University of Southern California

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.A. Art and Curatorial Practices in the Public Sphere

Format: Campus

Program Description:

M.A. Art and Curatorial Practices in the Public Sphere is a platform for scholarship in contemporary art that uniquely addresses the study of social questions of public space and the public sphere. The program's two-year interdisciplinary course of study encompasses seminars on curatorial practices and the histories of exhibition; public sphere, social and critical theories; and selected topics in modern and contemporary art history.

Roski's new M.A. program features a curatorial practicum, conceived as a laboratory for students to collaborate on an exhibition project that explores city-space. In a master's thesis, students develop new scholarship in modern and contemporary art and its interpretation in relation to the social conditions of public space and the public sphere. An annual program of guest speakers, Critical Conversations, brings practitioners, scholars, and critics into conversation with students to share developments and critiques of how artists, curators, architects and others engage and theorize the complexities of public space.

Eligibility Requirements:

Admission to the M.A. Art and Curatorial Practices in the Public Sphere program requires the following:

-a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, or equivalent, from an accredited school (minimum 3.0 overall GPA)

-official academic transcripts

-three letters of recommendation from instructors or persons able to comment on the applicant's academic potential

-a 1500- to 2000-word personal statement

-a writing sample

-the GRE General Test

International Student Requirements:

International applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their scores submitted by ETS. They should also complete the Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support along with bank verification documents.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above