School for Studies in Art and Culture:
St. Patrick's Bldg. Rm. 423
613-520-2342
http://www2.carleton.ca/arthistory/
- M.A. Art History
M.A. Art History
About the Program
Carleton's M.A. in Art History emphasizes critical and historical concerns as well as practical experience. Students examine recent theoretical shifts in art history and are offered direct experience with collecting, exhibiting, and researching institutions in the Ottawa area. The program's dual approach trains students to attain a critical awareness of contemporary theoretical debates while working directly with art objects. We maintain professional links to institutions in the National Capital region, including the National Gallery and the Canadian Museum of Civilization, through our strong practicum (internship) program and adjunct faculty members who work at these institutions. Reflecting these institutions' collections, Canadian and Aboriginal art are strengths in the program although we offer a program inclusive of western art with some non-western resources. Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in the museum, research, and heritage sectors, and for further study in Art History and related disciplines.
Academic Regulations
See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Academic standing: a standing of B- or better must be obtained in each credit counted towards the master's degree.
Regulations governing requirements for the master's thesis, including deadlines for submission, are outlined in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is an Honours bachelor's degree (or the equivalent) in art history or a related discipline, with at least high honours standing. Related disciplines may include anthropology, history, and Canadian studies. Applicants without a background in art history may be required to take up to a maximum of 2. 0 credits in certain designated courses from the undergraduate art history program in addition to their regular program.
Qualifying-Year Program
Applicants who do not qualify for direct admission to the master's program may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Applicants who lack an Honours degree, but have a 3-year degree with an honours standing (at least B overall) will normally be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
Program Requirements
Students in the M.A. in Art History must select one of the following streams:
Coursework Stream
| 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
ARTH 5010 [1.0] | Art and Its Institutions | |
| 3.0 credits in Art History, of which 1.0 credit must be selected from: | 3.0 | |
ARTH 5112 [0.5] | Topics in Historiography, Methodology and Criticism | |
ARTH 5113 [0.5] | Perspectives on Pre-Modernity | |
ARTH 5114 [0.5] | Feminism and Gender | |
ARTH 5115 [0.5] | Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art | |
ARTH 5117 [0.5] | Community/Identity | |
ARTH 5210 [0.5] | Topics in Aboriginal Art | |
ARTH 5218 [0.5] | Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice | |
ARTH 5403 [0.5] | Architecture and Its Institutions | |
ARTH 5500 [0.5] | Photography and Its Institutions | |
Students are normally required to take 0.5 credit in another Art History course and 1.0 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0.5 credit may be taken in Art History, or in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor. Out of the 3.0 credits taken, at least 0.5 must be in an area outside that of the student's research paper specialization. | ||
| Total Credits | 4.0 | |
Research Essay Stream
| 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
ARTH 5010 [1.0] | Art and Its Institutions | |
| 2.0 credits in Art History, of which 0.5 credit must be selected from: | 2.0 | |
ARTH 5112 [0.5] | Topics in Historiography, Methodology and Criticism | |
ARTH 5113 [0.5] | Perspectives on Pre-Modernity | |
ARTH 5114 [0.5] | Feminism and Gender | |
ARTH 5115 [0.5] | Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art | |
ARTH 5117 [0.5] | Community/Identity | |
ARTH 5210 [0.5] | Topics in Aboriginal Art | |
ARTH 5218 [0.5] | Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice | |
ARTH 5403 [0.5] | Architecture and Its Institutions | |
ARTH 5500 [0.5] | Photography and Its Institutions | |
Students are normally required to take 1.0 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0.5 credit may be taken in Art History or, in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor. Out of the 2.0 credits taken, at least 0.5 must be in an area outside that of the student's research paper specialization. | ||
| 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
ARTH 5908 [1.0] | Research Essay | |
| Total Credits | 4.0 | |
Thesis Stream
| 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
ARTH 5010 [1.0] | Art and Its Institutions | |
| 1.5 credits in Art History, of which 0.5 credit must be selected from: | 1.5 | |
ARTH 5112 [0.5] | Topics in Historiography, Methodology and Criticism | |
ARTH 5113 [0.5] | Perspectives on Pre-Modernity | |
ARTH 5114 [0.5] | Feminism and Gender | |
ARTH 5115 [0.5] | Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art | |
ARTH 5117 [0.5] | Community/Identity | |
ARTH 5210 [0.5] | Topics in Aboriginal Art | |
ARTH 5218 [0.5] | Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice | |
ARTH 5403 [0.5] | Architecture and Its Institutions | |
ARTH 5500 [0.5] | Photography and Its Institutions | |
Students are normally required to take 0.5 credit as a practicum. The remaining 0. 5 credit may be taken in Art History or, in special cases where the student's program of study justifies it, alternative courses may be selected with the approval of the Graduate Supervisor. Out of the 1. 5 credits taken, at least 0.5 credit must be in an area outside that of the student's thesis specialization. | ||
| 1.5 credits in: | 1.5 | |
ARTH 5909 [1.5] | M. A. Thesis (with the approval of the graduate committee) | |
| Total Credits | 4.0 | |
Language requirement: students are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of French (or another language to be approved by the Art History graduate supervisor).
