Master of Arts (Studies in Art History) M.A(StArt)

2009

Program Outline

No new admissions into this program.

Offered jointly by the University of Adelaide and the Art Gallery of South Australia, students are able to study the collections of the Gallery with teaching provided by curatorial and academic staff at both institutions and by national experts. Classes are held after hours with lectures and tutorials held at the University, combined with ‘hands-on’ workshops at the Art Gallery.

By exercising the eye as well as the mind, students are able to thoroughly explore the rich collections and exhibitions of the Art Gallery of South Australia. Students are encouraged to see those questions reflected in specific works of art, their origins and fabrication; their critical reception; their material composition; their mixed fortunes in the history of taste; their subject matter; their place in the life's work of the artist who made them, and so on.

Students become familiar with the issues involved in curating exhibitions and the principle questions associated with connoisseurship. They will develop the research skills necessary to investigate essential issues in art history including skills in visual analysis.

Related Programs

• Professional Certificate in Art History
• Graduate Certificate in Art History
• Graduate Diploma in Art History
• Master of Arts (Curatorial and Museum Studies)

Admission Information

No new admissions into this program.

Admissions information for domestic and international students.

Study Plans

The study plans given are examples of pathways through this degree. For a complete description, see the program rules.

Core Courses - One course from the following:
ARTH 5202 Studies in Asian Art ARTH 5203 Studies in Australian Art ARTH 5204 European Art Since the Renaissance
Elective Courses - choose three courses from the following:
ARTH 5201 Studies in Australian Colonial Art ARTH 5200 Studies in European Paintings Connoisseurship ARTH 5209 Studies in Australian Indigenous Art ARTH 5212 Studies in Japanese Art ARTH 5210 Studies in British Art ARTH 5214 Studies in Modern Art ARTH 5208 Studies in Contemporary Art ARTH 5213 Studies in South East Asian Art ARTH 5211 Studies in Decorative Arts Students can study another core course as an elective Please note: Not all courses are offered each year
Dissertation/research project:
Students complete either the full-time or the part-time version of the dissertation: ARTH 5520 Research Project in Art History F/T ARTH 5521A Research Project in Art History P/T ARTH 5521B Research Project in Art History P/T

Career Opportunities

Graduates have built careers in public and commercial galleries in curatorship, marketing and communications, public programs, education, the auction industry and arts journalism.

Potential careers

Art Director, Arts Administrator, Tutor, Teacher

Graduate Attributes

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences facilitates an environment in which postgraduate students in Art History are encouraged to take personal responsibility for developing the following attributes:

• Broad general knowledge of art history and culture and of art museums and collections
• Specialised understanding in four Graduate Diploma course areas and in the MA coursework thesis topic area
• An appreciation of their potential contribution to knowledge through engagement with the traditions in art historical scholarship and curatorial practice
• The skills and discipline to research, synthesise, organise and present information, using a range of technologies as appropriate
• Problem solving skills including visual problem solving skills
• Analytic and critical skills
• The ability to argue from evidence
• The ability to think creatively
• The ability to communicate written and verbal ideas effectively
• The ability to set appropriate goals and to work independently and/or cooperatively
• An understanding of the importance of lifelong learning
• An understanding of etchical issues in their professional and intellectual contexts including the gallery/museum situation
• An awareness of their potential leadership roles in the community of scholars and in the wider visual arts community
• An awareness of social justice issues

Useful Links

Graduate Studies in Art History website

Program Rules