History and Philosophy of Art - MA (Canterbury)

This MA provides a structured introduction to the postgraduate study of the history and philosophy of art.

Overview

Particular focuses include contemporary art, photography, Renaissance art, medieval art, 18th-century British painting, 19th-century French painting, modernism, aesthetics and the philosophy of art and film. You may elect to take a Philosophy of Art & Aesthetics pathway, which draws on the expertise of our Aesthetics Research Group.

The programme is intended for graduates in art history, philosophy and cognate subjects, such as fine art. It gives you the opportunity to pursue your interest in visual art at advanced level, to develop a high level of expertise in topics in history and philosophy of art and to prepare for doctoral research in history of art or philosophy of art.

Teaching and assessment

Assessment is by coursework and the dissertation.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• provide you with a focused programme of taught postgraduate study in history and philosophy of art
• provide you with a taught foundation for subsequent postgraduate research
• enable you to acquire or deepen your knowledge and understanding of the historical and contemporary topics within the history of art and philosophy of art
• enable you to develop your art historical and philosophical skills beyond that expected of an undergraduate
• enable you to develop, articulate and defend art historical and philosophical ideas as they relate to art
• enable you to engage with historical and contemporary theoretical thought about the arts from art historical and philosophical perspectives.

Careers

Arts postgraduates have gone on to work in a range of professions, from museum positions and teaching roles to marketing and gallery assistants. Our graduates have found work with Tate Britain, the V&A, Museum of Childhood and other arts, culture and heritage-related organisations.