Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History and Museum Studies

Art History and Museum Studies Compulsory Courses

0203172 Introduction to Museum and Heritage Studies (3-0-3)

This course gives a global perspective and understanding of the history, purpose, and management of museums and heritage institutions. Topics include issues relating to the definition of museum and heritage sites; ethics; conservation; collecting and collections; audience development; tangible heritage; and modern technology. As such, the course introduces students to many of the central issues in contemporary museum and heritage practice. In addition to lectures and discussions, the course involves tours of exhibitions and the examination of artefacts at museums and art institutions.

Prerequisite: 0700115-History of Art and Design I

0203173 Introduction to Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (3-0-3)

This course deals with the study of ancient civilizations that spread in the Middle East since the invention of writing. The civilizations studied include the civilizations of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Amorite, Canaanite, the Aramaic civilization in the Levant, and the ancient civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula. As cities were established, societies began to be organized forming institutions of governance and administration, as economic relations developed, and humans became able to develop the necessary tools.

Prerequisite: 0700115-History of Art and Design I

0203253 Museums and the Community (3-0-3)

This course introduces museum education and critical issues facing the field, and an opportunity for discussions with other museum professionals. Museums offer a unique encounter with objects and ideas for people of many ages, interests, and backgrounds. Museum education strengthens that encounter by building bridges between visitors’ experiences and expectations and the experiences and ideas that emanate from a museum’s collection. Students shall foster a broad understanding of the general principles of effective communication with museum visitors.

Prerequisite: 0701272-History of Museums and Galleries

0203254 Collecting and Collections (3-0-3)

This course introduces students to the museum concepts and procedures as they relate to collections (objects and their documentation) and their management (e.g., preparation, preventive maintenance and conservation, housing, problem-solving) as a whole.

Prerequisite: 0701272-History of Museums and Galleries

0203255 Introduction to Archaeology (3-0-3)

This course explores different approaches to archaeology in examining theory, methods, and techniques for investigating, interpreting, and preserving the past. Topics include the review of human cultural chronology, from the earliest Paleolithic ages to the present, and deal with artefacts and important social, economic, and ideological questions, such as those on the origins of food production, social inequality, and civilization.

Prerequisite: 0203173-Introduction to Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East and 0700111-Art and Design Foundation I

0203257 Islamic Civilization and Societies (3-0-3)

This course defines the conceptual and contextual meanings of “Islamic” and “Civilization”. In addition, it introduces the periodical development of the Islamic civilization throughout history, as well as the intellectual, scientific, artistic, and architectural contributions of Muslim scholars to modern civilization.

Prerequisite: 0203173-Introduction to Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East

0203317 Museums and Tourism (3-0-3)

This course gives students an understanding of the relationship between tourism and museums. Students are introduced to the role that museums and heritage places play within the symbolic economy and how this relates to the development of city branding. Focus shall be given to the development of GCC cities into major cultural centers through the development of their heritage industries. Students shall also be exposed to case studies in the field of cultural heritage, as well as museums and study visits.

Prerequisite: 0203253-Museums and the Community, 0203254-Collecting and Collections

0203371 Museum Management (3-0-3)

This course presents a broad overview of the management and marketing functions of museums. Museums are stewards of cultural heritage and intellectual property and are seen as community icons nationally and internationally. Students shall become conversant in the fundamentals of museum business including legal issues, non-profit status, governance, finance, staffing and marketing.

Prerequisite: 0203253-Museums and the Community and 0203254-Collecting and Collections

0203372 Digital and Virtual Museums (3-0-3)

This course considers the relationship between digital information systems and the ways museums manage information and display knowledge. It addresses the use of digital technology in museum environments in the transformation of museum communications in marketing and access to collections and exhibitions. The course examines the changing experience of the museum in the information age and considers issues that include the online museum and virtuality, museum audience in the digital age, the digital collection and the changing role of the artefact, interactivity and the museum, and the reproduction of artwork in the digital context.

Prerequisite: 0203317-Museums and Tourism, 0203371-Museum Management

0701251 Theories in Contemporary Art (3-0-3) (Shared with Fine Art Courses)

This course teaches students how to use theoretical and critical methods in the interpretation of contemporary art. The historical scope of the course ranges from 1945 to the present and includes recent trends in digital and postcolonial art. An emphasis shall be placed on investigating the complexities of historical and cultural context. Students shall further enhance their skills in reading and writing critically about art through a series of short weekly assignments as well as a longer research paper. Students shall also learn other genres of art writing, such as artist / curator statement or exhibition review.

