PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
History of Art
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MA
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
N/A
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2013 entry
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Social and Historical Sciences
Parent Department:
History of Art
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/
(if applicable)
Method of study:
The programme can be taken either full-time or part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
A minimum of an upper second-class Honours degree in a relevant
discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an
equivalent standard.
One calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Level 7
Not applicable
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
See http://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Name of Board of Examiners:
MA History of Art
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
N/A
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The programme aims to (a) equip students to take responsibility for their own academic development, individually
and working with others, (b) help students define their own position in relation to the debates and traditions of the
subject, (c) help students develop skills to handle all kinds of written evidence and engage with new areas of study,
even outside their special field, (d) enable students to develop a full range of the particular skills attached to
dealing with visual materials as evidence, (e) develop in students the ability to present and sustain reasoned
historical and cultural arguments, and (e) to foster independent thinking.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. How to assess historical evidence
critically, synthesise historical data
from a range of sources, solve
problems of conflicting sources and
conflicting interpretations, locate
source materials and interpretative
studies, use research resources
(particularly library catalogues,
archival inventories, on-line
catalogues and digital databases).
2. Current theoretical and
methodological debates
3. Different models of analysing and
interpreting visual evidence
4. The history and theory of History of
Art as a discipline
5. A particular theme or period within
the history of art
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1-5 through 2-hour seminars and gallery
visits. Aspects of 1 are inculcated through course
documentation and a guidance session for the
dissertation. 2-4 are inculcated especially through the
mandatory Core Course. 5 is inculcated especially
through the 2 Special Subject options. Students are
required to attend all classes, study extensively on their
own, take part in classes through presentation of work
and produce regular coursework which has both
pedagogical and assessment functions within the
programme
Assessment:
Students will be assessed by coursework essays of
various lengths, by a mandatory 12,000 word
dissertation, and a mandatory viva presentation on the
dissertation in the summer term
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. observe, describe and analyse visual
artefacts with reference to different
theoretical models
2. bring to bear systematic historical
knowledge to interpret visual artefacts
3. interpret documents in relation to their
historical, social and cultural contexts
4. produce logical and structured
arguments to justify their
interpretations
5. evaluate arguments of others and
make critical judgements
6. Analyse, synthesise and summarise
information
Acquisition of 1-6 is fostered in all courses offered in the
Programme, in that all require an engagement with
visual artefacts in relation to different theoretical models,
the use of historical knowledge as a basis for
interpretation of both artefacts and documents,
argumentation, evaluation and synthesising skills. The
mandatory Core Course is particularly important in
developing awareness of different theoretical models
and their uses (1).
Assessment:
Through assessed coursework essays, a long Core
Course essay, a dissertation, and a viva. All these
components are required.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. search out and organise relevant
information from a range of sources,
including research libraries, archives,
and museums
2. use data bases, web resources and
relevant computer programmes
3. work to specified tasks under
pressure
4. make decisions about problems with
limited guidance
5. adapt their preconceptions in the light
of new information
6. plan and complete their own work
and sustain application to a task
7. communicate information and ideas
in an effective form, both orally and in
writing
The department’s website and Moodle pages give
preliminary guidance on research resources, this is
supported by supervision and tutorials. Individual
Special Subject options make more or less use of
gallery, museum and other site visits, but direct
engagement with original artefacts is strongly
encouraged in all cases, and evidence of it is rewarded
in assessment. 2 implies that we expect all students to
be computer-literate and able to use online resources. 37 are inculcated through the coursework essays and the
dissertation. The oral communication aspect of 7 is
developed through seminar presentations. 3 and 6 are
developed through the enforced deadlines for the
production of coursework essays and dissertation.
Assessment:
1 and 7 are directly tested in the coursework essays and
dissertation. The oral aspect of 7 is tested in the viva
examination. 2-6 are required in all these tasks, but are
not assessed as such.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1. deploy general cognitive skills at a
high level
2. research a range of materials in
libraries and archives of a kind they
would not normally use as
undergraduates
3. apply a range of methodological and
theoretical perspectives to the
interpretation of visual culture
4. process new and unfamiliar
information
5. show a capacity for original insight
and argument
6. communicate in both oral and written
form at a high level
7. ability to work diligently, both
independently and as part of a team
8. assess and interpret the ideas of
others
9. find appropriate electronic resources
and use them effectively
1, 3-6, and 8-9 are developed through seminar
teaching, gallery and museum visits, coursework essays
and the dissertation. 2 is developed particularly through
the dissertation. The oral aspect of 6 is developed in
class presentations, seminar discussions, tutorials, and
the viva examination. 7 is partly developed by the
enforced deadlines for the production of coursework
essays and the dissertation. The teamwork aspect of 7
is encouraged by the seminar method.
Assessment:
1 and 3-6, and 9 are tested in the coursework essays
and dissertation. 2 is particularly tested in the
dissertation. 7-8 are tested in the seminars but not
assessed as such. The oral aspect of 6 is tested in the
viva examination, and tested but not assessed in class
presentations. 10 is expected but not assessed as such.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Mechthild Fend (2013)
Name(s):
Date of Production:
2003 (by Andrew Hemingway)
Date of Review:
June 2014
Date approved by Head of
Department:
21 February, 2013
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
21 February, 2013 (Charles Ford pp. Maria Loh)
2003