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Program Description
Situated in the capital of the American art world, the MA Program in the History of Art and Archaeology at the Institute of Fine Arts is designed for the student who wants to study the history and role of the visual arts in culture and society through detailed, object-based examination, historical analysis and critical interpretation. This degree program is constituted as a broad learning experience supported by numerous opportunities for intellectual inquiry, guided by leading scholars and enhanced by access to New York area museums, curators and conservators, archaeological sites and NYU's global network.
The Institute’s MA in the History of Art and Archaeology is intended for students with a developed interest in the visual arts who wish to earn an advanced degree without the commitment to a multi-year doctoral program. The MA degree will prove useful for students interested in careers in art museums, galleries, auction houses cultural centers, arts foundations, archaeological site management and development, art conservation, or eventual doctoral work in art history or archaeology.
The program is two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study for those with established professional careers who wish to continue working while attending the Institute. For part-time study, each student devises a course of study together with the Director of Masters Studies; a typical course load for part-time students would be two courses per semester for the first two years, and one course per semester in the final year of study.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Fine Arts for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 40 credits, comprised of the following:
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| FINH-GA 2046 | Lecture: (Foundations I course) | 4 |
| FINH-GA 2045 | Lecture in Conservation for Art Historians (Foundations II course) | 4 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 12 |
| 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 |
Distribution Areas
- Pre-modern Asia;
- Pre-modern Africa and the Middle East;
- The Ancient Mediterranean and Middle East, including Egypt;
- Pre-modern Europe and the Americas;
- Post-1750 Global;
- Museum and Curatorial Studies;
- Material Studies of Works of Art;
- Architectural History
Additional Program Requirements
Language Requirement
Students are required to pass a language examination in French, German, or Italian. Other languages will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the Academic Office. The examination can be taken in the beginning and end of the Fall semester as well as at the end of the Spring semester. Full-time students must pass the examination by the end of their third semester; part-time MA students and Conservation Program students must pass the examination by the end of their fourth semester.
Master's Thesis
A master’s thesis is required. The thesis will be of substantial length (9,000 words) and should provide a comprehensive treatment of a problem in scholarship, competently written, and may be of publishable quality. The topic may be developed from papers written for a lecture course, seminar or colloquium, or from independent research. Students in the conservation program are encouraged to include technical studies in the Master’s Thesis, provided the paper retains its focus on art history or archaeology. The Master’s Thesis must be read and approved by two faculty members. Readers are normally members of the permanent faculty.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Critically investigate the role of the visual arts in culture through object-based examination as well as historical and theoretical interpretation.
- Effectively communicate original, independent research and interpretations of secondary material through written and oral presentation.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of critical issues in the field of art history or archaeology through the composition of an essay on a single topic.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.