If you’ve envisioned a life deciding what goes on the walls of the Louvre or digging through the catalogues of the British History Museum - this is the degree for you.

You’ll learn how to separate your impressionists from your post-impressionists, and your modernists from your post-modernists. You will also explore the artistic movement of Romanticism, and even pick up a romantic language if you choose.

Immerse yourself in specialised and exclusive tutorials at the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery and the Australian War Memorial. You also get practical experience with some of the world’s most exciting cultural institutions during your selected internship.

The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its more than forty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.

The Bachelor of Arts can be combined with all other ANU undergraduate degrees except the PhB as a Flexible Double Degree.

Employment Opportunities

Art history and curatorship has a strong career orientation. Many of our graduates have taken up key positions in art galleries, museums and other cultural institutions. Some are in teaching positions relating to their specialisations, while others have entered the commercial world of culture and art. With a strong emphasis on critical analysis, research, problem solving and communicating with audiences in diverse ways, this degree provides valuable training for future managers in the arts, heritage and collections sectors, and more broadly across the public service and private enterprise.

Art history and curatorship has a strong career orientation. Many of our graduates have taken up key positions in art galleries, museums and other cultural institutions. Some are in teaching positions relating to their specialisations, while others have entered the commercial world of culture and art. With a strong emphasis on critical analysis, research, problem solving and communicating with audiences in diverse ways, this degree provides valuable training for future managers in the arts, heritage and collections sectors, and more broadly across the public service and private enterprise.

Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of this program enables students to:

identify and analyse various theories in Art History, their art-forms and art-making techniques

• differentiate and critique the historical, social, cultural and political contexts of various theories in Art History, their art forms and associated art-making techniques
• investigate various theories, practices and techniques associated with public curatorship
• construct comprehensive linkages between theories in Art History and the practicalities of curating
• evaluate practices and techniques associated with public curatorship through visits to galleries, museums and participation in the internship
• demonstrate practical experience in the display of artefacts for public exhibitions in galleries and museums.

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
2. identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
3. evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
5. understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements

Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on a UAI equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements

International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Adjustment Factors

The National Access Scheme 2014

ANU offers bonus points for nationally strategic senior secondary subjects, and in recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Bonus points are applied to all applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedule, and no more than 10 points (maximum 5 academic points and maximum 5 equity points) will be awarded.

Bonus points do not apply to programs with an ATAR cutoff of 98 or higher.

Bonus Points are only awarded to domestic applicants applying for admission through UAC who have not previously attempted tertiary study.

How to apply

Academic Bonus Points: senior secondary students do not need to apply for ANU academic bonus points. They are automatically added in accordance with the schedule.

Educational Access Scheme: senior secondary students do not need to apply if their school is part of the Priority School Funding Program or Country Areas Program. All other applicants should refer to http://www.uac.edu.au/eas/  for more information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ARTH1006 Art and Design Histories: Form and Space

ARTH1007 Art and Design Histories: Making and Meaning

ARTH3001 Art History and Curatorship Internship

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2044 Art and Its Context: Materials, Techniques, Display

ARTH2045 Curatorship Theory and Practice

ARTH2057 Art and Politics of Collecting

36 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARTH2039 Painters of Modern Life

ARTH2043 Modernism and Postmodernism in Art and Design: 1850-2000

ARTH2044 Art and Its Context: Materials, Techniques, Display

ARTH2045 Curatorship Theory and Practice

ARTH2050 Photography and Art

ARTH2052 Art of the Modern Print

ARTH2055 Fabric of Life: An Introduction To Textile History

ARTH2056 Art and Architecture of Southeast Asia: Tradition and Transformation

ARTH2057 Art and Politics of Collecting

ARTH2059 Art and Architecture of Asia: Histories and Traditions

ARTH2061 Postmodern Sublime

ARTH2080 Art and Visual Culture of the Long Eighteenth Century, 1660-1815

ARTH2081 Art of the European Courts, 1500-1815

ARTH2082 Art, War and Conflict

ARTH2093 Post-Colonial Discourses in Australian Art

ARTH2097 Victorian and Edwardian Art: Australia and Europe 1837-1914

ARTH2098 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art

ARTH2102 Art of Portraiture: History and Theory

ARTV2018 Cyberculture

ARTV2030 Theories of the Object

ARTV2031 Theories of the Image

ARTV2050 Renaissance and Baroque Art

ARTV2052 Introducing Asian Modernisms

ARTV2053 Contemporary Asian Art

ARTV2054 Australian Art: The Modern Period

ARTV2055 Costume, Fashion and Visual Culture

FILM2005 Moving Pictures: Cinema and the Visual Arts

Either:

