Arts, Media and Society (BA)

About the programme

In the introductory year the Arts, Media and Society programme will give you a strong foundation in modern and contemporary art and art history. You will also begin developing your academic skills. In the second and third year, you will explore the impact that art has on society and the role of the media. During these two years, the focus will be on contemporary art and media. In year three you will have elective options, allowing you to tailor the programme according to your interests.

Study art’s response to societal challenges

In this multidisciplinary bachelor programme, you will engage with modern and global contemporary art, while also building a foundation of knowledge about the history of art in (Western) Europe and the US from a global perspective. You will explore how artists in the past and present have responded to societal issues and how their practice has been affected by the media of their time. Issues such as global warming, racial discrimination or social inequality. Much of the teaching is based on ongoing research by our staff. You will have the chance to take part in some of these projects and begin developing your own research ideas.

Multidisciplinary programme

Arts, Media and Society is a multidisciplinary programme: you study art, media and society through different academic perspectives. Courses such as Imagining Media, World Art Studies, Introduction to the History of Museums, Digital Heritage, Aesthetics and Agency, and The Art of Academic Publishing draw on fields including Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities, as well as sociological and anthropological approaches. This allows you to explore the same question from multiple angles.

Some of the distinguishing features of Arts, Media and Society

Interactive teaching: You will gain knowledge about contemporary art, while in some courses you are also encouraged to use video or podcasts for your assignments, do practice-based research and design an (online) art exhibition. You will also engage in field trips and excursions.
Extracurricular lectures by artists, designers and creatives about their work and their views on art and media in today’s society.
International environment: you will meet students, researchers and lecturers from all over the world, increasing your awareness about global issues preparing you for working in an international setting.

Programme overview

Year 1: a strong foundation

During the first year, you will take several courses aimed at knowledge acquisition. These include Materials and Techniques in Art and Architecture, World Art Studies, Cultural Representation and Signifying Practices, and three courses offering a chronological overview of art, architecture and design in Europe and the US. Together these courses will equip you with a strong foundation in art history. In Visual Analysis, Academic Skills I and Academic Skills II, you will build on this foundation and develop academic skills such as researching, processing and critically assessing information, as well as writing and oral presentation.

Year 2: developments in contemporary art and media

In the second year, you will further explore the impact that art and media have on society, while studying their many interactions. You will study for instance, the increasingly important role that a digital platform such as Instagram plays an increasingly important role for museums when presenting their collection to a wider audience and how online media can give new meaning to existing artworks. You will also have the option of exploring your own interests by choosing two of four specialised seminars. Coursework is complemented by fieldwork on the theory and practice of art, media and society. For example, the course Curating the City includes an on-site assignment.

Year 3: customise your programme

In your third year you will be able to tailor the programme to your specific interests. For the first semester you will have 30 credit points worth of free space: you can either study at a university in the Netherlands or abroad, you can take a minor according to your interests or you can do an internship, gaining valuable work experience. You will also work on deepening your understanding of how art, media and society intersect and interact with one another. Your final thesis will give you the chance to demonstrate the knowledge and insights you acquired and to use your skills for critical analysis.

Detailed programme

For a detailed programme, please check the Prospectus. Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may differ.

Zofia Tamborska

Second year student

"One of my best courses was The Art of Academic Publishing which I took earlier this year. I was part of an editorial team producing a new art magazine, Panoramic: The Leiden Art Review. That was a great experience, collaborating with a group of students and teachers from both the Dutch track of art history, and from Arts, Media and Society. We wrote reviews and essays on topics that were related to our own specialisations, and learned what it takes to publish a magazine. Apart from writing the articles, the team was also responsible for the lay-out, publicity and the magazine's website."

Wakana Kaitani

Student

"I thought university would be cramming knowledge, but it was definitely not just that. The first year was indeed building a basis of theoretical and art historical knowledge, but in the second year we are expected to use this knowledge and apply it to case studies. I feel like the first year prepared me really well to gradually move forward in my studies."

Stéphanie Noach

Assistant professor Art History

"The study of art and art history has a significant impact on society as it teaches us to perceive reality from various perspectives and lenses. This is especially valuable for students as it allows them to embrace different realities and broaden their worldview. As as student in this programme, you are encouraged to immerse yourself in art stories that may be unlike your own experiences. While you don't have to adopt these perspectives, it's important to be aware of them and let them expand your understanding of the world. I expect my students to approach art with an open mind and a willingness to explore narratives that may be very different from their everyday lives."

Anna tells you everything about the Arts, Media and Society programme

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Study load

The Arts, Media and Society programme takes a full working week of about 40 hours. This includes an average of 12 hours for lectures and tutorials. You will spend the remaining time on independent study.

Educational methods

The programme includes lectures and tutorials, as well as individual and group assignments. In lectures, the lecturer discusses specific topics, which are explored further in tutorials with small groups of students. During tutorials you will participate in discussions and work on individual or group assignments.

Student support

Do you need support during your study? We make sure our students receive the guidance they need. A mentor will be available to offer the help or advice you need.

If you have any questions about the programme, our study adviser is available to provide advice or help you make practical arrangements.

Beyond study advice, we offer a range of support services. Our Career Services can help you arrange a study abroad or find an internship position.

If you experience psychological difficulties, you can contact a university psychologist. In the event of chronic illness, dyslexia or a physical or psychological disability, you can contact the university’s Fenestra Disability Centre.