MA in Art History - Visual Cultures of the Americas in Tallahassee United States | Florida State University

Visual Cultures of the Americas represents an interdisciplinary, hemisphere-wide exploration of artistic expressions and visual traditions emerging from the intricate interactions among indigenous, Western, African, and Asian communities from ancient times to today. Essential for comprehending both colonial and contemporary societies, this field of study showcases not just the vibrant heritage of America's native cultures and those shaped by colonialism, but also their ongoing conversations with global cultures.
Current program offerings examine: Pre-Columbian and Mesoamerican art, archaeology, and cultural practices; modern artistic movements in the US and Canada including architecture and cinema; and the impacts of mass culture and globalization. While students must specialize in particular topics to develop deep knowledge, they're also encouraged to engage with broader questions raised by the visual cultures across the Americas.
The History Department provides diverse graduate programs at both MA and PhD levels, preparing students for professional historical careers. It features robust graduate studies in specialized areas including American, European, African-American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Latin American history. Beyond the conventional MA program requiring expertise in primary and secondary fields plus a thesis, the department offers an MA in public history for careers in archives, museums, government, and private sector historical work. Alternative options include teaching-track MA and terminal MS degrees. Exceptional candidates may qualify for the accelerated MA-PhD program, which combines comprehensive art history knowledge with specialized study in one departmental focus area. The 36-credit MA program cultivates research and writing skills valuable for professional art historical careers.