Requirements
Requirements for the master’s degree in art history include eight courses (32 credits), proficiency in one foreign language, and an 8-credit thesis. A minimum 3.0 (B) cumulative GPA must be earned at Purchase College. The total 40 credit requirement can be completed on a full-time two-year program or part-time three-year program.
MA Required Courses:
- ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History
- ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I
- ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II
- ARH 5—/One course dealing with art before 1950
- Four elective courses in art history
- ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I: 4 credits
- ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II: 4 credits
*Foreign Language proficiency is not a prerequisite and can be completed at Purchase College.
Museum + Curatorial Studies (M+) Option
The Museum + Curatorial (M+) track engages students in object-based research and the study of critical histories of museums and museum practices with an underlying commitment to cultivating more inclusive and accessible institutions and notions of exhibition-making. Building on the required courses for the MA degree in art history, required courses for M+ students include, in the first year, Museology (fall semester) and Critical Curatorial Studies (spring semester). In the second year, students’ coursework will be augmented by workshops, on- and off-campus internships, and the development of an exhibition series based in the Neuberger Museum.
M+ Required Courses:
- ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History
- ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I
- ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II
- ARH 5—/One course dealing with art before 1950
- ARH5035/Museology
- ARH5037/ Critical Curatorial Studies
- ARH 5025—/Exhibition I*
- ARH5026—/Exhibition II*
- ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I
- ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II
*Note: For Academic Year 23-24, students can substitute ARH5065/Curatorial Writing Intensive and ARH5066/Curatorial Digital Literacy for Exhibition I and II.
MA/MFA Academic Requirements
In most cases, obtaining both an MA in Art History (through the School of Humanities) and an MFA in visual arts (through the School of Art & Design) at Purchase College requires three years of in-residence study with a total course load of 100 credits. For successful progress through the program, a 3.0 (B) GPA must be maintained.
Requirements:
- ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History/ 4 credits
- ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I/ 4 credits
- ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II/ 4 credits
- VIS 5150/College Pedagogy or ARH elective/ 3-4 credits
- VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists/ 6 credits or
VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions/ 6 credits - ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I and ARH 5326/Masters Colloquium II/ 8 credits
- VIS 5720/Graduate Studio Critiques I/ 12 credits
- VIS 5801/Independent Graduate Studio I/ 3 credits
- VIS 5802/Independent Graduate Studio II/ 3 credits
- VIS5803/Independent Graduate Studio III, 3 credits
- VIS 5804/Graduate Studio Capstone/ 3 credits
- Graduate Visual Arts Studio Elective (PAD, PHO, PRT, SCP, VIS) 15 credits
- Free Electives: 8 credits
- ARH 5—/Art history elective**/ 20 credits
- VIS 5005/MFA Thesis Tutorial/ 3 credits
**At least one course elective must deal with art before 1950
Notes:
Students must take VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics two times.