北德州大學

Academic Preparation

Students who complete the M.A. degree in Art History at the College of Visual Arts and Design prepare for doctoral study by developing an enhanced understanding of past and contemporary visual art forms, in-depth knowledge of art history methodologies, and advanced skills in art history research. Graduates critically analyze and apply different theories and methods in their investigation of artworks, images from visual culture, or other related materials. They furthermore design, implement and defend original research of relevance to the area of specialization.

Coursework for the M.A. in Art History consists of 30 semester credit hours and is completed in two years. The program includes 15-21 hours in graduate art history seminars, an optional six-credit-hour minor, a seminar in research methods, and a six-credit-hour original research project. Students additionally complete a Research Project Colloquium presentation of the proposed original research and demonstrate proficiency in foreign language sufficient to engage in primary source investigation.

Students may pursue graduate studies in the following areas.

• Visual and material culture of the late antique and medieval periods in Europe, the Islamic world, and South Asia
• Visual and material culture in the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas from the 16th to the 21st Century
• Historiography, methodology, and theory of art and visual and material culture since 1900

Within these areas, students work with an array of faculty whose interests and expertise intersect on such issues as colonialism, postcolonialism, geography, ritual and spatial analysis, race, gender, and sexuality.

Professional Preparation

Pairing the M.A. in Art History with a graduate academic certificate prepares students for careers in museums, galleries, and other arts organizations. Certificate study is undertaken simultaneously with the M.A. in Art History, providing additional professional training and complementing academic preparation in the discipline.

The following certificates can be paired with the M.A. in Art History for added professional preparation.

Art Museum Education: The graduate academic certificate in art museum education in the CVAD Department of Art Education is intended to provide professional training for post-baccalaureate students who desire careers in areas of art museum education or expertise in the use of art museums as educational resources.

Archival Management: The graduate academic certificate in archival management in the College of Information provides students with the theoretical and practical background necessary to undertake careers in a variety of archival settings such as corporate archives, government archives, museums, and other collecting repositories.

Digital Content Management: Perfect for those interested in the care and curation of digital images and objects, the digital content management graduate academic certificate in the College of Information prepares students to meet the challenges of managing the life cycle of digital assets including digital images.

Digital Curation and Data Management: The graduate academic certificate in digital curation and data management in the College of Information prepares students with knowledge and skills for the emerging digital curation and data management workforce.

Interactive and Virtual Digital Communication: Ideal for museum and gallery social media coordinators, the graduate academic certificate in interactive and virtual digital communication in the Mayborn School of Journalism trains students in the most up-to-date written, visual and technical competencies required to successfully communicate in today’s online and information world.