MA Degree

CSULB graduate students in Art History engage deeply with visual culture within a historical framework. Students select an area of emphasis supported by the expertise of our core faculty and work closely with their faculty mentor to develop an individualized program of study and research. They are expected to synthesize knowledge gained through coursework and independent research into a culminating thesis, making an informed scholarly contribution to the discipline. It is the hope of the School of Art that students will benefit from the plurality of perspectives and areas of scholarly expertise available within the School of Art and the broader CSULB campus community. The MA degree is intended to be completed in 4 to 6 semesters.

In addition to providing advanced analytical and communication skills broadly applicable to numerous careers, the art history graduate program prepares students with the necessary research skills and experiences to enter the professional fields of teaching, museum work, art gallery management, art consultancy, arts management, and art writing, or to continue their studies at the doctoral level. Our faculty train graduate students in the following areas: Asian Art/20th Century Asian Art and Architecture; Contemporary Art; Latin American Art and Architecture; Medieval Art and Architecture; Museum and Curatorial Studies; Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture; 18th and 19th Century Art and Architecture of Europe and the United States; and 20th Century Art. 

CSULB Catalog Requirements for the Art History MA