From Modern History to Happening Now
Be Part of the Art Conversation
The Purchase College Art History MA Program in Modern and Contemporary Art, Criticism, and Theory focuses on modern and contemporary art as it relates to urgent social and political questions.
The two-year curriculum immerses students in a rigorous exploration of art history, its methodologies, and challenges as we prepare them to engage in contemporary debates as scholars, critics, and museum professionals.
The Purchase Difference: Art on Campus
Our program features courses centered on object-based inquiry that incorporate the collection and exhibitions of the internationally acclaimed Neuberger Museum of Art located right on campus, as well as works created by faculty and graduate peers in Purchase College’s elite conservatory programs where artmaking is an everyday practice.
M+ Track: Museum + Curatorial Studies
MA students pursuing careers in museums and galleries can choose to specialize in Museum + Curatorial Studies (M+). M+ requires no additional credits but features a tailored four-course sequence that culminates in an exhibition in the Neuberger Museum of Art.
M+ students develop a nuanced understanding of arts institutions, their histories, functions, and possible futures paired with hands-on, practical training.
Workshops with guest speakers, engagement with New York City area institutions, and museum and gallery internships further prepare students for careers including:
- curator
- art writer/critic
- museum educator
- collections manager/registrar
- museum designer
- academia/PhD programs
Scholarships Available
Thanks to the generosity of the Strypemonde Foundation, we offer competitive, funded teaching, curatorial, and research opportunities rarely found outside PhD programs. These experiences offer support, as well as enhance students’ training and marketable skills upon graduation.
Exciting Coursework
MA students devise individualized routes to earning degrees through an array of electives and a thesis topic appealing to their own interests. Courses offered include:
- The Inclusive Museum
- Colors: An Art History
- The Fictional Visual Artists
- Flash-points, Fiascos, and Freak-outs: Art and Controversy, 1863–Present
Centrally Located
With New York City just a short commute south, you’ll find all its art scene has to offer easily accessible. And our proximity allows us to attract renowned practitioners in the arts as faculty members and guest lecturers.
Proudly Public
Purchase College was founded as the cultural gem of the State University of New York system, a place where students from modest backgrounds could receive the finest quality arts education. We remain committed to the mission of providing academic excellence and affordability. We like to say we’re proudly public.
Contact Us
Jonah Westerman
Assistant Professor of Art History
jonah.westerman@purchase.edu
(914) 251-6577
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