Heritage, Art & Museums

Heritage, Art & Museums explores how people create, preserve, and present culture across time and place. From ancient tools to modern art, you will study what objects say about the societies that made them and what they mean today. Courses take you from Greek ruins to African heritage, and from the ethics of restitution to the politics of museums, giving you the tools to understand and communicate cultural memory.

Opening up Heritage, Art & Museums courses

Anyone has access to any and all 100 and 200-level courses in Heritage, Art & Museums. If you want to also take the 300-level courses, you will need to complete the Researching Humanities gateway course.

Courses in Heritage, Art & Museums

Gateway

Researching Humanities

Explores the role of the humanities in fostering critical thinking, empathy and cultural awareness. Introduces methodologies and research skills across Film and Media, Communication, Literature, and Heritage, Art and Museums, helping students make sense of the world through stories, images and technology. Prepares students for upper-level courses and emphasizes asking better questions rather than memorizing facts.

100-level

Introduction to Western Art History

This course provides an introduction to Western art history, tracing the development of major artistic movements from the late Middle Ages to the present day. Through a close study of key paintings and their makers, students will gain insight into the evolving styles, techniques, and cultural influences that have shaped Western art across the centuries.

100-level

Introduction to World Archaeology

What sets us apart as humans? From the first modified hand axes to intricate robotics, humans have developed along with and through their ability to make. This course explores the wisdom of ancient craft production from all over the world: to see how making objects made us into modern humans, and how ancient craft solutions can help make our future more sustainable.

200-level

African Art & Heritage

This course examines the artistic, historical, and ethical dimensions of African art. It explores Africa’s artistic traditions, highlighting its distinct forms, meanings, and cultural significance. It considers its influence on Western modernism through artists like Picasso and Matisse and its role in African diaspora art. Additionally, it addresses looting, colonial-era acquisitions and efforts to return artifacts to Africa.

200-level

Greek Archaeology

The invention of democracy in classical Greece changed the nature of community decision-making, perhaps forever. This process is reflected in the material culture of the period. By examining the archaeology of community & democracy in early-democratic Greece, this course goes in search of ancient lessons for the modern world.

300-level

Curating Modern Art

This course examines key debates on modern art through a carefully selected range of themes and topics. A central focus is the relationship between art and its presentation in museums and exhibitions. By exploring curatorial practices and exhibition strategies, students will gain insight into how art institutions shape public perception and understanding of modern and contemporary art.

300-level

Museums, Art Crime & Restitution

Who stole the Picasso from a yacht in France? How can we stop the plundering of archaeological sites? How did a secret stash of nazi-looted art go undetected until 2014? In this course we investigate world-wide heritage crime, and the legal means to fight it and make amends.

Also consider these options:

Media, Culture & Communication

The other fields within the Media, Culture & Communication cluster.

Media, Culture & Communication

Explore Ecology!

To see how natural environments inspire culture and how we can protect both for the future.

Ecology

Explore Entrepreneurship!

To turn creativity and culture into innovative ventures.

Entrepreneurship

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The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

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The UCR Program Builder is designed to help you easily plan your academic program. Step by step, the tool guides you through selecting courses, building a balanced curriculum, and meeting UCR’s academic requirements.

Try the Program Builder

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Heritage, Art & Museums

Heritage, Art & Museums

Opening up Heritage, Art & Museums courses

Courses in Heritage, Art & Museums

Courses in Heritage, Art & Museums

Researching Humanities

Researching Humanities

Introduction to Western Art History

Introduction to Western Art History

Introduction to World Archaeology​

Introduction to World Archaeology​

African Art & Heritage

African Art & Heritage

Greek Archaeology

Greek Archaeology

Curating Modern Art

Curating Modern Art

Museums, Art Crime & Restitution

Museums, Art Crime & Restitution

Also consider these options:

Also consider these options:

Media, Culture & Communication

Media, Culture & Communication

Explore Ecology!

Explore Ecology!

Explore Entrepreneurship!

Explore Entrepreneurship!

Introduction to World Archaeology

Introduction to World Archaeology