Art History (MA)
Master of Arts (MA)
Offered by:Department of Art History, Faculty of Fine Arts
Program overview
The MA in Art History trains students to think critically about the visual and material culture that is such an important aspect of our lives. Students in the program work alongside faculty members engaged in a wide variety of research initiatives and gain experience as teaching assistants. Montreal’s wealth of museums (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Musée d'Art Contemporain) cultural institutions (McCord Museum) and cutting-edge art spaces (L'Arsenal, Phi Centre) offer countless opportunities to cultivate an individualized research focus. Together, coursework and a rich program of extracurricular activities enable students to create their own portfolios of exhibition reviews, journal articles and curatorial projects. Join a vibrant cohort of students, scholars and professionals who are pursuing their graduate studies on a full or part-time basis. The size of our program is one of its assets - large enough to provide a diverse selection of seminars, but small enough for students to actively participate in dialogue and debate.
Program details
- BFA or a BA with a major in Art History or approved equivalent with at least a B+ average in the major area.
- Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions.
Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.
6 credits – Required Courses
ARTH 655 - Thesis Seminar (3 credits, pass/fail)
ARTH 654 - Annotated Review of Sources and Documents (3 credits)
15 credits – Seminars
The graduate program director or the student’s supervisor assists the student in choosing seminars.
Exceptionally, and with the approval of the graduate program director, students may register for one of the following options: a graduate seminar (3 credits) in another discipline or at another Quebec university, an internship or an independent study.
24 credits – Thesis
ARTH 656 - Thesis (24 credits)
Your completed application will include:
- Application form and fee
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Three Letters of Reference and assessment form. References from Art History professors are preferred. Once contacted by the university, referees have 14 days to submit their letters. After that, the link provided to them will no longer be valid. For any questions contact Art History.
- A statement of purpose (500 words) should explain why you have chosen to do graduate work in Art History at Concordia University, propose a thesis topic or area of special interest, and discuss your professional goals.
- A writing sample (8-10 pages), which usually takes the form of an art history undergraduate essay
- Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (if applicable)
- Official language test scores for applicants whose primary language is not English, unless exemption applies.
Please apply and submit your documents online. Read the how-to guide for application procedures.
| DEGREE |
FALL (September) |
WINTER (January) |
SUMMER (May/June) |
| Art History | MA | Jan. 15 * | n/a | n/a |
| * The deadline to submit the online application form is January 15. Supporting documentation will be accepted until February 1. | ||||
For applications after this deadline, please contact the Graduate program director.
The MA in Art History provides you with an academically rich and collaborative learning environment, infused with professional development opportunities. Many of our classes integrate experiential learning components such as learning how to archive art text, building an art database, practicing curatorial writing, or developing websites.
Recent course offerings have included:
- Selected Issues in North American Art and Architectural History: Conversion Colonization and Agency
- Industrialization and the Built Environment: The Right to the City
- Contextualizing North American Sculpture: Topics in History, Theory and Practice: Destructive Tendencies
- Examining the Craft and Artisan traditions in North America: Arts and Crafts Ethics in Contemporary Craft
- Issues in Postcolonial Theory in Art and Art History: The Art of Migration and Diaspora in CanadaTheory
- Nationhood and Identity in Canadian Art: What is Settler-Colonial Art History?
- Creative and Critical Literature in Art History: Of Utopian Spaces
- Issues in North American Photographic History
- Issues in Visual and Material Culture: The Gender of Design
- Aspects of Media and New Media: Indigenous Art: Experimental Film, New Media and the Digital
Consult the graduate calendar for a complete list of courses.
Important information about admissions
Please be advised that Concordia University does not process admissions or fee payments through third parties for our degree programs.
All applicants are advised to ensure that they are communicating directly with the university for admissions and fee payments.
