School of Humanities

School of Humanities

Postgraduate Study

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Postgraduate Programme

Postgraduate study in Art History and Art Theory at the University of Canterbury offers you access to unique range of subjects in a well-resourced and dynamic programme. Graduates of our programme have secured careers as art writers, scholars, curators, and museum and heritage conservation professionals. For inquiries regarding the B.A. Honours and Postgraduate Diploma in Art Curatorship, please contact Honours Co-ordinator, Dr Emilie Sitzia. For inquiries about postgraduate study relating to Masters, and PhD programmes in the Art History Programme, please contact the Postgraduate Co-ordinator for Art History, Associate Professor Ian Lochhead.

For broader info about postgraduate study in the School of Humanities,
visit the Humanities Postgraduate website.

Honours

The Honours year consists of three taught courses and the ARTH/ARTT480 research paper. Individual courses examine selected topics in depth, providing students with experience in a range of methodologies, research techniques and modes of presenting material.

Students select three ARTH/ARTT 400 level courses from those offered, or two ARTH/ARTT 400 level courses and one approved course from another programme such as a language, English, History or Maori and Indigenous Studies. Ideally, students will select courses which enhance each other and build on the strengths already shown in undergraduate study.

Classes are small and allow students the opportunity to work closely with the lecturer in that person's particular field of study.

Modes of assessment vary with each class. The normal criterion for admission to the BA (Hons) is 120 points in Art History and Theory, including 60 points at 300 level with a B+ average. (Students who have not attained a B+ average at 300 level but wish to be considered for Honours study should apply in writing to the Head of Department, supporting their application with relevant material.)

Students transferring from other institutions are welcomed - some of the most successful post-graduate students have come to Canterbury after undergraduate experience at Victoria, Otago or Auckland. The Honours year is a pre-requisite for entry into a Masters degree, and makes a good introduction to the research experience.

Information for students writing their ARTH/ARTT480 research paper may be found here.

Masters

Students are normally admitted to the MA degree only after successfully completing the requirements for the BA (Hons) (which forms Part I of the MA course as set out in the University calendar) or an equivalent course of study at another university. There are no taught courses at MA level as such: supervised full-time research taking at least one year leads to the presentation of a thesis (Part II), on acceptance of which the MA degree is awarded with Distinction, Merit or Pass.

Admission: The normal criterion for admission is the completion of the requirements of the BA (Hons) with second class honours division one (2.1) or better. Prospective students should not enrol without having consulted with prospective supervisor(s) and/or the Postgraduate Co-ordinator. It is essential that students settle their choice of thesis topic with the Postgraduate Coordinator and the staff member who might act as their supervisor before embarking on their enrolment. Students will not be enrolled without an approved topic proposal.

Successful applicants will be notified by Registry in late January or early February. Full-time or part-time enrolment is possible, and full-time enrolment may be changed to part-time enrolment during the course of study if approved by the Dean. Although one year’s full-time study is the basis for the accomplishment of the Master’s thesis, it is not unusual to take longer (see Postgraduate Handbook for regulations regarding this point).

PhD

This is an advanced research degree which normally takes a minimum of three years. The normal criterion for admission to the degree is an MA with first class honours or distinction. Admission to the degree is by application to the Registrar, but the prior consent of a member of staff to act as chief supervisor is essential. (In some cases, the necessary expertise may not be found within Canterbury's Art History and Art Theory programme and prospective doctoral candidates should consider other universities such as Auckland and Melbourne. Staff can give advice and information about such a move.) Applicants usually have six months in which to prepare a detailed research proposal. Further information can be obtained from the Postgraduate Coordinator and/or the office of the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
Students should familiarise themselves with the guidelines put out by the office of the Dean of Postgraduate Studies relating to all aspects of Masters and Doctoral study.

Postgraduate Diploma in Art Curatorship

This is a one-year course similar to a BA Honours and consists, like the BA Honours, of four courses. These courses are ARTC 401 Practicum, ARTC 402 the Art Museum past and present (aka ARTH 417), ARTC 403 Special Topic (i.e. any other ARTH/ARTT 400 level course), and ARTC 404 Special Project. Students must pass all four of these courses to gain the Diploma. In special circumstances students may substitute an appropriate 400 level course from another programme, with the approval of the subject convenor.  This course of study offers a more applied alternative to the BA Honours in Art History and Theory which will appeal to students intending to work in the museum, art gallery and commercial art sectors. 

N.B. The Post Graduate Diploma in Art Curatorship does not qualify students for entry to the MA in Art History or Art Theory.

Postgraduate Resources

The following are useful resources for postgraduate study in Art History: