Costume Studies (MA)

Program Description

In recent years, costume, dress and textile studies has expanded into one of the most exciting areas of current interdisciplinary research, spanning material and visual culture, historical methods and cultural theory. The MA program in Costume Studies reflects these developments and offers courses that emphasize the study of dress and textiles across historical and geographical contexts. The 36-credit curriculum includes core courses as well as electives in history and analysis, exhibition and museum topics, art theory and criticism, and the decorative arts. 

Multiple faculty in the program are associated with museums and galleries in New York. Students are exposed to collections of costumes, accessories, and related objects at leading institutions, including the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and the New York Historical Society. The internship component of the program enables students to gain firsthand work experience and make valuable professional contacts.

Dual Degree Option
A dual-degree option between the MA program in Costume Studies and LIU's Palmer School of Library and Information Science bridges professional librarianship and research in dress and textiles. The 61-credit dual-degree MA/MSLIS program offers the same core courses and elective options at NYU with the additional combination of courses that address library and information science.

Career Opportunities

There are many options available for those who graduate with an MA in this rapidly expanding field, such as curators, collection managers, and exhibition consultants, museum administrators, auction house specialists, private dealers and appraisers, archivists and historical researchers, educators, writers, journalists, critics. Graduates of the dual-degree MA/MSLIS program also have the option to enter careers in university and museum libraries.

Accreditation (NASAD)

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 36 credits, comprised of the following:

Sample Plan of Study

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Conduct research and produce original scholarship on the history and theory of dress and textile by identifying and using appropriate research sources and methods.
2. Analyze the relationships between dress and textiles and various fields of studies, such as politics, economics, social history, technology as well as the visual, applied and performing arts.
3. Apply research and analytical skills in professional settings, such as collections management, exhibition research and development, and publishing.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.