Unique in Ireland, the taught MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History, Theory and Criticism offers a stimulating, rigorous and wide-ranging exploration of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art and theory. Rooted in both solid historical training and cutting-edge critical methods, the course is designed to combine skills in creative and precise visual analysis, close reading of critical texts, and the cultivation of independent and original thinking and research. On completion of the course, you are equipped with skills that are vital to both further academic study and to the pursuit of a wide variety of careers in the arts. Our students typically come to us from backgrounds in the history of art, fine art, film, English literature, philosophy and other related disciplines. The course can be studied full time over one year, or part time (by day) over two years (this part-time option is available to EU students only).

The MA provides vital training for careers in schools and universities, museums, galleries and associated fields, as well as developing the necessary transferable skills for professional work in such areas as journalism, media, design, advertising, the heritage industry, and arts administration. Our MA graduates have gone on to pursue careers in arts both in Ireland and abroad, in auction houses and the art market, in teaching and gallery work, while others have elected to pursue PhDs with us at University College Cork as well as University College London and the University of Oxford.