Program Overview

Prepare for careers in museums, galleries, non-profits, archives, libraries and other organizations with the Master of Arts in Art History at Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture. This two-year, Arts Management-track or Research-track program serves as a gateway to the best doctoral art history programs for students seeking careers in academia or research. Both the 36-credit Arts Management track program and the 30-credit Research-track program equip students with the skills needed for a wide range of careers in a world where visual literacy and cultural production play a vital role in shaping society.

Conduct thorough studies in the visual arts and broader art forms, studying their cultural, historical and stylistic context over time. Learn to employ critical theories in order to understand the history of the arts, to develop original research and to organize a sustained project while working collaboratively with artists, administrators, educators, students and the public. Arts management track students develop practical knowledge while working with cultural practitioners, artists, creative entrepreneurs, community organizations, and government agencies.

Arts Management Concentration

The Arts Management track provides a specialized degree pathway for students seeking to advance cultural practice, the production and presentation of art, and community-building by becoming arts professionals, cultural organizers and leaders. Students learn about both historical and current forces that shape arts institutions, including subject areas of institutional missions, art economics, strategic planning, governance and ethics. Course work prepares students for leadership and management roles to align operation and program decisions with mission and social values.

In addition to graduate classes in Art History theory, core courses in the Arts Management track build professional practice skills, discuss social and pollical theory embodied within cultural organizations and examine past, current and future models within the field. Course selection is tailored to each student as they develop an understanding of leadership, local environments for the arts in non-profit and commercial sectors, and the artistic, ethical and legal issues that challenge arts workers. Experiential credit and /or internships are required under this program track.