Art History (with a professional placement year) - BA (Hons)

### Why choose this course at Sussex Develop visual literacy for today’s age of image saturation and misinformation, building expertise for careers within and outside of the arts. Gain practical skills through real-world projects, curating exhibitions, responding to live industry briefs, producing industry-relevant and professional outputs, and collaborating with cultural organisations. Engage with innovative methods, explore art across the ages and nurture your critical thinking, cultural awareness and communication skills. At Sussex, we do Art History differently. Our approach is radically open – we explore art as a powerful force that shapes how people think, feel and act. From ancient mosaics to music videos, and from Pre-Raphaelite jewellery to global environmental art, you can follow your interests. You’ll develop visual literacy to decode and interpret a range of visual languages, from fine art and advertising, to AI and design. In an age of image saturation and misinformation, these skills are essential. You’ll engage with innovative methodologies that foreground materiality, the sensory, feminist and queer art histories, decolonisation and institutional critique. With this critical grounding, you’ll be able to bring fresh perspectives to the cultural, creative and heritage sectors. Employability is embedded throughout the degree. You’ll: tackle a live brief set by professionals working in relevant cultural and creative sectors take part in a study trip to Rome to develop transferable skills in observation, critical analysis and site-specific research curate a public exhibition to gain hands-on experience in project planning and audience engagement produce industry-relevant outputs such as podcasts, gallery texts and funding proposals, all designed to mirror professional practice enjoy opportunities to collaborate with leading cultural organisations, such as Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Charleston and Towner Eastbourne be able to apply to go on a professional placement year to gain the experience employers are looking for. You’ll thrive in a vibrant and supportive academic community, taught by world-leading researchers and dedicated teachers. Small-group teaching fosters confidence and curiosity. You’ll take electives from other subjects to open your mind to other disciplines and tailor your degree to your interests. And our vibrant student community brings global and interdisciplinary perspectives to our classroom discussions. At Sussex, you won’t just study Art History – you’ll help shape its future and build your own. Location Nestled in the South Downs National Park, close to the sea and Brighton’s vibrant cultural scene, our campus offers a warm and welcoming home. Situated just an hour from London and 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport, Brighton offers the best of both worlds. Encouraging curiosity, creativity and connection, it combines the best of city life with easy access to the countryside, the UK’s capital and the wider world beyond.