Requirements
Requirements for the graduate major 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.
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
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.
MA Academic Requirements
A total of 40 credits are required for the MA degree: 32 course credits (eight courses), and the eight-credit Master’s Thesis. Any deficiencies and language courses must be completed in addition to these credits, and a language exam must be passed prior to graduation.
Sample Two-Year Schedule
First Year: 24 credits | |
| Fall: | 12 credits |
| ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective (two)* | 8 credits |
| Spring: | 12 credits |
| ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I: History and Theory of Modern Art | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective (two)* | 8 credits |
Second Year:12 credits | |
| Fall: | 12 credits |
| ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II: Critical Issues in Contemporary Art | 4 credits |
| ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective* | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 8 credits |
| ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II | 4 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective* | 4 credits |
| * At least one course elective must deal with art before 1950 | |
Sample Three-Year Schedule
First Year: 8-24 credits(Note: at least one course per semester is required during the first two years) | |
| Fall: | 4-12 credits |
| ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History | 4 credits |
| (Option: ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or two)) | (4-8 credits) |
| Spring: | 4-12 credits |
| ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I: History and Theory of Modern Art | 4 credits |
| (Option: ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or two)) | (4-8 credits) |
Second Year: 8-20 credits(Note: at least one course per semester is required during the first two years) | |
| Fall: | 4-12 credits |
| ARH 5326/Master’s Colloquium II: Critical Issues in Contemporary Art | 4 credits |
| (Option: ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or two)) | (4-8 credits) |
| Spring: | 4-8 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or two) | 4-8 credits |
Third Year: 8-24 credits | |
| Fall: | 4-12 credits |
| ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis I | 4 credits |
| (Option: ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or two)) | (4-8 credits) |
| Spring: | 4-12 credits |
| ARH 5992/Master’s Thesis II | 4 credits |
| (Option: ARH 5—/Art History Elective* (one or more, as needed to satisfy total 40-credit requirement )) | (4-8 credits (or more as needed)) |
| * At least one course elective must deal with art before 1950 | |
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 98 credits. For successful progress through the program, a 3.0 (B) GPA must be maintained.
First Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5150/College Pedagogy or Elective | 3 credits |
| VIS 5720/Graduate Studio Critiques I | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5801/Independent Graduate Studio I | 3 credits |
| ARH 5101/Proseminar: Method and Theory in Art History* | 4 credits |
| *ARH 5101 offered alternate years; one semester required | |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 3 credits |
| VIS 5770/Graduate Critical Topics II | 3 credits |
| VIS 5802/Independent Graduate Studio II | 3 credits |
| ARH 5325/Master’s Colloquium I* | 4 credits |
| *ARH 5325 and 5326 may be taken in either order | |
Second Year: 34 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| VIS 5740/Graduate Studio Critiques III | 3 credits |
| VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics | 3 credits |
| VIS 5803/Independent Graduate Studio III | 3 credits |
| ARH 5326 Master’s Colloquium II* | 4 credits |
| Studio Art Elective | 3 credits |
| *ARH 5325 and 5326 may be taken in either order | |
| Spring: | 18 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Elective | 4 credits |
| VIS 5005/MFA Thesis Tutorial | 2 credits |
| VIS 5210/Professional Practices: Artists or VIS 5220/Professional Practices: Institutions | 3 credits |
| Elective (open) | 3 credits |
| VIS 5790/Graduate Critical Topics IV | 3 credits |
| VIS 5804/Graduate Studio Capstone | 3 credits |
Third Year: 32 credits | |
| Fall: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Electives (two)** | 8 credits |
| Elective (open) | 4 credits |
| ARH 5990/Master’s Thesis I | 4 credits |
| Spring: | 16 credits |
| ARH 5—/Art History Electives (two)** | 8 credits |
| Elective (open) | 4 credits |
| ARH 5991/Master’s Thesis II | 4 credits |
| **At least one course elective must deal with art before 1950 | |
Notes:
- Students must take VIS 5760/Graduate Critical Topics two times.
Updates to the 2020-21 Catalog
- Students in the MA/MFA program now take VIS 5760/Critical Topics two times along with two electives rather than Critical Topics I - IV.