Prerequisite: 0700116-History of Art and Design II and 0203172-Introduction to Museum and Heritage Studies or 0701100-Introduction to Fine Arts

0701271 Art and Globalization (3-0-3)

This course investigates the impact of globalization on art and culture from prehistory to the present day. The complex and multi-layered phenomenon of globalization is introduced as an important theme by which to understand the innovation, production, and dissemination of the arts across cultures. In particular, through specific case studies, cultural asymmetries will be explored as important sites for studying the relativism of taste and value in works of art.

Prerequisite: 0700116-History of Art and Design II

0701272 History of Museums and Galleries (3-0-3)

This course introduces students to the history, theory, and modern practices of museums. Students will explore the theoretical as well as ethical issues confronted by museums today. A particular emphasis will be given on post-colonial studies and how museums, particularly those of emerging countries such as the UAE and the rest of the Gulf, are re-writing museum rules to fit within a new conceptualization of art, culture and heritage for the 21st century.

Prerequisite: 0203172-Introduction to Museum and Heritage Studies

0701273 Modernisms (3-0-3)

This course introduces modernism in the arts, which is generally understood to be a period characterized by radical experimentation, the continuous invention of new forms, and by an aesthetic that privileged the newness of the present. It also reacted to the processes of developmental modernization and competing notions of modernity, which occurred at different times in different parts of the world, giving rise to the important concept of “multimodernism.” The course will focus on three topics, which will be investigated through a variety of theoretical texts, literature, and artworks from across the world: 1) theories of modernism, modernity, and modernization; 2) the role played by global cities as increasingly dominant and hegemonic cultural centers; 3) the increasing expansion of industry, colonization, and global commerce.

Prerequisite: 0701271-Art and Globalization

0701308 Writing about Art (3-0-3) (Shared with Fine Art Courses)

This course aims to develop the capacity to read, think, and write about art critically. Emphasis shall be placed on various genres of writing about art. An overview of the history of art criticism shall be introduced, as shall discipline-specific terminology. Students shall learn how to look at and analyze works of art, using both classical and contemporary examples. This shall serve as the basis for thinking and writing about art as a professional, which shall give students the opportunity to broaden their art vocabulary.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary

0701352 Fine Arts Seminar I (3-0-3) (Shared with Fine Art Courses)

This course is an advanced seminar on current topics in art history and theory. It gives conceptual and contextual tools with which to understand contemporary art. Themes, which shall change regularly, include topics such as: popular culture, globalization, postcolonialism, media theory, art institutions, sustainability, and aesthetics.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary

0701371 Contemporary Art in the Middle East, Africa and Asia (3-0-3)

This course introduces students to the field of study of contemporary art focusing on the Middle East, Africa, and Asia as well as the artistic practices produced by the various diasporas tracing their movements and theoretical basis from the early 90s until today. To gain a deeper understanding of these concepts, a review of key artists’ works, and recent exhibition and curatorial developments will be analyzed in detail.

Prerequisite: 0701271-Art and Globalization

0701372 Art Theory and Criticism (3-0-3)

This course introduces art history and museum studies majors students to the complicated history of art criticism since 1700. It will familiarize students with some of the central tasks and goals of art criticism, as well as provide them with relevant tools and experiences in authoring their own critical essays. Through a wide range of longer readings and written assignments, in particular on postcolonial responses to traditional conceptions of art, students will become comfortable discussing the problematic but important history of art criticism.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary

0701453 Fine Arts Seminar II (3-0-3) (Shared with Fine Art Courses)

This seminar addresses the complex cultural phenomena of museums, exhibitions and curating from historical and practical perspectives. It discusses concepts of museums, galleries, and non-profit art and cultural institutions. Attention is placed on investigating possible themes of how art and artifacts are curated and displayed. In addition to a research paper, the final submission includes the task of curating and designing an exhibition.

Prerequisite: 0701352-Fine Arts Seminar I, 0700333-Research Methodology in Art and Design

0701471 Art History & Museum Studies Graduation Project I (3-0-3)

The course expects students to complete an initial body of research and identify key thesis questions. This facilitates the development of a major research proposal. Students are expected to develop a coherent and reasoned argument of aesthetic, cultural, historical, or social relevance to art history and museum studies. Graduation Project I is a significant body of research, presented in an appropriate style, which can be supported by visual material. Students apply their understanding of research methodologies in the development of the graduation project proposal. The emphasis is on writing a well-structured proposal supported by a literature review and correct citation of sources.

Prerequisite: 0203372-Digital and Virtual Museums, 0700333-Research Methodology in Art and Design

0701472 Professional Practice in Art History & Museum Studies (3-0-3)

This course prepares students to enter the professional world of the creative industry. It focuses on complementing students’ employability skills through the enhancement of their professional skills and concentrating on career development. It centers on identifying and developing skills associated with students’ acquired degree work and the opportunity to build their professional profile. It further prepares them for a gradual transition into their training program within a professional environment.

