Program Overview

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Art History, M.A.

McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

Discover new insights about the evolution of art in the only art history master's program in South Carolina. You will gain skills for research and persuasion, plus mastery of art movements that influence culture to this day.

Exploring art movements, techniques, and developments from around the world, including genres as diverse as printmaking, architecture, sculpture and film. The M.A. in art history prepares you to conduct research, present it persuasively, and to pursue careers in teaching, curation, publishing, preservation and other fields.

Program Highlights

• Outstanding Faculty: Work with faculty mentors with a wide range of scholarly specializations.
• Museum Relationships: Create connections with the McKissick Museum to facilitate research and work experience opportunities at local museums.
• Paid Assistantships: Stay financially strong while taking this program through paid assistantships and tuition waivers.
• Personalized Attention: Receive one-on-one connections with faculty as you craft your research thesis.

What You’ll Study

Take advanced courses in art and architecture from periods including the Renaissance, Baroque period, Modern and Contemporary and from places including European, the U.S. and Asia. Write and defend a research thesis.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

• Visual Analysis: Examining and interpreting images, graphics and visual data to gain insights and convey information effectively
• Understand Complexity: Analyzing and synthesizing information to identify patterns and connections
• Cultural Awareness: Learning about and respecting diverse cultures and beliefs
• Research: Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems
• Critical Thinking: Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments
• Writing: Creating professional written content for inclusion in scholarly journal articles, books and reports

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

• Museum Manager
• Curator
• Editor/Publisher
• Academic

Job Titles of Alumni

• Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and Design
• Art History Instructor
• Gallery Administrator
• Chief Curator of Collections and Research

Workplace Settings

• Museums
• Galleries
• Auction Houses
• Publishing
• Education

Employers of Alumni

• Gibbes Museum of Art
• McKissick Museum, University of South Carolina
• Aiken County Historical Museum
• University of South Carolina

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

• Certificate: Museum Management, Certificate, McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

"My favorite part of the art history program is the wide range of classes you can take. There are also a lot of opportunities to see new exhibits, talk to visiting artists and participate in internships."

Tegan Campbell