Graduate Programs in Art History & Criticism and Studio Art

For funding opportunities apply by January 15, 2021. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2021.

Graduate students in Art History & Criticism and Studio Art at Stony Brook University have the opportunity to work in a uniquely interdisciplinary environment that encourages experimentation and innovation. The MA and PhD programs in Art History & Criticism are focused on modern and contemporary art. In both programs, we offer a dynamic and individually crafted curriculum that engages art history as an evolving and interdisciplinary field, with special strengths in global modernisms, and media, technology, and visual culture. Our faculty are internationally renowned scholars, curators, and teachers. Our students go on to successful careers as arts writers and curators, researchers and educators, consultants, and arts professionals in museums, galleries, and arts institutions.

The MFA in Studio Art is a three-year, critically engaged, creative practice program that fosters interdisciplinary study in the visual arts. Fellowships and graduate teaching assistant opportunities are available. The curriculum offers the opportunity to engage in intensive artistic research, interacting with artist peers and scholars in the department and across campus. Supported by a research university environment, faculty, staff, production facilities, and spacious, private art studios, our graduates are able to create meaningful connections to their art practice, preparing for professional careers as artists, and workers in related art, educational, and creative industries.

As a selective program in a large, public institution, we are able to offer graduate training with low tuition without sacrificing the resources of a major research university. As a small department, we offer students the opportunity to create individualized paths of study. Due to the combined nature of our programs, we are able to offer a MA/MFA or a MFA/PhD to exceptional candidates who wish to simultaneously pursue practice and research.

Our proximity to New York City offers extensive opportunities for research, collaboration, and professional networking at world-class museums, galleries and institutions. Students are able to view work and consult archives at institutions including the Whitney Museum, the New Museum, MoMA, the New York Public Library, and many others. Internship opportunities are available to students at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Christie’s, the New York Historical Society, Sotheby’s, and many more.

Our building houses fully equipped collaborative media workshops, newly remodeled seminar rooms, the University’s Zuccaire Art Gallery, and faculty and student studios—all steps away from an extraordinary research library. The University at large has a number of spaces to display art and hone curatorial practice, including the Simons Center, the Tabler Art Gallery, and the Lawrence Alloway Gallery.

Current faculty include Izumi Ashizawa, Shimon Attie, Brooke Belisle, Isak Berbic, Toby Buonagurio, Stephanie Dinkins, Barbara E. Frank, Shoki Goodarzi, Helen A. Harrison, Sohl Lee, Martin Levine, Karen Levitov, Karen Lloyd, John Lutterbie, Nobuho Nagasawa, Zabet Patterson, Howardena Pindell, Jason Paradis, Lorena Salcedo-Watson, Margaret Schedel, Maya Schindler, Katy Siegel, Andrew V. Uroskie, Lorraine Walsh.

To be considered for the highest levels of funding and support, applications must be received by January 15, 2021. All other applications will be accepted until March 1, 2021. A limited number of scholarships are available to exceptional candidates at the MA level.