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Art History and Museum Studies

This master's program integrates the theoretical study of art history with practical concerns of displaying, managing, and interpreting art objects in a variety of museum settings.

  • Degree Offerings
  • Faculty
  • Application Requirements
  • Contact the Department

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Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu

M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies

The master's program in art history and museum studies, offered by the Department of the History of Art and Architecture, gives students advanced qualifications in art history and a broad introduction to museum work. The program is offered for those hoping to work in art collection-related fields.

Students take courses in art history and museum studies simultaneously. Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as curators, collections managers, educators or administrators in museums and galleries.

Visit the Department of the History of Art and Architecture

Learn more about the Museum Studies Program

M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies Learning Objectives
  • Demonstrate understanding of key debates, concepts, and methods in art history
  • Advance their skills in visual literacy and analysis of artworks
  • Gain familiarity with a broad temporal and geographic scope of art across media
  • Demonstrate the ability to contextualize the cultural and historical significance of a broad range of artworks
  • Develop and carry out original research in at least one subfield, using primary sources
  • Refine their public presentation skills
  • Produce publishable or near-publishable written work and understand field-specific publishing standards
  • Build basic teaching skills
  • Learn about a range of professional opportunities in art history
  • Practice responsible and ethical conduct of the profession, especially as outlined by the practices and standards of the College Art Association
  • Gain command of key issues facing art museums today
  • Learn current museum practices from practitioners in the field
  • Gain valuable hands-on experience through a structured internship at an institution of their choice
  • Learn about professional opportunities and establish a contact network in the museum world
  • Develop an understanding of the histories of museums and art institutions

 

Related programs:

Faculty

Karen Overbey
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Ph.D. , Institute of Fine Arts, New York University
Medieval art and architecture; early Ireland, Britain, and Scandinavia; portable arts; medieval materiality
Christina Maranci
Professor and Chair
Ph.D. , Princeton University
Armenian and Byzantine art and architecture, Art of the South Caucasus
Cristelle Baskins
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , University of California, Berkeley
Italian Renaissance art, Mediterranean studies, early modern books, and portraiture
Eva Hoffman
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. , Harvard University
Islamic art and architecture, portable arts
Ikumi Kaminishi
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , University of Chicago
Asian art and architecture, Buddhist painting, narrative studies
Professor of Art and Art History at Tufts University Diana Martinez
Diana Martinez
Assistant Professor and Director of Architectural Studies
Ph.D. , Columbia University
American architecture history, global architecture history, post-colonial studies, materiality
Andrew McClellan
Professor
Ph.D. , Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London
Modern European art and theory; history of museums, exhibitions, and collecting; history of art history
Jeremy Melius
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. , University of California, Berkeley
Modern art and art writing, critical theory and aesthetics, historiography, histories of sexuality
Peter Probst
Professor
Ph.D. , Free University Berlin
African art, memory and monuments, historic preservation, cultural property, UNESCO World Heritage, historiography
Eric Rosenberg
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Harvard University
American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, and Theories and Methods
Professor of Art and Art History Jacob Stewart-Halevy
Jacob Stewart-Halevy
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. , Yale University
Contemporary art, global conceptualism, video art, media theory and anthropology
Professor and Director of Film and Media Studies Malcolm Turvey
Malcolm Turvey
Professor and Director of Film and Media Studies
Ph.D.
History of film and media theory
Adriana Zavala
Associate Professor
Ph.D. , Brown University
Modern and contemporary Latin American art, art of Mexico, and gender and women's studies

Application Deadline


Fall: January 15

Application Requirements: 


> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the availability of standardized testing, GRE scores are currently waived for students applying to this program
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of recommendation 
> Writing sample 
       - A recent writing sample of your best piece of writing
> Reading knowledge of a foreign language 

For more information, visit the Department of Art and Art History.

For questions about this program, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact the graduate program director, Karen Overbey.

Department of Art and Art History
11 Talbot Avenue
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

Office: 617-627-3567