Master of Arts in Art History, Musicology and Theatre Studies

The MA programme builds on the choice of major you made in the BA programme. In so doing, it is a logical continuation of your knowledge of specific art disciplines combined with a further development of independent, critical academic thinking and acting. Specialization and research finality are key: original research, creativity, collaboration, self-reliance and a critical attitude are sharpened. By choosing your major and elective course units, you determine your own research profile and immerse yourself in your own area of interest. You build up a burgeoning expertise in a specific domain and you prepare for the work field through various didactic methods.

All MA students take two theoretical-academic course units and the Master’s dissertation. In addition to these mandatory course units, students choose 10 ECTS-credits worth of elective course units, either from the programme, a suggested list of elective course units, Ghent University’s course catalogue or from another Flemish university. Students make an informed choice, with an eye to the Master’s dissertation and/or otherwise. In your choice of artistic discipline (major), you will take two research seminars in which the research is linked to the lecturer’s research expertise.

Visual Arts and Achitecture
You will choose two from a range of five research seminars covering various aspects of the discipline: Visual Arts Technology; Iconology; Modern and Contemporary Art; Art, Interior and Design; Fashion and Architecture. The themes discussed are based on current problems, needs and/or questions. You will conduct independent research on a specific theme, either individually or in group, and you will learn to present well-considered results in a critical manner, both orally and in writing. The research seminars often also contain a more practical component, with a focus on and relevance to the professional field by means of e.g. collaboration with professional institutions (setting up an exhibition, preparing a publication).

Musicology
Music History and Criticism, and Music Interaction and Technology are the two research seminars in which you study the historical development and context of music, as well as its fundamental properties. There is a strong research connection with IPEM, Ghent University’s research institute that conducts experimental research into the foundations of music and music perception.

Studies in Performing Arts and Media
The in-depth research seminars on Performance Theory and Performing Arts and the Afterlife of Antiquity will teach you to fathom collective and individual theatre studies problems, and to conduct independent academic research on the seminar’s theme. This is attained by reading, work and discussion seminars. In order to optimally respond to current trends in theatre landscape and performance theory, the research seminars’ focus changes every.

In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). More information can be found on www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.

Our graduates traditionally end up in the broad cultural and heritage sector and education. Some of them continue in academic research through a doctorate. They are eligible for a wide range of positions in those sectors: curator, conservator, programmer, researcher, teacher, manager, coordinator, critic, journalist, dramaturge, guide, gallery owner, art dealer, press and communications officer, public officer, education matters, day-to-day management, etc. Common workplaces for our graduates include art and culture-oriented government services and institutions (e.g. museums, opera houses, libraries, archives, cultural centres, heritage institutions, radio and television), independent (arts) organizations and non-profit organizations (e.g. arts centres, concert venues, cinemas, production houses, festival organization, art education projects and organizations), private initiatives and the commercial circuit (e.g. art dealers, galleries, auction houses, publishers). After taking additional and more management-oriented training, our graduates are also eligible for profiles such as business management.

Other graduates find a job outside the arts sectors. The disconnection of diploma and profession, which already applies to many fields of study, is also felt in our field. In those cases too, however, our study programme’s general training and skills offers added value: analysis and synthesis, critical reflection, cooperation and autonomous working. Finding a suitable job largely depends for example on one’s own personality, flexibility, eagerness to learn, social skills and language skills.