Arts, Media and Society (BA)

About the programme

The Arts, Media and Society programme in its introductory year will give you a sound foundation of core knowledge about modern and contemporary art and art history. You will also start 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 years two and 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 gaining basic knowledge about the history of European art. 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. such as global warming, racial discrimination or social inequality. Much of the teaching is based on research projects that our staff is engaged in. You will be invited to participate in some of these projects and will take the first steps in developing your own research interests.

Multidisciplinary programme

In its outlook on media and society, the programme is multidisciplinary in nature and features courses such as Big Media, How the World make Art, Curating Cultures, World Art Studies, Activism and Sensing Style. Some of the disciplines included in these courses are Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities, as well as sociological and anthropological approaches.

Some of the distinguishing features of Arts, Media and Society

Interactive teaching: You will gain knowledge about contemporary art, while you will also learn to make videos and podcasts, do practice-based research and design an (online) art exhibition. Also, you will 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, which will reinforce your awareness about global issues and will prepare you for working in an international setting.

Programme overview

During the first semester of year one you will take several courses, including Visual Analysis of Modern and Contemporary Art, Imagining Media and World Art Studies, equipping you with a strong foundation in art history. During the second semester you will build on this foundation to develop basic academic skills such as researching, processing and critically assessing information, writing and oral presentation.

During year two 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 Instagram plays for museums when presenting their collection to a wider audience and how this medium can add new meaning to existing works of art. In the second year, you will have the option of exploring your own interests by choosing one of two specialised seminars. The course work will be complemented by field work on the theory and practice of arts, media and society. Our Curating the City course, for instance, includes an on-site assignment.

In your third year you will be able to tailor the programme to your specific interests. For both semesters you will have 15 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 slightly 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 15 hours for lectures and tutorials. The remainder will be spent 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 further elaborated upon in tutorials with a small group of students. During tutorials you will participate in group discussions and work on individual or group assignments.

Student support

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

Should you have any questions about the programme, our study advisor is available to provide advice or help you make practical arrangements if needed.

Apart from study advice, we offer many more support services. Our Career Services can help you arrange a study abroad or find an internship position.

In case of psychological issues, a university psychologist can be consulted. In the event of chronic illness, dyslexia or a physical or psychological disability, you can contact the university’s Fenestra Disability Centre.