Program Overview
Below is an outline for a self-study Master’s program in Modern Art history. The program follows similar requirements for the Master’s in Modern Art History, Theory and Criticism offered by Azusa Pacific University. I withdrew from Azusa’s program after completing two courses; I decided to apply my experience as a curriculum designer and educator, Master’s degree in Education and Human Development, certificate in Museum Studies and experience in art education to create a comprehensive, dynamic, self-study online program for a Master’s in Art History.
I am working on the program in two capacities: 1) as a curriculum designer creating high quality courses using sound pedagogical principles, and 2) as a student completing all course work. I will share each course outline for open access. Courses include:
- Detailed learning overview
- Thoughtfully designed curriculum comprising eight modules with learning goals, assignment descriptions, and content sources with links to a variety of high quality resources on the web, journal articles, and textbook titles available for reasonable cost or on Google books or archive.org for free
- Self-assessment checklists for grading assignments.
Description
The program includes historical study of art theory and visual objects, as well as methods in critical analysis of writings and texts, visual analysis of artworks and the synthesis of the historical and current role of art and visual objects in contemporary culture. The art works and objects studied in this program focus primarily on cultures within North America and Europe, with some exceptions. The program leverages the availability of web sources and open scholarship as the main source of content with the limited use of a textbooks. Students will develop independent and original research in addition to critical thinking and analysis skills.
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of areas of art history and gain proficiency in interpreting images/objects in ways that consider the historical contexts in which they were produced and received.
- Assess and critique scholarly arguments and critically evaluate the strength of the visual and textual evidence presented
- Determine visual culture’s historical role in shaping national, group and individual identities
- Demonstrate proficiency in written and verbal communication skills necessary for discussing and sharing knowledge about modern and contemporary art works and objects
- Analyze significant art historical movements and artists who have shaped and influenced art and art creation in our current culture
- Synthesize the role of visual art movements, artists and objects within contemporary institutions—political, education, and museums
Course work
Core Courses:
- History of 19th-Century Art, Criticism, and Theory (launching January 2021)
- History of 20th-Century Art, Criticism, and Theory (completed. Azusa Pacific University, 2020)
- Methodologies of Art History
- Writing Art Criticism
Electives:
- Canadian Art History: 19th and 20th Century
- History of Modern and Contemporary Sculpture (completed, Azusa Pacific University, 2020)
- The Museum: The Making of the Modern Museum
- Art and Politics: History of Art in Promotion and Propaganda
- Art in Education: Theory and Practice in K-12 and Higher Education
Foreign Language:
- Reading and Translating French
Capstone:
- Capstone Project (Part I)
- Capstone Final Project (Part II)