Art History and Aesthetics

The Aesthetics and Art History course at the HBK Braunschweig is characterized by its integration into the overall structure of an art university. The course represents a bridge between theory and practice and between the various temporal perspectives. The main focus of the course is on contemporary art, but this is based on a sound foundation of art history while acknowledging the historic and systemic requirements of the subject.
In lectures, seminars and exercises, the students will acquire fundamental competency in academic work as well as in historic-critical thought and will become sensitized to the relationship between art and language. The course gives insights into artistic and design work processes in the university’s studios and workshops.
Active participation in conferences, talks with artists, and film programmes is expected and encouraged. In cooperation with regional museums and exhibition venues, students will gain initial insights into potential professional fields. The course is flexible which enables integration between study abroad and internship programmes.
In the bachelor’s degree course, Aesthetics and Art History can be studied as a main or a secondary subject.

The successful completion of a B.A. degree is the prerequisite for a subsequent M.A. degree course of study at the HBK Braunschweig or another
university with the option of a subsequent doctorate.

And afterwards?

After earning a bachelor’s degree, and depending on the secondary subject chosen, initial professional experiences can be gained in galleries, exhibitions, auction houses and publishing. A successful bachelor’s degree is the basic prerequisite
for the subsequent master’s course in Aesthetics and Art History at the HBK Braunschweig or another university, with the possibility of a subsequent doctorate.

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The four-semester Master of Arts course of study in Art History and Aesthetics at the HBK Braunschweig builds on the knowledge and qualifications of a Bachelor of Arts degree. You will deepen your professional competencies and be guided towards independent academic work. You will explore how traditions form, motifs alter, how references can be decoded and how medialities affect your perception.

The structure of the course has three main emphases:
In the module “Speaking and writing”, language as a medium of knowledge is reflected upon. In order to sensitize students to the implicit and explicit dimensions of knowledge inherent in language, various modi of speaking and writing are introduced and practised. The module “Perception” leads the students towards the history and aesthetics of reception and familiarizes them with the history of visual cultures, as well as visualizing techniques. The module “Show” focusses on forms of presenting knowledge: exhibitions, archives, catalogues, magazines and websites are examined with regard to their aesthetics, origins, effectivity and how they address the viewer.
In addition, there are experiences in the fields of curating and visits to workshops and assemblies of the Fine Art course. Through cooperative projects, the students are prepared for all types of professional fields.

And afterwards?

After the master’s course, professional fields such as those in museums, publishing houses, exhibition houses and galleries are open to the graduates. A subsequent doctorate opens the way to an academic career.

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The Braunschweig University of Art offers the conferral of a doctorate and awards the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for scientific achievements in the study course Art History and Aesthetics. In order to proof that students can work thoroughly and independently on a subject they need to write a dissertation and pass an oral exam (Disputation).

Rules for admission for the conferral of a doctorate are determined by the doctorate regulations of the university. Mr. Lutz Röttger, head of the Department for Academic Affairs, can give you further information. The students receive professional and subject specific advice from their sponsoring professors (academic supervisors).