If you enjoy learning about history and art, our A level History of Art online course is the perfect choice!

A level History of Art is for those fascinated by the visual arts. Studying famous works by artists including Picasso, Frida Kahlo and van Gogh, our A level History of Art course will help you to develop valuable skills in examining, analysing and discussing works of art from a broad range of periods, places, genres and themes, giving you access to the vocabulary and context of art.

Our A level History of Art course is ideal if you:

• Are keen to study art history at degree level.
• Want to step back in time to learn about artists throughout the centuries and how the world around them has influenced their work.
• Would like to boost your research, analytical and methodical skills in preparation for higher education.
• Enjoy learning about art.

Future opportunities

• Studying art history at university.
• A wide range of rewarding career paths in areas such as curation, conservation, writing, politics, law, business, design, teaching, tourism, journalism and research.

Course sections will have a structured release. Starting with Section 1 and 2 available now and the remaining course sections released at regular intervals over the coming months.*

Section 1 Visual analysis: Painting

• Topic 1 Introduction to painting: Oath of the Horatii
• Topic 2 Genre
• Topic 3 Christian religious painting
• Topic 4 Mythological painting and the nude
• Topic 5 The ‘lesser’ genres
• Topic 6 Painting materials and techniques
• Topic 7 Formal elements of painting: composition
• Topic 8 Colour and pictorial space
• Topic 9 From light and tone to pattern
• Topic 10 Style
• Assignment 1

Section 2 Visual analysis: Sculpture and architecture

• Topic 1 Sculpting the human form
• Topic 2 Genre and subject in sculpture
• Topic 3 Materials, techniques and processes in sculpture
• Topic 4 Formal elements in sculpture 1
• Topic 5 Formal elements in sculpture 2
• Topic 6 Formal elements in sculpture 3
• Topic 7 Religious and domestic architecture
• Topic 8 Civic and corporate architecture
• Topic 9 Materials and techniques in architecture
• Topic 10 Formal elements in architecture 1
• Topic 11 Formal elements in architecture 2
• Assignment 2

Section 3 Themes: Nature in art and architecture 1

• Topic 1 Nature and landscape
• Topic 2 Turner: The Harbour of Dieppe
• Topic 3 The Starry Night
• Topic 4 Animals in art: Double-Headed Serpent
• Topic 5 Animals in art: Maman
• Topic 6 Painting plants
• Topic 7 Sunflower Seeds
• Assignment 3

Section 4 Themes: Nature in art and architecture 2

• Topic 1 Angkor Wat
• Topic 2 ‘The greatest American architect’
• Topic 3 The Great Wave
• Topic 4 Hepworth: Pelagos
• Topic 5 Humans and nature: Rain, Steam and Speed
• Topic 6 Humans and nature: The Family of Man
• Topic 7 Using critical texts
• Assignment 4

Section 5 Themes: Identities in art and architecture 1

• Topic 1 The Arnolfini Portrait
• Topic 2 Two twentieth-century portraits
• Topic 3 3D Portraiture: Prima Porta Augustus
• Topic 4 Marc Quinn, Self 2006
• Topic 5 Alison Lapper, Pregnant
• Topic 6 Representing gender stereotypes in painting
• Topic 7 Subverting gender stereotypes in painting
• Assignment 5

Section 6 Themes: Identities in art and architecture 1

• Topic 1 Identity in architecture: the Süleymaniye Mosque
• Topic 2 Zaha Hadid, architect
• Topic 3 The Benin plaques
• Topic 4 Yinka Shonibare
• Topic 5 Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle
• Topic 6 Divine identity: the Ghent Altarpiece
• Topic 7 Graham Sutherland: The Crucifixion
• Assignment 6

Section 7 Periods: Rebellion and revival 1

• Topics TBC

Section 8 Periods: Rebellion and revival 2

• Topics TBC

Section 9 Periods: Brave New World 1

• Topics TBC

Section 10 Periods: Brave New World 2

• Topics TBC

*Course section release dates are subject to change.

Study A level History of Art with us and benefit from:

• Flexible learning
• Support from a personal tutor by email or messaging
• Any time enrolment
• Our exam booking service
• Assignments with tutor feedback
• Ongoing support from Student Support
• Forums to discuss your course with other students

learn@nec

Choose when and where you access your course, using learn@nec our 24/7 learning platform.

This easy-to-use learning platform includes interactive checkpoints, quizzes and activities to help you evaluate your progress. More information about how the course works can be found here.

Exam board

• Edexcel 9HI0

Format

• Online learning with support from a personal tutor

Hours

• Complete at your own pace
• Approx. 250-300* hours plus time for completing assignments

*The specification suggests that 300 hours is needed. You’ll also need time to complete assignments and prepare yourself for exams and some courses like English literature involve a lot of reading. Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say with certainty how long a course will take you, but you should expect to spend longer than 300 hours. Taken across the length of time we recommend, this equates to approximately 5 hours per week. This will increase if you choose to take it over a shorter time frame or may be less if you are retaking a subject and have covered a lot of of the course content.

Assignments

• 11 assignments (one introductory) – these do not contribute towards your final grade

Resources

Set textbooks – included as a free ebook with your course:

• Thinking about Art: a thematic Guide to Art History, by Penny Huntsman, Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN: 978-1-11890-497

Requirements

• The Shock of the New – students will receive 20% off voucher code upon enrolment to be used on the publisher’s website.
• Internet access
• Computer operating system and browser to support learn@nec

Our course fees are open and honest to help you plan for any additional costs.

Your course fee includes:

• Access to learn@nec
• All the course materials you need to complete the course
• Support from a personal tutor for up to 24 months from your date of enrolment
• Assignment marking
• Marking for one past paper
• Guaranteed exam place
• Free e-book version of the essential textbooks
• NEC’s guide to study skills: How to Succeed as an Independent Learner
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar guide
• Time planner to help you plan your study timetable
• Information on how to apply for exams

Your course fee does not cover:

• Exam entry fees
• Additional textbooks

Optional extras:

• Additional past paper marking
• Revision tutorial
• Optional tutorial
• Additional review
• UCAS application service

Guest article: “An A level in art history can open up many possibilities.”

Assessment

Exams (two):

• 50% of marks  (3 hours)
• 50% of marks  (3 hours)

We know that our younger students often need an extra helping hand with their studies.  In our experience, learning online works best when the parents are involved, so when you enrol your child with NEC, you’ll have a unique set of services to help you to support your child.

This includes:

• Your own log in to learn@nec to access the course so you can view the course materials and other information for yourself.
• Access to your child’s gradebook to help you to monitor progress and provide appropriate and timely intervention and support
• You’ll receive emails and forum posts so that you have all the examination and assessment updates/information provided by the NEC team
• Dedicated Progress Portal Pages and targeted blogs with updates/information/help and advice on many aspects of home education.
• Access to the Kudos career platform for young learners to explore career choices.

Read more about how we work with young students who are studying at home or through a school.