Short course
Adventures in Medieval Art
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online
Dates and time:
14/04/2027 - 23/06/202715:00 - 16:00
Study format:
Online - live
Fees:
£430.00
This course will give you an overview of medieval art and architecture and to build your confidence when analysing medieval works of art for yourself. Each week we will look at a different aspect of art, architecture or urbanism from the Middle Ages. We will ask, how was it made? What is the historical context? How did the original audience understand and respond to it? Crucially, we will also consider current scholarly approaches to the Middle Ages, seeking to leave behind the old fashioned and euro-centric view that this period was a ‘dark age’ sandwiched between the classical and the Renaissance eras. Instead, we will look at the Middle Ages as a ‘bright age’ of innovation, complexity and sophistication. Through this course, students will gain insight into the practice of medieval art history in the twenty-first century, especially the concept of the ‘Global Middle Ages’. The material in the course will cover aspects of visual culture in the Islamic world, Europe, Byzantine Empire and beyond, with brief mentions of China, Ethiopia and Central Asia.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
This course begins on the 14 Apr 2027, which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting, which will be held on 21 Apr 2027, 15:00-16:00pm (UK time).
Week 1: Introduction to Medieval art
Week 2: Cities
Week 3: Religious buildings
Week 4: Castles and secular buildings
Week 5: Christian devotional art
Week 6: Metalwork
Week 7: Silk and other textiles
Week 8: Identity
Week 9: Gender
Week 10: Subversion and humour
Course aims
- To introduce students to the character and breadth of Medieval art and the scholarship surrounding it.
- To provide an overview of Medieval art and architecture.
- To develop students’ critical understanding of the methods and debates of Medieval art history.
- To practice analysis of Medieval objects, buildings and images.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
- feel confident looking at Medieval art and architecture;
- be familiar with the scope of Medieval art and architecture;
- understand how Medieval works of art were made and perceived.
Level and demands
This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.
This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
English Language Requirements
We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but we warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements, please see here.
IT requirements
Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. To access the virtual learning environment you will be required to verify your identity using an authenticator app on a mobile device or laptop in addition to your username and password. Full instructions will be sent to you on the start date of the course. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.
Teaching methods
This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Any standard web browser can be used to access these materials, but we recommend Google Chrome. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.
All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.
Assessment methods
You will be set a portfolio of up to five pieces of work to complete over the duration of the course, one or more of which might be submitted for the purposes of feedback only and will not count towards your final outcome. The other pieces will be submitted for formal assessment at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.
Dr Clare Vernon
Dr Clare Vernon is a specialist in the Mediterranean world in the central middle ages. She has a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has taught at Birkbeck, University of London and the universities of Manchester and Southampton. Her publications focus on the art of southern Italy in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Her book, From Byzantine to Norman Italy: Mediterranean Art and Architecture in Medieval Bari, will be published in early 2023.
Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points
Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online course are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.
See more information on CATS points
Digital credentials
All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £430.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course:
- The Gothic Cathedral / Christopher Wilson
- Romanesque / Norbert Wolf
- Medieval Art / Veronica Sekules
Module code: O26P756ARZ
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page..