History of Art/Theatre Studies

History of art and theatre studies is a combination that explores two of the most powerful forms of cultural expression humans have developed, examining how visual art and performance communicate meaning, provoke response, and reflect the societies that produce them. History of art asks how and why paintings, sculptures, buildings, and works of design come to look the way they do, training close visual analysis alongside critical and historical interpretation of objects in their contexts. Theatre studies examines dramatic texts, performance traditions, and the live encounter between performers and audiences, drawing on literary analysis, cultural theory, and the practicalities of theatrical production.

At Glasgow, this part-time degree allows you to engage with both disciplines at a pace that fits alongside other commitments, developing the visual and critical literacy of art history alongside the analytical and creative frameworks of theatre studies. You will examine works and performances across periods and traditions, developing the ability to read visual and performative texts with rigour and to situate them within broader cultural, social, and historical contexts. The degree includes a year abroad component, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution overseas and to encounter art and theatre in a different cultural setting.

The combination of visual, literary, and critical skills developed across both disciplines trains a versatile and sophisticated analytical thinker.

Graduates of history of art and theatre studies degrees move into careers in cultural institutions, galleries, museums, arts organisations, and the theatre and performance sector. The combination of visual and performative literacy is valued in arts administration, heritage management, arts journalism, and cultural marketing. Others enter education, publishing, or the creative industries more broadly.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in art history, curating, theatre and performance studies, or cultural policy, developing specialist expertise for research or professional roles in the arts sector.