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Art History
Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Dual Major)
| Standard period of study | 6 semesters |
|---|---|
| Start of study | Winter semester |
| Restricted admission | Ja |
| Teaching language | German |
| Combinability | Dual-subject bachelor’s degree programme, combined with a second subject |
| Credit points | Subject A: 78 CP + Subject B: 78 CP + integrated Degree: 12 LP + Bachelor’s Thesis: 12 CP = 180 CP |
Course description
- Is every building considered to be a piece of architecture and is every painting considered to be art? Can a pillar be considered ornamental, a piece of felt a sign, a tea bag a medium and a sculpture a metaphor?
- How can you convey knowledge from the study of art history – through a talk, presentation or text?
- What history does art history itself have as a historical discipline? And what significance does this history have for our current understanding of art, its origins and our appreciation of it?
- What connections are there to other academic disciplines and themes – to culture, politics, society, philosophy, religion, media and technology?
You will learn how to develop these types of questions and answer them using illustrative analyses of artwork on the art history degree. Alongside the study of artworks and art theory in the classical sense, the programme focuses on diverse kinds of images and visual phenomena in a cultural context – from ornamental walking sticks through to X-ray images. Analysing objects and working with specialist literature and written historical sources also form an essential part of the degree.
Art history in Cologne
The department in Cologne offers an exceptionally broad range of courses that cover all subject areas and epochs from the Middle Ages through to contemporary art. Main areas of focus include medieval book illuminations and treasury art, research into 16th and 17th century Dutch history, building research and preservation of historical monuments, the theory of contemporary image media and media history and the history and theory of photography.
The Department of Art History is actively involved in the “Medieval Studies” and “Modern Research” research centres at the university. In addition, the department in Cologne cooperates with numerous museums that house an exceptional variety and density of important works of European and international art across all epochs. Many of the lecturers at the Department of Art History in Cologne have professional experience in a related occupation (museums, preservation of historical monuments, art trade).
You will have ample opportunity during your degree to develop your future career prospects, make contacts and actively participate in research and exhibition projects.
Requirements
To succeed in your studies, you need above all an interest in the subject matter, a love of reading and a critical approach to texts and scientific theories. In addition, you should be able to study independently and have good verbal communication skills.
Dokumente/Downloads
Language proficiency and other requirements
It is assumed that you have sufficient knowledge of English to understand academic texts written in English. You do not need to provide proof of this knowledge.
Structure
Career perspectives
After successfully completing your bachelor's degree, you have the option of continuing on to a master's degree to deepen your specialist knowledge and/or specialize. Alternatively, you can also start working directly in various professional fields. We recommend always completing internships during your studies for better orientation. Internships can be in certain circumstances recognized for your study programme or your Studium Integrale.
Application for the first semester
You can submit your application via the KLIPS 2.0 portal during the application period. You will find detailed information on the application procedure on the website of the Student Application and Registration Office. Prospective students who are not EU citizens should visit the website of the International Office for information on the application formalities.
Only for NC subjects: It is possible to submit a special application under certain circumstances, e.g. if you are a minor or an elite athlete or in cases of hardship. You can find information on special applications here.