Study at the Institute
T
he Institute of Fine Arts is dedicated to graduate teaching and advanced research in the history of art, archaeology, and the conservation and technical study of works of art. The Institute encourages students to excel in historical and material investigation as well as develop skills in close visual examination and critical thinking. The degree programs provide a focused and rigorous experience supported by interaction with leading scholars, and access to New York’s museums, curators, conservators, archaeological sites, and NYU’s Global Network. The PhD and MA programs at the Institute offer a course of study designed for individuals who wish to investigate the role of the visual arts in culture through detailed, object-based examination, as well as historical and theoretical interpretation. The dual-degree MS/MA program in conservation and art history is the only one of its kind in the nation.
Doctor of Philosophy
Master of Arts The Institute’s MA program is intended for students who wish to strengthen their art historical knowledge and gain further relevant experience before pursuing a PhD, as well as for students with an interest in the visual arts who wish to earn an advanced degree without the commitment to a doctoral program. The MA degree will prove useful to students interested in careers in art museums, galleries, auction houses, cultural centers, arts foundations, archaeological site management and development, art conservation, or eventual doctoral work in art history or archaeology. The program requires two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study for those with established professional careers who wish to continue working while attending The Institute.
The Institute’s Conservation Center is dedicated to the technical study and conservation of works of art and historic artifacts. The Center prepares students for careers in conservation through a four-year, dual-degree program that combines practical experience in conservation with art historical, archaeological, curatorial, and scientific studies of the materials and construction of works of art. Students gain extensive conservation experience through a multitude of hands-on research projects and laboratory work, scientific investigation and analysis, advanced fieldwork, and a nine-month capstone Internship. They are encouraged to obtain additional conservation experience during summer archaeological excavations or other formal work projects. The Center also provides courses in connoisseurship and technical art history for those pursuing studies in art history, archaeology, and curatorial practice; these courses acquaint students with the physical structure of works of art, and the need for preservation, as well as the possibilities and limitations of conservation practice. Classes are taught by the Center’s distinguished full- and parttime faculty, many of whom serve as conservators and scientists at New York City’s prestigious museums.
65 The Institute of Fine Arts Annual 2020 - 2021
The Institute’s PhD program prepares students to conceptualize, plan, and execute ambitious and original research projects and to make contributions to scholarship. The program is designed for six years of full-time study for students without a Masters in Art History or five years of full-time study for students with a Masters in Art History. Students are exposed to a wide range of questions and approaches through a combination of courses that both introduce major historical issues and allow students to specialize by conducting in-depth research. Students have opportunities to pursue their studies in museum settings and in fieldwork. Research-led teaching and close mentoring equip students to work critically and creatively in their fields and to take a sophisticated approach to broader areas of art historical inquiry.
Master of Science in Conservation/ Master of Art in Art History
