Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor
4 years
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Why study Art History and Visual Culture at UBC Okanagan?
The art history and visual culture program delves into the heart of human experience and identity, and its tangible expressions of cultural values, religious beliefs and political agendas.
Working alongside world-class researchers conducting projects in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Indigenous America, Canada and the contemporary global art scene, students explore and analyze diverse forms of art and visual culture, while focusing on developing critical thinking and writing abilities.
Professors employ cross-disciplinary approaches that draw from literary and cultural studies, gender and women’s studies, history, the digital humanities and anthropology.
Careers and Outcomes
UBC degrees are respected by employers around the globe. Program graduates will have the skills to pursue a career in a variety of fields like,
- Art Appraiser
- Art Auction House Specialist
- Art Consultant
- Art Critic/Journalist
- Art Historian
- Art Librarian/Archivist
- Art Therapist
- Cultural Heritage Manager
- Cultural Policy Advisor
- Cultural Heritage Consultant for Interactive Media
- Cultural Resource Manager
- Cultural Tourism Development Officer
- Digital Content Creator
- Digital Game Consultant
- Educator/Teacher/Professor
- Exhibition Designer
- Interpretation Designer
- Gallery Manager
- Heritage Tourism Coordinator or Specialist
- Heritage Site Manager
- Museum Curator
- Public Relations Specialist
Combined with the appropriate blend of electives, the major can be used to pursue a variety of graduate and professional programs in areas such as art history, museum studies, curation, creative arts, education, library sciences, law, urban planning, architecture, public administration and management, creative arts, medicine, health sciences, and business administration.
A BA in Art History and Visual Culture will prepare students to work in various sectors, including: Cultural Institutions; Education; Tourism; Media and Publishing; Art Galleries and Auction Houses; Nonprofit Organizations; Advertising and Marketing; Entertainment and Interactive Media; Government and Public Policy; and Research and Archives. These sectors leverage skills in critical analysis, communication, and cultural understanding.
Experiential Learning
Expand your horizons while studying abroad, conducting meaningful research, or working in the community with your UBC colleagues.
Learn more about Co-op, Go Global, Undergraduate Research Awards and other opportunities at Experiential Education.
Go Global seminars have taken students to Rome with art history instructors on a three week trip for two courses in the Rome: Past and Present. Students take courses that explore the rich history, architecture, and cultural context of the iconic monuments and landscapes that define both ancient and contemporary Rome.
Students work on individual and group projects, go on cultural walking tours and have the opportunity to curate exhibitions. Students take the skills they learn in class about how to look at artwork out into the world, see the video below that talks about the full circle moments they have when they realize how what they learned in class enriches their life after school.
Global and Close-Knit
At UBC Okanagan, you gain all the benefits of attending a globally ranked, top 3% university while studying in a close-knit learning community.
Discover the Okanagan
A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful lakes, vineyards, orchards and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan is an inspirational landscape perfect for those seeking leisure or outdoor adventure.
UBC's Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people— the fourth fastest-growing population in Canada.
Already applied? Check your status or accept your offer.