Undergraduate Programmes

History Major/ Second Major/ Minor

Reading visual materials provides alternative modes of learning, thinking and research in the humanities and social sciences. The Minor in Art History cultivates analytical skills to interpret a wide range of arts and heritage: from painting, sculpture and architecture to contemporary installation art. As the curriculum straddles different geographies and time-periods it establishes the discipline’s distinct methodology, vocabulary and theoretical foundations. All the same, it explores the possibilities of applying art history and visual materials to other themes and areas of enquiry such as empire, modernity, nationalisms, gender, cultural studies, literature, political science, area studies and more.

The location of this Minor at NUS makes it unique in terms of accessing a fast-growing world-class city for the arts and culture. It aligns with Singapore’s Renaissance City Plan to work closely with the island’s cultural infrastructure, chiefly its National Museums and burgeoning international exhibitions. Set up in collaboration with the National Gallery Singapore, the Minor engages practicing curators as lecturers; it conducts classes within Museum galleries and provides internship opportunities at these institutions. The Minor contributes to grooming young arts professionals, audiences and custodians of world heritage.

Art History Minor

With the rapid expansion of arts and cultural institutions in Singapore and Asia, there is a critical need for a disciplinary grounding in art history. Primarily, the latter cultivates visual literacy to interpret past and present traditions of painting, sculpture, architecture and other cultural practices.  Overall the Minor constitutes modules which straddle different geographies, time-periods and materials. The core modules maintain a strong dual focus on modern and contemporary art, with special attention to regional components. Advanced modules encourage students to reflect on methodological and historiographical issues which grasp the diverse yet connected nature of artistic production globally. In summary, the Minor is committed to teaching Southeast Asian art histories within a transcultural and post-colonial framework.

The Minor is a vibrant collaboration between a globally ranked Department and University and the the largest modern and contemporary arts institution of Singapore and Southeast Asia, the National Gallery Singapore. In addition to the University’s faculty, it engages practising curators as lecturers; it conducts classes within museum galleries and provides internship opportunities to students. More broadly, the Minor aligns with Singapore’s cultural masterplans as it contributes to grooming young scholars, museum professionals, connoisseurs and custodians of our collective heritage.

Aims of the Art History Minor

  • To develop the visual literacy of students through art criticism, critical engagement of objects, and the display of art through exhibitions
  • To provide methodological and conceptual tools of Western and Asian art histories
  • Cultivate a critical approach to the role of art in societies
  • Bring together modules across disciplines with an art historical focus

Convenor: Dr Priya JARADI | hispmj@nus.edu.sg

European Studies Major/ Second Major/ Minor

European Studies is a cross departmental programme administered by the Department of History.

As we enter the 21st century there is a renewed awareness of the political, social, cultural and linguistic interrelationships among the nations which make up Europe. Understanding Europe involves not only business, trade, and commerce, but also all other areas that contribute to international links like culture, technology, media, communication etc. European Studies aims to use an inter-disciplinary approach to develop a comprehensive understanding of the societies and cultures of contemporary Europe.

Students who wish to major in European Studies have to read language modules offered by the Centre for Language Studies (French or German or Spanish) as well as "European modules" (History, Political Science, Literature, Geography modules that focus on Europe). Prior knowledge of either language is not required, and students may start with elementary language modules. However, subject to a placement test, those with prior knowledge of French or German or Spanish may be admitted into a higher level module.

European Studies will not be available as a major/second major/minor option from Cohort 2020 onwards.

Convenor: Assoc Prof Joey LONG | hislsrj@nus.edu.sg