MA History of Art (Architectural History and Theory)

Our course will change the way you think about architecture.

Architecture is fundamental to human survival and living in the world. You'll investigate the exact nature of our relationship with art and architecture, which is much disputed by architectural historians and theorists. At York we enable you to explore some of the most exciting, and cutting-edge, as well as traditional and accepted, of ideas and theories around art and architecture.

Our flexible course has exceptional historical and geographical breadth and depth. You’ll read architecture critically, and think about architecture beyond the study of individual buildings. We encourage you to engage with architecture as metaphor, interiors, exteriors, materials and materiality, urbanism, patronage, and design process. You’ll explore the relationships between architecture and power, religion, gender and sexuality, education, and imperialism. You’ll be able to study a module that is jointly taught in collaboration with our partners (eg the Tate or the V&A).

We are one of the largest History of Art departments in the UK, with one of the most wide-ranging groups of experts in architectural history and theory. We have developed successful partnerships with museums, galleries and country houses which will enrich your studies and may offer you placement opportunities and privileged access to collections.

Course content

You play an active role in building your degree, furthering your established or emerging specialisms and designing research projects. You'll heighten your methodological awareness, helping you to forge a more sophisticated understanding of how art and architecture create meaning and why some works have been deemed culturally more significant than others.

The course enables you to develop advanced skills in communication, and effective project management. You'll be given specialist training in archival work and the study of drawings. You'll acquire a high level of expertise in visual analysis and art historical research through object-focused study and an intensively researched MA dissertation.

You also have the option to develop your interdisciplinary interests by taking modules in related academic disciplines such as archaeology, history, literature, philosophy, sociology and others.

Our expert academic staff support you every step of the way through personalised, small-group teaching, individual tutorials and field trips.

Careers and skills

Our collaborations will support your learning and research, with the opportunities for exclusive partnership studentships, work experience and privileged access to collections. The course prepares you for higher research degrees and a range of possible careers. Read about some of our alumni and where their degree has taken them.