Art history courses

Understand the story of humanity by exploring art movements of the past

Help me choose a course

Introduction to Art history

Humans have been using art to express emotion for centuries. Artists have long sought to interpret what they see in the world by creating imagery, performance, sculpture and installation pieces. Studying art history helps us make sense of their work and our world more broadly.

Whether you want to study art and fashion, Aboriginal art, contemporary, modern, or classical art, there’s an art history course sure to interest you. Discover the short courses, standalone subjects and full qualifications you can study with leading universities through Open Universities Australia. 

Explore art history courses
Classic painting

Discover art history courses

Online art history subjects and short courses

University of South Australia

Introduction to the GLAM sector

UndergraduateUSA-HUMS1058

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 22 Sep 2025
Curtin University

Art and Fashion

UndergraduateCUR-VIS29

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 1 Dec 2025
University of South Australia

Narrating Objects, Art and Archives

UndergraduateUSA-HUMS3052

Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
La Trobe University
Study method
100% online
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Start dates
Starts 28 Jul 2025
View all subjects

Online art history degrees

Griffith University

Bachelor of Arts

UndergraduateGRF-ART-DEG

Innovators, communicators and creators start here!

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Art History
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice
  • History
  • Journalism
  • Literature
  • Public Relations
  • Screen and Media Studies
  • Sociology
Curtin University

Undergraduate Certificate in Art History

UndergraduateCUR-ART-CTF

Glimpses of the history of art and design

Study method
100% online
Duration
6 months full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
La Trobe University

Diploma of Arts

UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP

Start with the subjects you’re passionate about

Study method
100% online
Duration
1 year full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Available majors

  • Arts stream
  • Criminology stream
  • Global studies stream
  • Politics, philosophy and economics stream
  • Visual arts stream
Curtin University

A degree with twice the creativity

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Entry requirements
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
View all bachelor degrees

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Art history study FAQs

What is art history?

Art is everywhere. From cave paintings to the works of Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet and Renoir to contemporary pieces by artists like Tracey Emin, art offers a window into a time, place, and social context. Art history specifically examines art of the past, how it shapes contemporary art, and what it tells us about past societies.

Much can be learned about history by examining the art that emerged from that period, a skill you’ll hone in your art history studies.

What will I learn in an art history course?

Art history courses cover a wide range of topics. What you learn in any specific online art history course depends on whether art history is the focus of your course, your major, or a small component of it.

As an art history student, you’ll learn to appreciate art's historical, social and cultural contexts. Your course will typically cover:

  • How to critique art

  • How to reflect on art

  • How to understand the context of particular art pieces

  • Foundations of art curation

  • Foundations of collection management

Can I specialise in a particular period or style of art?

It depends what you study. An online art history degree will cover different styles and periods of art. Before you enrol, read through the subjects offered and consider whether you’ll have access to elective subjects that you can use to grow your expertise in a particular style or period.

Alternatively, consider studying single subjects in the areas that interest you most. You can complete as many as you like across universities, in isolation or in addition to a degree.

Single subject study is available on topics like:

  • The Italian Renaissance

  • Art in fashion

  • Landscape and land art

  • Modernism

  • Art as activism

Are there any hands-on or practical components in an online art history course?

You’ll complete tasks as you make your way through your course, including presentations, essays, and tests. For some subjects, you may need to engage with the artistic process in more detail by producing your own art.

If you want to get even more hands-on with art, a course in fine art could be more appropriate for you.

How long is an art history course?

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:

Course

Duration

Single subject

10-18 weeks

Short course

10-18 weeks

Undergraduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Diploma

1 year (if full time)

Associate degree

2 years (if full time)

Bachelor degree

3 years (if full time)

Graduate certificate

6 months (if full time)

Graduate diploma

1 year (if full time)

Masters degree

2 years (if full time)

If you study a degree in art history through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

What are the entry requirements for art history?

Entry requirements differ from course to course. It’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course carefully before you apply. If you don’t quite meet them, don’t worry. We can help you find a pathway in through open-entry subjects in art history, which anyone can study.

Book a consultation with our friendly team of student advisors to find out more.

What career opportunities are available for art history graduates?

Graduates of art history work across many interesting and diverse fields, including:

  • Art history

  • Art practice

  • Curation

  • Arts administration

  • Art therapy

  • Arts journalism and writing

  • Cultural policy development

  • Event management

  • Education (with further study in the field)

  • Museum and gallery collection management

How do I enrol?

Enrolling online is simple. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your course

2. Start your enrolment

  • When you’re ready, click ‘Start studying now’ on the course page.

  • Follow the prompts to begin your enrolment.

  • You’ll need to provide supporting documents, such as:

3. Wait for confirmation

Your chosen university will email you to confirm if your enrolment has been successful.

Note: Some courses have enquiries and applications handled directly by the university. If this applies, it will be clearly stated on the course listing page.

For more details, check our online self-service enrolment guide. And if you need help at any stage, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

I’m not sure art history is right for me. Are there related fields of study?

There are plenty of courses available in fields loosely related to art history. Use the table below to figure out which study area you want to explore in more detail.

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Why you should study art online

Studying art online might sound hard to imagine. But there can be many benefits to exploring your creativity through a virtual university short course or degree.

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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