Art History University of British Columbia

Overview

The Art History programme at the University of British Columbia offers a rigorous exploration of visual culture, ranging from traditional fine arts to contemporary digital media. Students engage with a diverse curriculum that examines the historical, cultural, and social contexts of artistic production across the globe. This degree provides the critical tools necessary to analyse complex images and material culture in an increasingly visual world.

Why Art History at the University of British Columbia?

Students benefit from exceptional campus resources, including the Visual Resources Centre, which houses an extensive collection of digital images, film, and video. The internationally recognised Morris & Helen Belkin Gallery and the Museum of Anthropology provide direct access to contemporary art and ethnographic materials. Furthermore, the Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection offers unique primary source materials, from medieval manuscripts to modernist periodicals.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: CAD 49548 per year
• National fee: CAD 6079 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum allows for specialisation in areas such as the arts of Europe and the Americas, indigenous American arts, or the arts of East and South Asia. Modules may include:

• Ways of Seeing
• Crisis and Contradiction in Art and the Built Environment
• Asian Arts
• Art in Europe to the Sixteenth Century
• Art in an Era of Global Expansion
• Art and the Visual Environment in the Modern and Post-modern Periods
• Art in Japan
• Art as Technology
• Visual and Digital Media Theory

Careers with Art History

Graduates are prepared for diverse professional paths within the cultural and creative sectors. Many find success in cultural heritage and art institutions, including public galleries, commercial spaces, and artist-run centres. The analytical and research skills developed during the programme are also highly applicable to roles in:

• Publishing and Journalism
• Education and Academic Research
• Policy, Diplomacy, and International Relations
• Advertising and Marketing
• Law and Political Science
• Design and Architecture