Art History (Thesis) (M.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Art History & Communications (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.A. in Art History with the thesis option requires the completion of 45 credits of coursework.
The program is designed to be completed in four semesters, but may be completed in three semesters. There is a time limit to complete the M.A. degree in three years (full-time) or five years (part-time).
For further details on thesis preparation and submission consult www.mcgill.ca/gps/thesis/thesis-guidelines.
Required Courses (27 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 600 | Advanced Professional Seminar. | 3 |
Advanced Professional Seminar. Terms offered: Fall 2025 A seminar course for M.A. and Ph.D. students dealing with methodological issues in Art History. | ||
| ARTH 698 | Thesis Research 1. | 12 |
Thesis Research 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 For the completion of thesis research. | ||
| ARTH 699 | Thesis Research 2. | 12 |
Thesis Research 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Supervised independent research work on an approved topic relating to thesis preparation. | ||
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
Chosen from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 501 | Advanced Topics in Art History and Visual Culture. | 3 |
Advanced Topics in Art History and Visual Culture. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Focused investigation of a special topic in the history of art and visual culture. | ||
| ARTH 502 | Advanced Topics in Art and Architectural History. | 3 |
Advanced Topics in Art and Architectural History. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Focused investigation of a special topic in the history of art and architecture. | ||
| ARTH 630 | Directed Reading 1. | 3 |
Directed Reading 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Directed reading. | ||
| ARTH 645 | Medieval Art and Archaeology. | 3 |
Medieval Art and Archaeology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Selected topics in medieval art history. | ||
| ARTH 646 | Topics: Chinese Visual Culture. | 3 |
Topics: Chinese Visual Culture. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in Chinese visual culture. | ||
| ARTH 647 | Topics: Renaissance Art and Architecture 1. | 3 |
Topics: Renaissance Art and Architecture 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in Renaissance art and architecture. | ||
| ARTH 653 | Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 1. | 3 |
Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Topics in early modern visual culture. | ||
| ARTH 654 | Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 2. | 3 |
Topics: Early Modern Visual Culture 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in early modern visual culture. | ||
| ARTH 660 | Contemporary Art and Criticism 1. | 3 |
Contemporary Art and Criticism 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in contemporary art and criticism. | ||
| ARTH 661 | Contemporary Art and Criticism 2. | 3 |
Contemporary Art and Criticism 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in contemporary art and criticism. | ||
| ARTH 675 | Topics: 19th - Century Art and Architecture 1. | 3 |
Topics: 19th - Century Art and Architecture 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Topics in 19th - century art and architecture. | ||
| ARTH 678 | Topics: 19th - Century Art and Architecture 2. | 3 |
Topics: 19th - Century Art and Architecture 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in 19th - century art and architecture. | ||
| ARTH 714 | Directed Reading 2. | 3 |
| ARTH 724 | Art Criticism 2. | 3 |
Art Criticism 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in art criticism. | ||
| ARTH 725 | Methods in Art History 1. | 3 |
Methods in Art History 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Critical examination of art historical methods. | ||
| ARTH 731 | Current Problems in Art History 2. | 3 |
Current Problems in Art History 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current problems in art history. | ||