Corequisite: 0701471-Art History & Museum Studies Graduation Project I

0701473 Art History & Museum Studies Graduation Project II (3-0-3)

This course builds on the research proposal submitted for Graduation Project I to facilitate the development of a final capstone. Students are expected to refine their research questions and develop a coherent and original body of knowledge. Graduation Project II is a significant work of self-directed research, including well-structured arguments and a coherent outcome, informed by critical analysis. This course consolidates the development of students as thinking practitioners and prepares them to undertake studies at graduate level.

Prerequisite: 0701471-Art History & Museum Studies Graduation Project I

0701474 Internship in Art History & Museum Studies (0-3-3)

Internships open opportunities to apply, in a professional environment, the knowledge and skills gained throughout the curriculum. It offers a chance to gain experience in a professional setting which informs their career decisions and plans for further learning. Working with professionals provides an experience of professionalism and opportunities for learning methods and practices commonly used in the profession. This experience shall vary depending on the individual student’s placement within the creative industry’s various venues. Students shall complete 320 hours in the training site.

Prerequisite: 0701472- Professional Practice in Art History & Museum Studies

Art History and Museum Studies I History Elective Courses

0701381 Islamic Culture and Europe (3-0-3)

This course provides a critical overview of the complex network of cultural and artistic exchanges connecting Europe with the Islamic world during the Middle Ages and Early Modernity. By the end of the course the student will have learned about the main channels of interaction between Europe and the Islamic world and the lingering heritage that these processes left in both cultures. Main purpose of the course is to underline that while Europe and the Middle East were two continents with distinct traditions and histories, the areas of contact between the two were as important for the formation of their cultures as was their separation.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary, 0701308-Writing about Art

0701382 Contemporary Built Forms (3-0-3)

The course examines built forms since the mid-twentieth century including monuments, infrastructure, and buildings, and their effect on the branding of global cities. By focusing on regional case studies, the course shall investigate the influence of international trends on the transformation of the local artistic and cultural landscape.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary, 0701308-Writing about Art

0701383 Asian Art (3-0-3)

This course investigates the visual cultures of Asia by focusing on three broad regions: South and Southeast Asia; Central Asia and Himalayas; and East Asia. It discusses important developments in style and subject matter, focusing on major developments in the arts of these regions. We will also explore the mutual influences that motivated the creation of these works of art. Finally, these works shall be discussed within their specific cultural contexts, examining closely the political, social, economic, and religious spheres that helped define the variety and scope of visual culture in Asia.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary, 0701308-Writing about Art

0701384 Special Topics in Art History (3-0-3)

The course offers a dynamic exploration of specialized themes, trends, and emerging concepts in art history, museum studies, and related fields. Participants shall engage in topics that bridge the realms of cultural acquisitions within the creative industry.

Prerequisite: 0701251-Theories in Contemporary, 0701308-Writing about Art

Art History and Museum Studies I Museum Studies Elective Courses

0203174 Heritage in the Gulf Region (3-0-3)

This course provides students with an awareness of the heritage processes that exist in the Gulf region. This course serves to problematize the dominant narratives of heritage as set within western discourses by allowing students to engage with alternative heritage practices. The course will build on the earlier modules allowing the students to review, discuss, and compare living cultural practices and current conservation approaches to material culture. It will also explore how cosmopolitanism is increasingly used within heritage narratives to address multiculturalism and the perceived divide between the local and the global.

Prerequisite: 0203317-Museums and Tourism, 0203371-Museum Management

0203373 Special Topics in Museum Studies (3-0-3)

The course offers a dynamic exploration of specialized themes, trends, and emerging concepts in art history, museum studies, and related fields. Participants shall engage in topics that bridge the realms of cultural acquisitions within the creative industry.

Prerequisite: 0203317-Museums and Tourism, 0203371-Museum Management

0203375 Management and Conservation of Heritage Sites (3-0-3)

This course introduces students to the concept and implications of sustainability and quality control in the utilization of materials and methods of construction of heritage and historic buildings.

Prerequisite: 0203317-Museums and Tourism, 0203371-Museum Management

0203377 Museums and Cultural Heritage (3-0-3)

This course aims to increase student’s awareness of cultural heritage and the cultural, social, political and ecological dynamics in human societies. It also seeks to provide distinct definitions of the concept of heritage and to present visible and invisible cultural elements, which are produced and reproduced collectively by different cultures. The course also focuses on the mutual influence between heritage components and the rest of the cultural elements such as language, politics and religion, geography, ecology, and history.

Prerequisite: 0203317-Museums and Tourism, 0203371-Museum Management