The George Washington University - Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

MA in Art History

Online USA

DURATION

2 Years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

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EARLIEST START DATE

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TUITION FEES

USD 59,294 / per year

STUDY FORMAT

Distance Learning

Key Summary

About: The MA in Art History offers an in-depth exploration of visual art across different cultures and time periods. You'll study various art movements, critical theories, and the role of art in society. The program is designed to enhance your analytical and research skills through a combination of coursework and independent projects.

Career Outcomes: Graduates can pursue diverse career paths, including roles in museums and galleries, art education, curation, art criticism, and publishing. Opportunities in cultural management and heritage sectors also exist for those interested in preserving and promoting art.

Introduction

Situated in the heart of the culturally rich city of Washington, DC, the Master of Arts (MA) program in Art History at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design provides students with unique opportunities to study the arts. Students learn to apply visual and historical analyses to artworks, as well as incorporate relevant and current theoretical and methodological approaches to research. The program's proximity to DC’s many museums and galleries means that the permanent collections and exhibitions of some of the most important art institutions in the world often serve as the backbone of student coursework and study. The curriculum covers a wide swath of the history of art, but has specific areas of focus in Renaissance, Islamic, South Asian, American, and modern and contemporary art. We are committed to building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive scholarly community that is critical for innovation, insight, and progress. The rigorous and supportive scholarly program places special emphasis on developing individual students’ critical analysis, research, and writing skills.

For some students, the MA is a terminal degree in preparation for curatorial or education careers in galleries and museums; for others, it is preparation to enter a PhD program elsewhere.

Admissions

Scholarships and Funding

Curriculum

The following requirements must be fulfilled

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs. 36 credits in required and elective courses.

Course List

CAH 6258 Art Historiography

Elective

At least one course from five of the following seven categories: Classical, ancient Near East, and medieval worlds

CAH 6201 Proseminar in Ancient Art of the Bronze Age and Greece
CAH 6202 Proseminar in Ancient Art of the Roman Empire
CAH 6205 Topics in Ancient Art
CAH 6211 Proseminar in Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture
CAH 6212 Proseminar in Romanesque and Gothic Art and Architecture
CAH 6215 Seminar in Medieval Art and Architecture
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History

Islamic spheres

CAH 6213 Islamic Art and Architecture
CAH 6214 Art of the Book in the Medieval Muslim World
CAH 6265 Seminar in Islamic Art and Architecture
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History

Renaissance/Baroque

CAH 6220 Proseminar in Italian Art and Architecture of the Thirteenth Through Fifteenth Centuries
CAH 6221 Proseminar in Italian Art and Architecture of the Sixteenth Century
CAH 6222 Proseminar in Early Northern Renaissance Art and Architecture
CAH 6223 Proseminar in Northern Renaissance Art and Architecture
CAH 6225 Seminar in Renaissance Art
CAH 6231 Proseminar in Italian Art and Architecture of the Seventeenth Century
CAH 6232 Proseminar in Northern European Art and Architecture of the Seventeenth Century
CAH 6234 Proseminar in Spanish and Portuguese Art through the Sixteenth Century
CAH 6236 Seminar in Baroque Art
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History

18th-19th Century

CAH 6240 Proseminar in European Art of the Eighteenth Century
CAH 6245 Seminar in European Art of the Nineteenth Century
CAH 6251 Proseminar in American Art in the Age of Revolution
CAH 6252 Proseminar in American Art in the Era of National Expansion
CAH 6254 Seminar in American Art before 1900
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History

Modern/Contemporary

CAH 6246 Proseminar in Modern Architecture in Europe and America
CAH 6250 Seminar in Modern Art
CAH 6255 Seminar Studies in American Art and History
CAH 6256 Seminar in American Art of the Twentieth Century
CAH 6257 Seminar in Photography
CAH 6269 Seminar in Contemporary Art
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History
CAH 6286 Preventive Conservation Concepts
CAH 6287 Preventive Conservation Techniques
CAH 6400 History of Exhibitions

Asian/African

CAH 6260 Seminar in African Art
CAH 6261 Seminar in Asian Art
CAH 6262 Seminar in South Asian Art
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History
Pre-Columbian/Latin American
CAH 6270 Special Topics in Art History
Internship/Independent Study
CAH 6298 Independent Research in Art History
CAH 6299 Museum Internship

Up to 6 credits of graduate coursework may be completed outside the department with the approval of the graduate advisor.

One qualifying paper must be submitted in the spring semester of the second year. Part-time students will submit one
qualifying paper at the date set in consultation with the graduate advisor.

Foreign language proficiency is not required for the master's degree. However, students have the option of taking an
examination in one of the following foreign languages: Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Latin, Persian,
Portuguese, or Spanish. Museum Training Concentration

Career Opportunities

English Language Requirements

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