Art History and Media & Communication

Art history is the study of visual and material culture across time and across the world, asking why art, design, and architecture appear as they do and what they reveal about the societies that produced them. It is a discipline that combines close visual analysis with historical research, cultural theory, and often the direct experience of objects in museums, galleries, and buildings. Media and communication studies examines how messages are produced, circulated, and received in contemporary society, from print journalism and broadcasting to digital platforms and social networks.

At Liverpool Hope University, you will explore the historical and cultural contexts that shape visual and material culture alongside the structures and practices of modern media. Art history develops your capacity for careful visual observation and contextual analysis, while media and communication builds your understanding of how contemporary information and entertainment systems function and how audiences engage with them. The programme runs over three years full-time and includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you professional and international experience throughout the degree.

Graduates of art history and media and communication programmes pursue careers in curatorial and museum work, arts journalism and criticism, publishing, digital content production, communications, public relations, heritage management, and education. The combination of visual literacy and media competency is valued by employers in the cultural and creative sectors, as well as in marketing and corporate communications. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in art history, media studies, curating, or cultural management.