SAIC Dual Degree Brochure

Dual Degree Arts Administration & Policy and Modern & Contemporary Art History

saic.edu/dual

Our dual degree provides immersive study in both art history and arts administration. The program positions graduates competitively for a range of career opportunities—from museum administration and curation to academia to cultural policy advocacy.

Powerful combination

This three-year program combines graduate studies in the history of modern and contemporary art with the business of arts and cultural administration. Students explore current trends in both fields through a customized curriculum supplemented by lectures and events. Students are poised for a wide variety of opportunities in academia, museums and galleries, or work for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. Graduates earn both a Master of Arts in Modern and Contemporary Art History and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration and Policy.

Rich resources

Students benefit from world-class research resources, including our own Art Institute of Chicago, its special collections including the Prints and Drawings room, and the Flaxman Library with its vast collection of books, publications, and recordings, plus numerous collections on- and offcampus, and a rich variety of public programs. Students also have easy access to Chicago’s diverse array of arts, cultural, and community organizations—with opportunities to partner with them on a variety of projects through the department’s Management Studio courses.

For more information on the program and application requirements, please visit:

saic.edu/dual

Visiting artists and experts

Students are exposed to leading voices in the arts through our Visiting Artists Program. Past participants have included distinguished artists such as Graham Pullin, Arlene Shechet, Anab Jain, Lewis Hyde, Irene Hofmann, Xaviera Simmons, Kendell Geers, Ron Athey, Beatriz Milhazes, and Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle. Each year, the Lifton Lecture Series features a prominent scholar speaking on a topic related to modern and contemporary art history, including women art historians and their contributions to the field.

Faculty

SIMON ANDERSON

SHIBEN BANERJI

ANNIE BOURNEUF

DELINDA J. COLLIER (Graduate Dean)

KATE DUMBLETON

JAMES ELKINS

MICHAEL J. GOLEC

SETH KIM-COHEN

LIZZY LEOPOLD (Spring 2025)

JENNIFER DOROTHY LEE

ADELHEID MERS

DANIEL R. QUILES

DAVID RASKIN

NORA ANNESLEY TAYLOR

LISA WAINWRIGHT

MECHTILD WIDRICH

For complete faculty listing visit: saic.edu/dual

Curriculum Requirements

Critical and Cultural Policy Studies

› ARTSAD 5005 Activating Arts Admin.: Key Frameworks (3)

› ARTSAD 6018 Spheres of Cultural Valuation (3)

› Global Issues seminar (5000 level) that focuses on art worlds outside of Europe and North America or focuses on Global Art Theory. A list of courses that satisfies this requirement is available from the department every semester. (3)

› ARTHI 5007 History of Art History (3)

Management and Leadership Studies

› ARTSAD 5100 ProSeminar: Leadership Talks (3)

› ARTSAD 5054 Management Studio I (3)

› ARTSAD 5055 Management Studio II (3)

› ARTSAD 5017 Financial Management (3)

› ARTSAD 6040 Communicating for Cultural Change (3)

Research and Professional Practice

› ARTSAD 5999 Research Studio

› ARTSAD 6095 Thesis

Art Historical Studies

› 5000-level Graduate seminars in Art History, Theory, and Criticism (12)

› Additional courses or seminars in Art History, Theory, and Criticism at the 4000–6000 level (12)

12

15

6

24

Interdisciplinary electives at the 4000–6000 level or additional courses or seminars in Art History, Theory, and Criticism 6

› Completion of the thesis

Application Process

Submit:

› Online application

› Official college transcripts

› Statement of purpose

› Letters of recommendation

› Résumé

› Critical writing sample

Theses can be found at the SAIC Thesis Repository (digitalcollections.saic.edu/thesis) and the Flaxman Library catalog.