vnswang

what if we are current MA students? Should we write "Current MA Student in xxx(program)"?

Hello everyone! I am currently making a real hard decision between MA in art history of IFA and SAIC. One key question is: the importance of course selection for applying PhD programs. 1.Today I saw University of Maryland said that they require their PhD applicants to have studies courses from vast chronicle and geographical range, just as what they require for their MA students. Would this be a disadvantage of SAIC’s program when one apply for PhD? Indeed, courses in SAIC emphasis much more on contemporary art. Even courses on modern art are relatively much less. While in other programs like NYU：students will take seven courses in lectures, seminars and colloquia. Of these 7, at least 3 courses are not relevant to modern and contemporary studies. 2.Courses in NYU does cover a larger areas and periods, but only a few courses focus on modern and contemporary sculptures, like Rodin's, Giacometti's, and so on. Even if I am interested in some courses, NYU's IFA also require interviews, PS, CV for course registration. I might be dropped out! I do care about if we have opportunity to work closely with individual faculty members within the Department on projects or field topics not normally included in the graduate curriculum, like I am interested in Rodin and Giacometti, and I know in SAIC, Professor David Raskin is familiar with this field, but it seems that there is no relevant course. 3. Most of the courses for graduate students are seminars in SAIC. Like in UMD, all courses for graduates are colloquiums and seminars. This is the difference between our program and programs like NYU's IFA and MODA, where lectures could make up the larger portion. So if you take many lectures, would it be an disadvantage for applying PhD? Many thanks for any information!

That's a really good question, I am also curious about terms of advising. Would you please share with me any information you got from current MA students in IFA? It seems that their website does not provide any records for where every cohort of students go, to PhD programs or jobs. But when I ask one of current students, she thinks this program is nice. So difficult to find information!

Thank you so much! Such a pity that I discover this too late.

Besides, I also got an offer from UIUC and am still waiting for answers from Boston University, UPenn and UMD. If anyone would recommend programs in these universities, please tell me. ps: I am not sure about the importance of location. UIUC is not in a big city with many contemporary art galleries. Boston University has a good location (MIT, Harvard), but there is only one professor in contemporary art and two in contemporary architecture, which might not be my interested fields. Thank you all!

Thank you very much for these detailed advice. Indeed, I am not 100% sure about my ultimate goal, thought I enjoy academic activities and do not want to be a staff in galleries or museums in my country simply because the environment is not good (low payment, co-workers with not very nice degree and accumulation of knowledge). I just want to go somewhere can really foster my understanding in contemporary art. Do you think it is okay to be unsure about the exact area I want to pursue in the future? Now I just could not choose one. I am afraid the wrong program would make me regret, like, I discover that I want to study A but there is no professor in this area! Again, thank you. Your advice is truly helpful.

yeah, although I do not want to believe it, I see this in thegradcafe! About 2-3 people said this about NYU's IFA when comparing it to MA in art history in CUNY!

Hi! I am applying for MA in art history (Fall 2020) and now got 2 offers: MA in Modern and Contemporary art history at SAIC, MA in art history at NYU's Institute of Fine Arts. Additionally, I am currently in the waitlist of MODA at Columbia. I have professors who have same areas of interest (Contemporary art, monuments, sculpture, installations, Bruce Nauman, ...) in all of them. But some information makes me anxious about making a choice: First, I heard that MODA and the IFA program both have a "reputation" of cash cow and focus more on their PhD. Do not know how about SAIC but I wanted to have more chance and attention. Second, I have considered about being a PhD in the future and have seen the career path of SAIC alumni. Many of them went to universities like UIUC, UCB, UNC. All of these are excellent, but I have the ambition of pursuing higher goals. Maybe a university, not an art institution, has advantages in applying for PhD? Third, SAIC has courses like sonic art, design history, fashion. But courses in the IFA program may focus less on contemporary art. Does anyone here have some advice about their courses (intensive or not?), professors, career path, safety or else? Any information would help. Thanks a lot!