Graduate Diploma in Art History
Inspire your intellectual creativity with art
Works of art are portals of discovery that offer insights into past and present societies and cultures. Images and objects are repositories of our histories, revealing the things that seduce us, challenge us, inspire us, and communicate the complexity of human creativity.
This one-year (full-time) or two-year (part-time) program provides an introduction to the study of art and visual culture. We offer courses on campus and online that explore Renaissance art in Italy and Northern Europe, eighteenth-century European art during the Enlightenment, and global perspectives on contemporary art.
What will you do?
Our Graduate Diploma in Art History is taught by academic staff at the University of Adelaide and enriched by the collections of the Art Gallery of South Australia. You will:
- complete one core course and three electives of your choice
- explore the making and meaning of diverse images and objects—from painting and sculpture to street art and digital media
- build analytical and interpretive skills
- undertake independent study projects on campus or online
- learn from passionate, research-active art historians.
Where could it take you?
This could be your first step towards a Master of Arts (Studies in Art History) or Master of Arts (Curatorial and Museum Studies), opening doors to a wide range of new and enhanced career opportunities. You could pursue roles in galleries, museums and auction houses. You might move into arts journalism or policy development. Perhaps you’ll work in marketing and communications or use your knowledge as a creative foundation area for primary and secondary teaching.
^QS World University Rankings, 2021
Entry Requirements
For our students who are studying offshore in 2021 and 2022, the University will continue to offer high-quality access to the learning resources remotely for most programs. This includes all lectures, tutorials and other support material. Students will be advised in advance if there are course components that cannot be provided in remote mode and, wherever possible, offered alternative courses. Please refer to the COVID-19 FAQ page for a list of programs where in-person attendance is required.
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 3GD003 |
|---|---|
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February and July |
| Enquiries | Future Students team |
Selection Criteria
| Higher Education Study | A completed Bachelors degree with a minimum GPA of 4, or equivalent or a completed Graduate Certificate in Art History. |
|---|
How to Apply
Fees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Scholarships
These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.
Careers
Career Readiness
Graduates are equipped with transferable knowledge and skills in art historical methods and theories, and critical thinking, writing, and speaking, as a pathway for Masters coursework in art historical research or curatorial and museum studies, as well as careers in public, private and commercial galleries and museums, marketing and communications, auction houses, arts journalism, arts policy development, and a creative foundation area for primary and secondary teaching.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Graduate Attributes
The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.- Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
- Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Professionalism and leadership readiness
- Intercultural and ethical competency
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
- Digital capabilities
- Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Potential careers
Arts Administrator, Curator, Art Gallery Education Officer, Art Historian, Artist, Arts Educator, Arts Management
Degree Structure
You will be introduced to the discipline of Art History and curatorship with in-depth study undertaken in four courses. You will develop foundation knowledge and critical skills in visual analysis, contextual research of diverse images and objects, art historical methods and theories, and different modes of writing about art.
The Graduate Diploma in Art History is an AQF Level 8 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 1 year.
Academic Program Rules
The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.
Example Study Plan
Related Degrees
Further Study
Testimonial
The diversity of subjects and effort put into the course assignments really helped me get the most out of this degree. Never did I think I would have the knowledge I have now!
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: Thursday, 21 Oct 2021
