Study Details: MA 1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
This course will take you on a journey that explores how art and visual culture speak to urgent global issues, including identity and memory, politics and social justice, health and technology, economies, and sustainability.
The study of modern and contemporary art allows us to understand the world we live in today and its historical development. We engage in a variety of approaches to the study of art, across different temporal and geographical contexts. We cover diverse artistic media, including painting, sculpture, installation, architecture, photography, film, video, performance, digital and ‘new’ media.
You'll be able to chose modules to study throughout your degree, either specialising or working across a range of areas. Our department also has strong connections to a range of museums and galleries across the north of England.
2:2 or equivalent.
We will consider applications from mature students or applicants without formal academic qualifications if you have substantial related experience. We may ask you for an interview in this instance.
For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more
We offer amazing partnerships and placements with numerous museums and galleries that will help you in your future career. We work with the National Gallery, Tate, the V&A, and York Museums Trust. We have excellent relationships with regional museums, galleries and country houses— including the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Castle Howard, the Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the Henry Moore Institute. Our collaborations will support your learning and research through modules jointly designed with the partnership institution, and with 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.
You’ll study artworks from geographically diverse regions. You also have the option to develop your interdisciplinary interests by taking modules in academic disciplines such as history, literature, archaeology, philosophy, sociology, media and communications, law, human rights, and via the Centre for Modern Studies.
Two of your option modules must be from those designated to modern and contemporary, and your dissertation must be on a modern and contemporary theme.
Core modules
Research Skills in History of Art
Option modules
You will also study four option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Modern and contemporary options
American Carnage: Politics, Violence and Subjectivity in Art, 1990-Now
Makers, Making, and Modes of Fashion Production since 1765
The Modern Woman: Fashion and Global Modernities 1780-1940
Rethinking Aestheticism
South Asian Renaissance: Indian Court Painting, c.1526-1857
JMW Turner
Who Owns Antiquities? The Politics of Museology and Archaeology
Other options
Art and Imagery in York Minster
Art, Magic and the Miraculous in Renaissance Italy
Ceramic Arts of the Islamic World: Curating Histories
Painting on Light: Stained Glass in the Medieval Tradition
Interdisciplinary option modules
You can also choose a limited number of modules from those offered by other humanities departments at York and by our centres.
Centre for Modern Studies
Centre for Medieval Studies
Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
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