Curatorial Studies (Advanced Certificate)
Program Description
The Advanced Certificate in Curatorial Practice, housed at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) in the Graduate School of Arts and Science, offers a rigorous program designed for students seeking to develop expertise in curatorial methodologies with a focus on visual art institutions. This advanced certificate allows both MA and PhD students who are interested in curatorial practice to take courses focused on the study of the materiality, history, and display of objects, as well as the development of collections. This focused program combines theoretical frameworks with practical experience to prepare graduates for leadership roles in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions worldwide.
The program sequence includes an introductory seminar, a course in technical art history, two other designated curatorial courses, and a structured internship at a cultural institution. The introductory seminar will examine a wide variety of approaches to curatorship by both in-class lectures and field visits to museums, libraries, archives, and private collections. Classes will focus on individual exhibitions or groups of exhibitions, or on larger art historical themes examined through a curatorial lens. Courses are taught by IFA and Conservation Center faculty and by distinguished visiting curators, scholars, and arts professionals who bring extensive field experience to the classroom.
Admissions
Candidates should have an excellent background in the liberal arts, normally including at least four courses of undergraduate art history. A major in art history is not required.
Starting with the Fall 2022 admissions cycle, the Institute of Fine Arts will no longer accept GRE scores as part of the application. Candidates should not send their GREs scores as they cannot be recorded or included as part of the application.
Applicants will submit a focused, 2-4 page, double-spaced Statement of Academic Purpose. Applicants must also submit a CV.
The IFA requires at least three letters of recommendation that speak to the applicant's research and writing skills.
One art history writing sample is required.
The Graduate School requires applicants who are not native English speakers to submit official TOEFL or IELTS score results. The TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived if your baccalaureate or master’s degree was (or will be) completed at an institution where the language of instruction is English.