the program

The field of costume studies is one of the most exciting areas of current visual arts research. Co-founded in 1979 by the Department of Art and Art Professions and the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Costume Studies concentration focuses on the history of costume and textiles in its broadest aesthetic and cultural context. It was the first curriculum in the United States to educate specialists in this field.

The department offers courses that emphasize the relation of costume studies to material culture and the fine and decorative arts. The 42-point curriculum includes core courses as well as electives in exhibition and museum topics; art theory and criticism; and the decorative arts. Faculty in the program associated with museums and galleries in New York teach courses in costume and textile history, decorative arts and conservation. Students benefit from collections of costume, accessories and related objects at leading institutions including the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum; Museum of the City of New York and the New-York Historical Society. The internship component of the program enables students to gain first-hand work experience and make valuable professional contacts.

enrollment

Applicants to the M.A. Program in Visual Culture/Costume Studies come from a variety of backgrounds. The costume studies concentration is suitable for those seeking careers as curators, museum administrators, collection managers, and exhibition consultants; as specialists at auction houses and private dealers; as archivists and historical researchers; or as educators, writers, journalists and critics.

admission prerequisites

Applicants to the program should have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and undergraduate degrees in such major fields as history, art history, theatre, anthropology, or sociology, although those with other majors and strong liberal arts backgrounds, appropriate internships, and/or work experience will be considered. Reading ability in one foreign language is recommended.

the curriculum

The program requires 42 points for completion, on a full- or part-time basis. Students in the program must complete a substantial, well-researched master’s thesis. Research focuses on a particular interest or issue in the field of costume studies. Students work with their program adviser to develop a research topic and complete the final phase of the thesis during their last semester.

degree requirements

Core Courses (6 points)
Foundations of Visual Culture
Visual and Critical Analysis
Topics in Visual Culture

Specialization Courses (15 points)
Graduate Projects: Theory, Research & Writing
Textile History I
Textile History II
Costume History I
Costume History II
Costume History III
Costume History IV (Special Topics)
Costume Conservation

Electives (12-15 points)
Exhibition Design
History of Taste
Appraisal and Valuation of Art
Design and Modernity: 20th century Decorative Arts
Costume as Art
Fashion Photography

Internships (3-6 points)

Final Project (3 points)

Program Total: 42 points

application procedures

Follow the instructions outlined by NYU Steinhardt's Office of Graduate Admissions for filing your application form. The following is a list of all items that must accompany the completed application form.

1. Transcripts: Must be obtained from undergraduate and graduate institutions, if applicable.
2. Three Letters of Recommendation: Should be obtained from academic and professional sources.
3. Current Resume
4. Personal Interview: A personal interview is required for qualifying students living close to New York City; for qualifying students living outside the metropolitan area, a telephone interview is required. The program office will notify you if an interview is required.
5. Statement of Purpose: A typewritten, double-spaced, two- to three-page statement explaining your purpose in undertaking graduate study in Costume Studies. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and to inform the Admissions Committee about your goals, interests, and career plans as they relate to your intended academic pursuits.

For further information:

Prof. Nancy Deihl, Coordinator, Visual Culture Program: Costume Studies, 212.998.5762

Send application materials to NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions Office. For general information pertaining to admission and financial aid, and/or to download an application (PDF file), visit the graduate admission's Web site.