new friends not only from Perth and Western Australia but from all areas in Australia and around the world.