24 units from completion of one of the following language minors:

Advanced Ancient Greek

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Hispanic Culture

Advanced Hispanic Linguistics

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Latin

Advanced Spanish Studies

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Chinese Language

Classical Chinese

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Russian

Persian

Sanskrit Language

Spanish

Thai Language

Urdu Language

Vietnamese Language

Or:

24 units from completion of courses listed in the following majors and minors:

Ancient History Major

Anthropology Major

Archaeology Major

Asian Art History Minor

English Major

Film Minor

History Major

Visual Arts Practice Minor

The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

48 units from the completion of one Arts major

Ancient Greek Major

Ancient History Major

Anthropology Major

Arabic Major

Archaeology Major

Art History Major

Art Theory Major

Asian Studies Major

Australian Indigenous Studies Major

Biological Anthropology Major

Chinese Language Major

Contemporary Europe Major

Criminology Major

Digital Humanities Major

Development Studies Major

Economic Studies Major

English Major

Environmental Studies Major

European History Major

French Language and Culture Major

Gender, Sexuality and Culture Major

Geography Major

German Language and Culture Major

Hindi Language Major

History Major

Human Rights Major

Indonesian Language Major

International Communication Major

International Relations Major

Italian Language and Culture Major

Japanese Language Major

Korean Language Major

Latin Major

Latin American Studies Major

Linguistics Major

Mathematics Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Music Major

Pacific Studies Major

Persian Major

Philosophy Major

Political Science Major

Psychology Major

Sanskrit Language Major

Sociology Major

Spanish Major

Thai Language Major

Urdu Language Major

Vietnamese Language Major

Either:

24 units from the completion of one Arts minor or specialisation:

Advanced Ancient Greek Minor

Advanced French Studies Minor

Advanced German Studies Minor

Advanced Hispanic Culture Minor

Advanced Hispanic Linguistics Minor

Advanced Hispanic Studies Specialisation

Advanced Italian Studies Minor

Advanced Latin Minor

Advanced Spanish Studies Minor

Advanced Studies Minor

American Studies Minor

Ancient Greek Minor

Ancient History Minor

Anthropology Minor

ANU Leadership and Research Minor

Applied Linguistics Minor

Arabic Minor

Archaeology Minor

Art History Minor

Art Theory Minor

Asian Art History Minor

Asian Studies Minor

Australian Indigenous Studies Minor

Australian Politics Minor

Biological Anthropology Minor

Chinese Language Minor

Classical Chinese Minor

Climate Science and Policy Minor

Comparative Politics Minor

Contemporary Europe Minor

Criminology Minor

Demography Minor

Development Studies Minor

Digital Humanities Minor

Economic Studies Minor

English Minor

Environmental Policy Minor

Environmental Studies Minor

European History Minor

Film Minor

Forensic Anthropology Minor

Forensic Linguistics Minor

French Language and Culture Minor

Gender and Sexuality Minor

Geography Minor

German Language and Culture Minor

Health, Medicine and the Body Minor

Heritage and Museum Studies Minor

Hindi Language Minor

History Minor

Human Ecology Minor

Human Rights Minor

Indonesian Language Minor

Integrative Methods in Environment and Society Minor

International Communication Minor

International Relations Minor

Italian Language and Culture Minor

Japanese Language Minor

Korean Language Minor

Latin Minor

Latin American Studies Minor

Linguistics Minor

Mathematics Minor

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minor

Music Minor

Music Technology Minor

Pacific Studies Minor

Persian Minor

Philosophy Minor

Philosophy and Science Minor

Political Science Minor

Political Theory Minor

Popular Music

Russian Minor

Sanskrit Language Minor

Social Psychology Minor

Social Research Methods Minor

Sociology Minor

Spanish Minor

Sustainable Development Minor

Thai Language Minor

Urdu Language Minor

Vietnamese Language Minor

Visual Arts Practice Minor

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor, or specialisation

Or:

24 units from completion of ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor, or specialisation.

Or:

48 units from completion of a second Arts major

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Specialisations

Bachelor of Arts Specialisations

Study Options

Honours

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Art History and Curatorship (Honours)

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Arts (Honours)