Bachelor's programme

The degree programme covers the history of European and North American art from the early Middle Ages to the present. The broad range of courses offers an overview of different art genres and theories, artistic techniques and art historical methods, thus providing a comprehensive study of the subject. The study of original works of art - for example in the context of excursions or seminars in museums - has high priority.

A tightly knit cooperation is maintained with the Institute for the History of Architecture at the University of Stuttgart.

The range of courses is enriched by a number of guest lecturers from diverse professional fields who provide an insight into different fields of activity for art historians. Further practical expirience can be acquired in the context of an internship.

The Art History degree programme is composed of a total of 13 modules. In the four basic modules (Introduction to Art History 1; Introduction to Art History 2; Motifs, Iconographies, Source Texts; Language, Texts, Lectures), basic knowledge and methodological skills are acquired. Successful participation is a prerequisite for continuing the degree programme.

The six core modules (Historical Contexts 1; Historical Contexts 2; Historical Contexts 3; Reflection on Methods; Materials, Techniques, Forms of Design; Art and Architecture in the Region) deepen the knowledge of works of art and reflect upon the scientific methods of the subject.

The three advanced modules (genres and media; case studies; exam module) lead towards an exemplary study (Bachelor thesis) in terms of content and methodology.

The standard period of study is 6 semesters.

The programme concludes with the academic degree of Bachelor of Arts. It provides the elementary foundations for subsequent professional activity and offers the subject-specific prerequisites for further research-oriented studies and promotes competences that go beyond the specific subject-related qualifications.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts degree programme in Art History as their major subject

• have in-depth skills in scientific research. They are able to reproduce their acquired knowledge in a meaningful structured way in written form.
• have knowledge of several historically, stylistically or functionally related subject areas of art history. They possess an awareness of the problems inherent in the terminological typification of epochs and scientific concepts.
• have an understanding of art historical research questions and are able to summarise and reflect the different research approaches on selected topics. They are able to apply the acquired basic knowledge of art historical methods exemplarily, to discuss methodological questions on the subject and to take a well-founded stance on them.
• possess an understanding of different art genres and media, as well as their historical, procedural, material and medial specifics. They are able to describe works of art using genre-specific terminology and analytical instruments and are able to reflect on technical problems partaining to selected objects.
• have knowledge of important art landmarks in Southern Germany in their historical topographical or museum contexts. Their skills in description, dating and preparatory scientific research as well as in the presentation of this knowledge to an audience in front of the object are well established.
• their historico-critical training, in which written source material plays a decisive role, and their visual-descriptive competence allow them to take up a research-oriented Master's degree programme.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts degree programme in Art History as their minor subject

• have in-depth skills in scientific research. They are able to reproduce their acquired knowledge in a meaningful structured way in written form.
• have knowledge of several historically, stylistically or functionally related subject areas of art history. They possess an awareness of the problems inherent in the terminological typification of epochs and scientific concepts.
• have an understanding of art historical issues and are able to summarise and reflect on research problems partaining to selected topics.

The degree programme thus offers a versatile basis for activities in museums, in the art trade (galleries, auction houses), in art criticism and journalism, in cultural management, in the media sector, in the preservation of historical monuments, in libraries and archives, in tourism and in freelance art mediation.

In all of these fields of activity, further qualification by means of an MA programme is recommended.

The prerequisite is the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification) as well as proof of knowledge of English and at least one other foreign language. The prerequisite for admission to the Bachelor's thesis also includes proof of the Latinum or comparable knowledge of Latin. If the knowledge of the Latin language is not verified by the university entrance qualification, it can be acquired in the module "Language, Texts, Lectures". The Latinum is not required for the study of art history as a minor subject.