Art History MA | Temple University

Master of Arts in Art History

Prepare for careers in museums, galleries, non-profits, archives, libraries and other organizations with the Master of Arts in Art History at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture. Both the 36-credit Arts Management track program and the 30-credit Research-track program equip students with the skills needed for a wide range of careers in a world where visual literacy and cultural production play a vital role in shaping society.

Gain a broad general knowledge of the visual arts, studying their cultural, historical, stylistic and ethical context over time. Learn to employ critical theories in order to understand the history of the arts, In the Research track, you’ll develop original research and organize a sustained project while working collaboratively with artists, administrators, educators, students and the public. In the Arts Management track, you’ll acquire specialized knowledge of models of operation, policies and ethics that frame creative problem solving in visual arts organizations while gaining experience with cultural practitioners, artists, creative entrepreneurs, community organizations, and government agencies.

Tyler's highly accomplished faculty offer a broad range of research expertise, including

new and emergent digital technologies,
modern and contemporary art, especially in North and Latin America,
Renaissance and Baroque Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands,
the ancient Mediterranean,
the Islamic world, and
the history of prints, photography and media theory.

The Art History MA program is committed to one-on-one mentorship and empowers each student to select a faculty mentor in their first year of study.

As a Tyler graduate student, you have access to the resources of a world-class art and architecture school; a large, public research university; and a robust city rich with opportunities for primary-source research, professional advancement and personal enrichment. You will also join a strong network of Tyler alumni across the region and the country.

Concentrations

You can focus on Art History or you can take one of the following concentrations.

Arts Management

Arts Management Track

The Arts Management track provides a specialized degree pathway for students seeking to advance cultural practice, the production and presentation of art, and community-building by becoming arts professionals, cultural organizers and leaders. Students learn about both historical and current forces that shape arts institutions, including subject areas of institutional missions, art economics, strategic planning, governance and ethics. Course work prepares students for leadership and management roles to align operation and program decisions with mission and social values.

In addition to graduate classes in Art History theory, core courses in the Arts Management track build professional practice skills, discuss social and pollical theory embodied within cultural organizations and examine past, current and future models within the field. Course selection is tailored to each student as they develop an understanding of leadership, local environments for the arts in non-profit and commercial sectors, and the artistic, ethical and legal issues that challenge arts workers. Experiential credit and /or internships are required under this program track.

Research Track

The Research track provides a grounding in the history of art, architecture and material culture through a broad range of methods, facilitated by a diverse faculty and innovative course offerings and methodologies. The global reach of the curriculum provides a foundation for careers in research at arts-related organizations or as a strong basis for further study at the PhD level. This track supports both a breadth of art historical knowledge and opportunity to develop a special area focus or subfield. Students work closely with a primary advisor selected during the first year of study to help map out a suitable curriculum and ultimately develop an in-depth qualifying paper.

Classes & Curriculum

Both tracks of the Art History MA program can be completed on a part- or full-time basis. Upon admission to the MA Art History program, students complete a three-credit historiography course that studies the key months and critical approaches of art history in their first fall semester. This course also introduces students to some of the resources and arts institutions in the city. Students enhance their research and communication capabilities by passing a reading examination in one foreign language before the end of coursework.

In addition to internships or fieldwork, students in the Arts Management track complete a three-credit Introduction to Arts Management Practices course and complete their degree with an individualized capstone class. These students can take a broad range of courses, including in Tyler's Architecture or Art Education departments, or in Temple’s College of Education, Fox School of Business, or Klein College of Media and Communication.

Students in the Research track take 27 credits of graduate-level art history courses (up to six credits may be taken outside of the art history department), with at least two courses covering periods up to 1750 and at least two from 1750-present; and at least four geographic or subject areas covered. The program culminates in the writing of an original qualifying paper during their final semester, working closely with their chosen primary advisor.

A few courses you may take include the following.

Art and Environment in American Culture
History and Theory of Printmaking
Modern and Contemporary Art in Latin America
Seminar on Contemporary Art: Research Entanglements: Artistic Practice, Curatorial Work and Theory
Topics in Arts Management: Art, Access and Civic Life
Topics in Global Art: Introduction to Caribbean Art

Learn more about the coursework for the Art History MA.

Related Graduate Certificates

Photo credit: Joseph V. Labolito

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,105.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,518.00 per credit

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

Our Advisors

Tyler's academic advising team offers every Tyler student one-on-one, personal and academic guidance, beginning at Orientation right through to graduation. Our academic advisors will help you chart your course through your program, and ensure you are on a clear path.

Advisors are available to discuss registration, study abroad and staying on track to graduate, as well as policy and procedures and navigating other available resources across the university.

Appointments with the advising team can be made by visiting the Student Tools tab in TUportal. General questions can be submitted to the team's virtual front desk during regular business hours, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Academic Advising Office
Tyler 212
2001 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Program Contact

Student Clubs & Organizations

Enhance your coursework, build meaningful networks and gain leadership experience by participating in student-led clubs and organizations. Below are examples of groups at Tyler that can help you grow academically, creatively and professionally.

Graduate Arts Collective is a graduate, student-led organization that connects Tyler peers with resources, information, social events and other activities, including publication of the annual MFA thesis catalog.
American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an independent, nonprofit, student-run organization. AIAS provides unmatched programs, information and resources on issues critical to architectural education.
Art History Graduate Organization provides a forum for exchange of ideas that enriches the experience of graduate art history students, including events, guest lectures, interaction with alumni, museum trips and peer gatherings that support new students and aid advisors in recruiting prospective students.
American Society of Landscape Architects, Student Chapter at Temple’s Ambler Campus works to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, education and fellowship.

Study Away

Exposure to diverse cultures, environments and mindsets is essential for art, architecture and design students. At Tyler, you are encouraged to broaden your perspective and explore unique environments through study away programs.

Programs to study in Rome are offered throughout the year.

For a half-century, Temple Rome has been a center for hands-on, interdisciplinary learning, where the “Eternal City” is the classroom, the studio and the campus. It offers extensive experiences for art and architecture students, with courses in architecture, art history, drawing, liberal arts, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

The Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office is available to answer questions.
Email: study.abroad@temple.edu
Phone: 215-204-0720

Accreditation

Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s degree programs are accredited by the following accrediting bodies.

Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s architecture and environmental design programs are accredited by the following accrediting bodies.

National Architectural Accrediting Board (Master of Architecture)
Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture)
Planning Accreditation Board (Master of Science in City and Regional Planning)
International Facilities Management Association (Bachelor of Science in Facilities Management)

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