Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this module, students should demonstrate the capacity to undertake advanced individual research and produce a finished written dissertation.
MA Thesis (AH40540)
- Subject:
- Art History
- College:
- Arts & Humanities
- School:
- Art History & Cultural Policy
- Level:
- 4 (Masters)
- Credits:
- 40
- Module Coordinator:
- Assoc Professor Conor Lucey
- Credit Split by Trimester:
- Autumn 5
Spring 5
Summer 30 - Trimester:
- Year-long (12 months)
- Mode of Delivery:
- On Campus
- Internship Module:
- No
Curricular information is subject to change.
A crucial component of the MA programme in Art History is the research and writing of a dissertation. The dissertation is valued at half (50 credits) the overall credits for this Masters and should normally be 12,000-15,000 words (including footnotes) in length. The dissertation module is a year-long module, and different stages are undertaken across the three trimesters of the year-long programme: primary research and a preliminary presentation take place in Trimester 1; a second presentation and the principal research is undertaken in Trimester 2; composition, drafts and editing take place in Trimester 3. Submission is mid-August.
Ideally the topic of the dissertation should relate to the subject of this postgraduate programme – collections and curating – or should have arisen from issues or areas discussed in the core modules of the MA course. However, students are also encouraged to choose subjects that interest them and are judged by a supervisor to be worthy of sustained investigation.
This module is closely related to AH40160 Approaches to Art History: Resources and Methods, which is designed to prepare students for the research and writing of the dissertation.
Ideally the topic of the dissertation should relate to the subject of this postgraduate programme – collections and curating – or should have arisen from issues or areas discussed in the core modules of the MA course. However, students are also encouraged to choose subjects that interest them and are judged by a supervisor to be worthy of sustained investigation.
This module is closely related to AH40160 Approaches to Art History: Resources and Methods, which is designed to prepare students for the research and writing of the dissertation.
About this Module
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Specified Learning Activities | 100 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 900 |
| Total | 1,000 |
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Dissertation topics must be approved by individual supervisors. An individual supervisor will be assigned to you: they will be responsible for giving guidance in research and preparation and will monitor your progress throughout the Spring semester (until a first draft is submitted in early June). Feedback will be provided by your supervisor. During July and August students work independently on improving and refining the writing and presentation of their dissertations as indicated by their supervisors; the final version is submitted for examination in mid-August.Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | % of Final Grade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay: The dissertation should be 12,000-15,000 words (including footnotes) in length. | Coursework (End of Trimester) | n/a | Graded | No | 90 |
No |
| Presentation: Class presentation on dissertation topic, research questions and methodology. | Varies over the Trimester | n/a | Graded | No | 10 |
No |
Carry forward of passed components
Yes| Remediation Type | Remediation Timing |
|---|---|
| Repeat | Within Two Trimesters |
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
An individual supervisor will be assigned to you: they will be responsible for giving guidance in research and preparation and will monitor your progress throughout the Spring semester (until a first draft is submitted in early June). Feedback will be provided by your supervisor. During July and August students work independently on improving and refining the writing and presentation of their dissertations as indicated by their supervisors; the final version is submitted for examination in mid-August.
ART HISTORY METHODS
Adams, Laurie S. Methodologies of Art: An Introduction. Oxford: Westview Press, 2002.
Broude, Norma and Gerrard, M.D. (eds.), The Expanding Discourse: Feminism and Art History. New York: Harper and Row, 1992.
Carrier, David. Principles of Art History Writing. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1991.
Anne D’Alleva, Methods and Theories of Art History. London: Laurence King, 2005.
Edwards, Steve, ed. Art and Its Histories: A Reader. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
Elkins, James. The Domain of Images. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.
Elkins, James. Visual Studies: A Skeptical Introduction. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Evans, Jessica and Stuart Hall, eds. Visual culture: the reader. London: Sage, 1999.
Fernie, Eric, ed. Art History and Its Methods. London: Phaidon, 1996.
Gombrich, Ernst H. Reflections on the History of Art: Views and Reviews. Oxford: Phaidon, 1987.
Harris, Jonathan. The New Art History: A Critical Introduction. New York/London: Routledge, 2001.
Harris, Jonathan. Art History. The Key Concepts. London: Routledge, 2006.
Hatt, M. & Klonk, C. Art History: A Critical Introduction to its Methods, Manchester University Press, 2006.
Holly, Michael Ann. Panofsky and the Foundations of Art History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1984.
Moxey, Keith. The Practice of Theory: Poststructuralism, Cultural Politics, and Art History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994.
Nelson, Robert S., and Richard Shiff, eds. Critical Terms for Art History. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 2003.
Neill, Alex and Aaron Ridley, eds. The Philosophy of Art: Readings Ancient and Modern. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1995.
Pacht, Otto. The Practice of Art History: Reflections on Method. London: Harvey Miller Publishers, 1999.
Pollock, Griselda. Vision and Difference: Femininity, Feminism, and Histories of Art. New York/London: Routledge, 1988.
Preziosi, Donald. Rethinking Art History: Meditations on a Coy Science. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.
Preziosi, Donald, ed. The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Rose, Gillian. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials. London: Sage, 2001.
Shone, Richard and Stonard, John-Paul, The Books that Shaped Art History, London: Thames and Hudson, 2013.
THESIS WRITING
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Murray, Rowena. How to Write a Thesis. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2006.
Adams, Laurie S. Methodologies of Art: An Introduction. Oxford: Westview Press, 2002.
Broude, Norma and Gerrard, M.D. (eds.), The Expanding Discourse: Feminism and Art History. New York: Harper and Row, 1992.
Carrier, David. Principles of Art History Writing. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1991.
Anne D’Alleva, Methods and Theories of Art History. London: Laurence King, 2005.
Edwards, Steve, ed. Art and Its Histories: A Reader. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
Elkins, James. The Domain of Images. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999.
Elkins, James. Visual Studies: A Skeptical Introduction. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Evans, Jessica and Stuart Hall, eds. Visual culture: the reader. London: Sage, 1999.
Fernie, Eric, ed. Art History and Its Methods. London: Phaidon, 1996.
Gombrich, Ernst H. Reflections on the History of Art: Views and Reviews. Oxford: Phaidon, 1987.
Harris, Jonathan. The New Art History: A Critical Introduction. New York/London: Routledge, 2001.
Harris, Jonathan. Art History. The Key Concepts. London: Routledge, 2006.
Hatt, M. & Klonk, C. Art History: A Critical Introduction to its Methods, Manchester University Press, 2006.
Holly, Michael Ann. Panofsky and the Foundations of Art History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1984.
Moxey, Keith. The Practice of Theory: Poststructuralism, Cultural Politics, and Art History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1994.
Nelson, Robert S., and Richard Shiff, eds. Critical Terms for Art History. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press, 2003.
Neill, Alex and Aaron Ridley, eds. The Philosophy of Art: Readings Ancient and Modern. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1995.
Pacht, Otto. The Practice of Art History: Reflections on Method. London: Harvey Miller Publishers, 1999.
Pollock, Griselda. Vision and Difference: Femininity, Feminism, and Histories of Art. New York/London: Routledge, 1988.
Preziosi, Donald. Rethinking Art History: Meditations on a Coy Science. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.
Preziosi, Donald, ed. The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Rose, Gillian. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to the Interpretation of Visual Materials. London: Sage, 2001.
Shone, Richard and Stonard, John-Paul, The Books that Shaped Art History, London: Thames and Hudson, 2013.
THESIS WRITING
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Murray, Rowena. How to Write a Thesis. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2006.