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Program in Modern Art: Critical and Curatorial Studies
Degree Programs:
Full-Time/Part-Time: Free-Standing M.A.
Chair:
Barry
Bergdoll, Ph.D.
826 Schermerhorn
Tel:
212.854.4505
Director of Graduate Studies:
Robert
E.
Harrist Jr.,
Ph.D.
933 Schermerhorn
Tel:
212.854.8532
The M.A. in Modern Art: Critical and Curatorial Studies is offered by the department of Art History and Archaeology. Students enroll in one of the program's two tracks: Critical Studies or Curatorial Studies. Both tracks prepare graduates to pursue careers in a variety of fields, including the art market, publishing and criticism.
The M.A. Colloquium, taken in the first term, is designed to explore issues of historical and critical method by focusing them through the lens of a particular area of concern within the modernist field. These lenses will change from year to year, but an example is the rise of photography within modernism with all that it implies for the relationship between high art and mass culture and all that it signals with regard to new media. Another such example is notions of primitivism, which leads to sessions on issues/topics ranging from postcolonial studies to contemporary art’s use of ethnographic models, or again, contemporary architecture studies and theories of urbanism. The structure of the colloquium combines reading and analysis of major texts conducted by the colloquium leader, with a sequence of lecture-discussions by major theorists and critics working in the given subject area.
Full-time students typically are expected to complete all requirements for the M.A. degree in two years, of which the second year is part-time. With departmental permission, it is also possible for students to complete the M.A. on an entirely part-time basis. The program for M.A. candidates is determined in consultation with the student's advisor and comprises both seminar and lecture courses. A total of ten courses is required, including two M.A. Thesis courses taken in the final year of the program. Students complete their M.A. thesis while enrolled in M.A. Thesis courses. A typical program includes five lecture courses at the 3000-, 4000- or 6000-level (no more than two at the 3000-level), of which two may be taken for R-credit. An additional two graduate-level seminars and the M.A. Colloquium (fall semester) are required for E-credit. Curatorial Studies students meet their two-seminar requirement through the two Curatorial Seminars, which they are required to take. Curatorial Seminars are typically taught by a curator at a New York museum. With the consent of their advisers, students may take courses in the culture, literature, history and philosophy of their areas of interest. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide variety of courses outside the area of Modern Art. A reading knowledge of one foreign language relevant to the student’s field of interest must be demonstrated in order to complete the M.A. To meet this requirement students are expected to be proficient in languages when they begin the program. Language examinations are scheduled within the department; consult the graduate student coordinator.
The resources of the Department of Art History and Archaeology extend beyond the classroom: The Avery Memorial Architecture and Fine Arts Library, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, the Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture, and the many museums and art galleries of New York offer an incomparable array of world art on permanent and temporary exhibition. In addition, courses are taught by the curatorial staffs in the various museums. The Media Center for Art History provides learning opportunities for graduate students in the area of new imaging and information technologies. More information about the Department of Art History and Archaeology is available on the Web at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/arthistory/.
Special Admission Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit
1 official transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a
Statement of Academic Purpose, a writing sample (a course paper, term
paper, etc.) and 3 letters of evaluation from academic sources. All
international students whose native language is not English or whose
undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official
language is not English, must submit scores of the Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS. For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.
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DEGREE:
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Master's Only
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Deadline for Fall Admission
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February 3rd
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Deadline for Spring Admission
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no spring admission
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Resume/CV
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yes
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Writing Sample
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Yes, a critical writing sample(10-15 pages)
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GRE General
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yes
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GRE Subject
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No
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Miscellaneous
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see below
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Some background, generally a minimum of four undergraduate courses, in art history or studies in archaeology or anthropology related to art history, is required. Reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages is strongly recommended prior to admission. All applicants should submit a sample of critical or scholarly writing. Interviews are not offered as part of the application process. Applicants are advised to visit the department’s Web site or contact the department for information about faculty and [for general information about] the graduate program.
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