Unlike an undergraduate art history course, the MA in Art History does not aim to teach you about the history of art in the conventional sense of a narrative about art works, artists, styles, movements, etc. Instead, it aims to familiarize you with the diversity of methods and approaches that are used by art historians for the purpose of analysing, interpreting and explaining works of art. This kind of concern with the underlying significance of works of art is what distinguishes the academic discipline of art history from what is usually described as ‘art appreciation’. Thus, though studying this course should deepen and enrich your understanding of art, the focus of study will not be on looking at works of art in isolation but on the close reading of art-historical texts. You are encouraged to consider the problems involved in analysing, interpreting and explaining works of art and to develop a critical and historical framework for doing so.

Read 'am I ready for postgraduate study' for more information.