Adventures in Medieval Art



Overview

The purpose of this introductory course is to 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 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. 

Programme details

First live webinar: 23 April 2025, 3.00-4.00pm (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

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

To earn credit (CATS points) for this course you will need to register for credit and pay an additional £30 fee. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. If you do not register for credit when you enrol you have up until the course closes to enrolments to pay the £30 fee. Students who do not register for CATS points prior to the start of the course can apply retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed.

See more information on CATS point

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework, but only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education, you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee. Students who register for CATS points will be posted a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

 

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment, whether registered for credit or not, 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 summative assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, 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

Tutor

Dr Clare Vernon

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, including a book, From Byzantine to Norman Italy: Mediterranean Art and Architecture in Medieval Bari.

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.

Teaching methods

Learning takes place on a weekly schedule. At the start of each weekly unit, students are provided with learning materials on our online platform, including one hour of pre-recorded video, often supplemented by guided readings and educational resources. These learning materials prepare students for a one-hour live webinar with an expert tutor at the end of each weekly unit which they attend in small groups. Webinars are held on Microsoft Teams, and provide the opportunity for students to respond to discussion prompts and ask questions. The blend of weekly learning materials that can be worked through flexibly, together with a live meeting with a tutor and their peers, maximise learning and engagement through interaction in a friendly, supportive environment.

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.

Assessment methods

Students will write a review of a book or article chosen from a list provided at the start of the course (750 words) and a visual analysis of a Medieval image of their choice (750 words). 

Please note that summative assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

Please use the 'Book now' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

We will close to enrolments 7 days prior to the first live webinar to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email your joining instructions at that time (7 days before you first live webinar) so you can access the Canvas virtual learning environment (VLE) and watch your first pre-recorded video. Please check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received. 

Level and demands

This introductory course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

The Department's short online courses are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. FHEQ level 4 courses require approximately 10 hours study per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support