History of art : Your skills

Studying history of art allows you to explore how societies evolve by examining the visual arts through a range of historical, social, geographical, cultural and psychological contexts. As you learn to interpret the meaning or significance implied by the subject and style of different art forms you will consider the impact that art has on our lives. As well as the more specific academic skills you acquire, you will also gain a number of highly transferable skills that are desirable to future employers.

These will include:

• analysing and interpreting information from different sources;
• using critical judgement to form opinions;
• formulating strong arguments;
• presenting information in an intelligent, coherent and balanced way;
• developing oral and written communication skills;
• developing listening skills.

Through your studies, you will develop analytical and problem-solving skills, time-management skills and the ability to work independently, as well as good team-working skills through group projects and assignments. All these skills are highly valued in the workplace across all sectors.

Practical experience is extremely valuable and will make you a more competitive candidate in the world of art galleries and museums. It is valued as highly as the right knowledge and qualifications, and you should take any opportunity to carry out a work placement. Placements will often be arranged as part of your course but you should also try to gain as much additional experience as possible. This may be paid or unpaid, in both vacation and term time, and will be essential if you are serious about a career in a related field.