Program: Required Courses

• Bases of Criticism I & II

  Instructor: David Levi Strauss

  Required of all first-year students, these courses will provide background to the history, theory and criticism offered through the elective courses. Foundational texts and other sources will create a base for further studies and assist students in understanding the prominent theoretical positions of art criticism—past and present—and their sources.

• Writing I & II

  Instructor: Claudia La Rocco & Nancy Princenthal

  These courses will lead to the writing of the thesis in the final year of the program. Students will study examples of critical writing, such as reviews of current exhibitions. As the process advances, students are encouraged to dig deeply into ideas without ever losing sight of the value of clarity.

• Writing III

  Instructor: Michael Brenson

  This course is a continuation of Writing I & II, with an added element. In conjunction with writing and revising exhibition reviews for possible publication in the department’s online journal Degree Critical, instructors will consult on thesis issues such as selection of a topic, prognosticated outlines and review of written drafts.

• Thesis Seminar

  Instructor: Lynne Tillman

  Thesis faculty from various backgrounds and fields will discuss what is important about a thesis from their points of view. Students will submit drafts of their work for discussion and review.

• Thesis

  Each student will meet with his or her advisor and work on a one-to-one basis throughout the semester. Meetings are used for the instructor to read drafts of the thesis-in-progress followed by discussion on its development.