Why this programme?

The Elementary Phase
The Graduation Phase

In the bachelor's programme in Arts and Culture you will study culture from a variety of perspectives. To understand the complexity of current society, you will integrate insights from philosophy, history, science and technology studies, art and literature studies. This will help you to:

Develop an understanding of the historical roots of modern culture
Reflect philosophically on contemporary issues
Develop the analytical capacity to connect diverse scholarly perspectives
Gain in-depth knowledge of the role of the arts, science, technology, media and politics in our culture

Which qualities will help you achieve this?

Broad interests and an inquisitive mind
A love of reading and writing
Ambition to study both independently and in collaboration with peers

The Elementary Phase

The bachelor's programme in Arts and Culture is characterised by a strong logic and courses systematically build upon one another. It is divided into an elementary phase and a graduation phase, which each take one and a half years. The elementary phase has a chronological setup, starting from Antiquity and ending in the early 21st century. In this phase, you'll gain a profound knowledge of the historical roots of modern society and culture.

The programme has a strong emphasis on helping you develop research and writing skills. An important element of the programme is a learning trajectory in which you write increasingly longer and more complex papers. This culminates in writing your bachelor's thesis in your third year.

For this programme you will need:

A broad interest in Western culture and its historical roots
An interest in our interdisciplinary approach
Self-discipline and excellent time-management skills
A critical mind with a broad academic orientation
Good knowledge of the English language
To enjoy interacting with students from different nationalities
To be attracted to the small-scale and interactive character of the teaching system

The Graduation Phase

The graduation phase begins in the 2nd semester of the second year. During this semester, the programme offers six electives that address contemporary challenges from an Arts and Culture perspective. These electives build on the knowledge acquired during the elementary phase and focus on the connections of two of the four domains of culture central to the programme:

Media
Art & Literature
Politics
Science & Technology

The Arts and Culture programme gives you the chance to broaden and deepen your knowledge by choosing two out of six electives*:

Othering Europe focuses on the voices of migrants and other marginalized groups in Europe, acknowledging how Western voices have shaped discourses of colonial history and approaching European Others through the lens of representation and the de-colonization of knowledge.
Art, Literature and Technoscience explores how art and literature engage with societal challenges related to the impact of science and technology, from climate change to robotics.
Living in a Digital Age takes a historical and philosophical view on current debates around the digitalisation of society, from automation of labor to surveillance.
Power & Democracy looks at democracy as something people do, and considers the contexts of democratic actions.
Vulnerable Bodies focuses on the corporeality of human existence and is most interested in bodies that depart from the norm, particularly norms of ability and youth, with perspectives from gender, disabilities and aging studies.
Authority, Expertise and Environmental Change considers the particular challenges of our age brought about by human impact on the planet: Global warming, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss, and the way societies respond to these challenges.

* These electives are planned for the academic year 2020/2021. Please note that these electives, including their titles, may change.

Start of year 3: studying abroad, minor or internship
In the beginning of the third year, you can do an internship or study abroad. You can also follow a minor or choose to take courses at another faculty, other university or the Maastricht Academy of Fine Arts and Design.

International classroom

From day one, you will be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over the world. Your worldview will be enhanced by this interaction. Such diversity creates an international atmosphere that is strengthened by the international orientation of the programme.
You will closely interact with people from different cultures in your classroom, as 65% of your classmates in the first year come from abroad, representing 22 nationalities, and 42% of your teachers are international. Next to this, you will have the opportunity to spend a full semester abroad at one of our +/- 100 partner universities worldwide, do an internship at an international organisation, or a minor at another faculty.

Episode #2 | FASoS X Student Talks With Arts and Culture Student Andra Sorlei (WW2 Novel Author)

FASoS X Student Talks

FASoS X student talks is a series of interviews with students about their exciting extracurricular activities. In this episode Arts and Culture student Andrea Sorlei discussed her novel Forced into the War, which takes place in WW2 Rumania.

Skills trajectory

The Arts & Culture skills trajectory consists of courses that familiarise you with key research methodologies in both academic and professional settings. You will progressively learn relevant
academic research and writing competences, apply various methods, and practise strategies for selecting and eliciting relevant material. You will tackle important issues like how to formulate a good research question and how to apply theories and use methodology. This training programme helps you develop not just academic research and writing skills, but also trains you for future job-related competences, such as using concepts, applying research methods, analysing sources, thinking critically and presenting. You will become familiar with several different methodological approaches and with more general practical and ethical choices, as well as with challenges you will encounter when doing research.

More information on the skills courses can be found on the Courses & Curriculum page.

Problem-Based learning

At Maastricht University, you'll be taught using Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In small tutorial groups with a maximum of 15 students, you will analyse challenging questions and cases. This will bring you into close interaction with our tutors and your fellow students. In this programme, you'll explore questions like 'Are reason and faith absolute opposites or is that a European idea?'. Together with your group, you'll seek further knowledge and formulate your answers. Instructors only give help as it’s needed, allowing you to develop independence and problem-solving skills you'll need in your career. You'll not only gain factual knowledge but will also learn how to work in international teams, present a convincing arguement, and carry out academic research.

Maastricht University students on Problem-Based Learning

Honours+ programme

University wide Honours+ component
The Honours+ Programme consists of three types of activities. Students attend workshops to develop professional skills; help organize a series of DIY lectures; and co-author contributions to the digital magazine Excellium.

If you complete the Honours Programme successfully you will receive a special Honours Programme Certificate, in addition to your diploma, when you graduate. ECTS credits are not awarded.

More about Honours+

FASoS Honours component
The faculty of Arts and Social Sciences offers its most ambitious bachelor’s students the opportunity to take part in the Honours Programme.
You do not need to contact the Faculty if you belong to the top 4 to 5 per cent of students of the first year (based on average grade) who passed all their first-year courses and skills trainings at the first attempt: you will be invited to apply.

Honours programme students are given the freedom to study academic topics in depth. The programme consists of various components, from which you choose two. For example, you could undertake a small-scale, comprehensive six-week project under the guidance of a faculty professor. This could be a small research project or consist of reading and discussing several books. You could also participate in faculty research, choose an individual assignment such as writing a paper, or take a second minor at the Faculty.

More about the FASoS Honours Programme