Notes:
- A maximum of 1.0 credit may be selected from course offerings at the 4000-level in Art History.
- To enter the thesis stream, students are required to notify the Graduate Supervisor of their intent at the beginning of their first term of study. The thesis (60-80 pages) is written under the supervision of a faculty member with both expertise and an interest in the student's topic. The Graduate Committee will determine whether a student is eligible to enter the thesis stream after one term of study in the case of full-time students and after two terms of study in the case of part-time students. For those students allowed into the thesis stream, the deadline for the submission of the thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee is normally no later than April 15 of the first year of study for students enrolled full-time, and no later than the middle of the fifth term of registration for students enrolled part-time.
Art History (ARTH) Courses
Art and Its Institutions
The institutions of art and art history, the archive, the social institutions of art and their mediations. Gender, Aboriginal culture, commodification, reception, technology, memory and subversive tactics are addressed. Canadian contexts are emphasized.
Graduate Practicum
Practical on-site work in the collecting institutions of the National Capital Region (as available), including a written assignment. The practicum coordinator and the on-site supervisor jointly determine the final mark. A maximum of 1.0 practicum credit may be applied towards degree requirements.
Directed Readings and Research
Students pursue topics in art and its institutions, which they select in consultation with the graduate faculty of the program.
Topics in Historiography, Methodology and Criticism
Historiographical, methodological, and critical issues in the history of art and criticism in Canadian and/or international contexts.
Perspectives on Pre-Modernity
Issues in premodern art and institutions of art production, and critical theory in light of current concerns and new research.
Feminism and Gender
Art and its institutions in terms of critical issues of feminism and gender studies. Topics include the questioning of the canon, sexuality, the gaze, queer theory, the body, and the use of art as a means to communicate issues of public significance.
Topics in Modern and Contemporary Art
The production and reception of modern and contemporary art in light of current concerns in Canadian and/or international contexts.
Community/Identity
Art and the interrelationships among the artist, architect, patron, critic and public in the context of the contribution of art and its institutions to the articulation or constitution of communal identities in Canadian and/or international contexts.
Topics in Aboriginal Art
The creative production, aesthetic culture, and reception of selected aboriginal peoples in pre-contact, historic, and/or modern time, drawing on postcolonial and critical theory.
Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice
Aspects of museum practice, history and theoretical discourse will be examined in a classroom setting, or the preparation, realization, and/or study of an exhibition in an Ottawa-area museum.
Architecture and Its Institutions
Specialized topics examine theory and practice of architects, architectural historians and critics from historical and contemporary perspectives in Canadian and/or international contexts.
Photography and Its Institutions
Photographic practice and reception with emphasis on social, political and cultural contexts and theoretical approaches to the study of photographs in Canadian and/or international contexts.
Research Essay
An examination of an approved topic that is in an area of departmental specialization.
M. A. Thesis
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca
Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca