Art history courses

Art is everywhere. From cave paintings to the works of Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet and Renoir to contemporary pieces by artists like Tracey Emin, art offers a window into a time, place, and social context. Art history specifically examines art of the past, how it shapes contemporary art, and what it tells us about past societies.

Much can be learned about history by examining the art that emerged from that period, a skill you’ll hone in your art history studies.

Art history courses cover a wide range of topics. As an art history student, you’ll learn to appreciate art's historical, social and cultural contexts.

As a graduate of one of the many art history courses available through Open Universities Australia, you’ll learn to critique art, reflect on art, and understand and communicate the context of particular art pieces. Many art history courses include elements of art curation and collection management, a fascinating field in itself.

What you learn in the specific course you choose will depend on whether art history is the focus of your course, your major, or a small component of it. What kind of course best fits your circumstances depends on your motivations and future plans. If you’re not sure what course is best for you, get in touch with our team. We’re here to answer your questions about courses, enrolment, fees, and deadlines.

You’ll also improve essential soft skills like teamwork, critical analysis, clear communication, and work ethic.

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:

If you study a degree in art history through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

If you love art, you might be wondering how you can begin a career in the arts. An online art history course is a great place to start. Art history is a fascinating field, bringing together elements of sociology and history with an appreciation for artistic practice throughout the centuries.

If you want to take a peek into the world of art history without committing to an entire course, consider single subject study. Single subject study allows you to get a feel for a study area or upskill to further your interests or career.

There are many lifestyle advantages to studying online. You can manage your study load flexibly and watch lectures and tutorials from the comfort of home.

This makes it easier to fit in your other commitments, whether they be work, family, or anything else.

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements 
  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

While at first glance art history may seem like a very niche study area, it opens graduates up to a wide range of career opportunities. As an art history graduate you could explore the world of arts journalism and writing, bringing the world of the arts to the public, or you might prefer to move into education, where you could inspire a whole new generation to care for and appreciate the arts.

Graduates of art history work across many interesting and diverse fields, including:

• Art history
• Art practice
• Curation
• Arts administration
• Art therapy
• Arts journalism and writing
• Cultural policy development
• Event management
• Education (with further study in the field)
• Museum and gallery collection management

Whether you’re interested in art history as a career or want to study for personal interest and enjoyment, there’s an online art history course available through Open Universities Australia for you.

Book a one-on-one phone consultation with our friendly team of student advisors to discuss how you can find the art history course that suits your circumstances best.

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.