History of Art and Architecture (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)

Overview

The M.Phil. in History of Art and Architecture (1 year full-time or 2 years part-time) offers well-qualified graduates an opportunity to undertake advanced study in the history of art and architecture in Ireland. 

Course focus
The course focuses on art and architecture in Ireland – this includes both Irish art and architecture and the international collections of art and material culture that are in Ireland. Departmental staff are leading experts in Irish art and architecture, hosting a world class centre in Irish art postgraduate research at TRIARC (Trinity Irish Arts Research Centre). The department also has broader expertise in areas including European painting and portraiture, architecture and urbanism, Islamic art, contemporary art and design, and Spanish art and architecture. 
There is a strong emphasis on direct engagement with works of art in public and private collections throughout the degree, including with the unique collections held by Trinity on campus and the world class collections and institutions with which we have close connections, such as the National Gallery, the Chester Beatty, and the Irish Architectural Archive. Visits to sites, buildings, archives, artist studios, collections and institutions are important features of many of the modules and are actively encouraged as part of the dissertation research. 

Course Structure
Students choose four elective modules that offer detailed engagement with periods and media. Students can choose to follow an Irish art strand throughout their MPhil or to pick more widely from the diverse selection of modules available. A central element of the course is a taught module in research methods that explores the principal sources and methodologies applicable to advanced study in the history of art. Students undertake a substantial research dissertation of 15,000–20,000 words on a selected subject under the supervision of a member of staff.

Elective Modules
Our modules reflect our diverse areas of expertise as research active staff. Subject to availability, elective modules may include Medieval Monastic Ireland; The Artist and the Printed Image: Concepts, Technologies and Dissemination; Portraits and Portraiture in Dublin Collections; Interpreting Ireland’s Built Heritage; Arts of the Book (Islamic); Ireland and France, 1800–2000; Gender, Art and Identity; Visualising Climate Change; Constructing Drawings. You are also able to choose one module from across the School of Histories and Humanities instead of the options from the department, which can include options ranging from the Irish Big House, to Gender and Sexuality, depending on availability. 

Career pathways
The MPhil provides a strong foundation in art-historical skills, methodologies and approaches and helps prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers including in the gallery, museum and heritage sectors, libraries and archives, public policy and administration, teaching, media, public relations, publishing, and art practice. For those already working in these sectors, the course will enrich knowledge and skills, stimulate lateral thinking, and act as a spur to innovation. It also provides invaluable training in research for those planning to pursue a doctorate and/or career in research.

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