Art Market Studies

NYSED: 87128   HEGIS: 1099

Art Market Studies is a 39-credit, full-time program that provides students with the tools to forge careers in the business of art. Its interdisciplinary nature reflects the diversity of professional opportunities available to graduates — whether in galleries, auction houses, art fairs, appraisal firms, online platforms, museums, or non-profit organizations. The curriculum aims to balance practical skills with academic rigor, as well as core business and legal concepts with industry-specific knowledge. It also privileges contemporary art, given that art produced from the postwar period to the present has come to dominate the market in recent years.    

In addition to coursework in valuation and appraisal, art law, marketing, gallery operations, the auction business, and the history of contemporary art, students in the program are required to pursue an internship with an art-related business or organization. Students gain hands-on experience through a practicum in which they assemble an exhibition from concept to execution. This distinctive assignment allows students to put into practice the knowledge and skills they have acquired in a real-world showcase of their abilities. Curriculum below is for the entering class of Fall 2017. 

NATASHA DEGEN, Associate Chairperson
natasha_degen@fitnyc.edu
fitnyc.edu/artmarket

Course of Study

Semester 1
AM 510	The International Art Market	3
AM 522	History of Contemporary Art, 1945 to the Present	3
AM 533	Core Business Practices	3
AM 613	Valuation and Appraisal	3
AM 633	Art, Law, and Professional Ethics	3
Semester 2
AM 511	Gallery Management and Operations	3
AM 513	The Auction Business	3
AM 523	Art in a Global Context, Post-1989	3
AM 531	Marketing for Art Organizations	3
AM 654	Practicum: Exhibition	3
Semester 3 - Choice of Option 1 or Option 2		6
AM 691	Internship	3
Plus
Option 1 AM 655 and AM 701
OR
Option 2: AM 623, and Choose 1 course from ED 523, or ED 572, or FT 551, or FT 654
Total Credits		39

COMMON REQUIREMENTS

All degree programs require that students maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 every semester while enrolled in the program. A student is placed on probation if his or her semester GPA is below 3.0. A student is not subject to academic dismissal at the end of his or her first semester in a degree program. A student will be dismissed from the college after two consecutive semesters with a GPA below 3.0. A final GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation

Maintenance of Matriculation
To maintain matriculation, a degree candidate must register each semester following entry into a program for either (a) at least one approved course or (b) maintenance of matriculation. If a student does not maintain continuous matriculation, or does not complete all degree requirements in the time allowed, that student will be required to apply for readmission to the program following the procedures and requirements listed in the catalog of the readmission year. If readmission is granted, the student will also be required to pay all delinquent maintenance of matriculation fees prior to being awarded the degree.

Degree Requirements

General

For admittance to degree candidacy, students must have satisfied all outstanding prerequisites, completed a minimum of 39 approved course credits, achieved a final grade point average (GPA) of 3.0, and completed one internship for credit. Students must have advanced to degree candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.

Internship

All students are required to complete an internship at an appropriate art institution. Internships may be pursued during the third semester of the program or during the summer prior to the third semester. They require a minimum commitment of 135 hours, which is the equivalent to one or two days per week for a full semester, or for summer internships, four to six weeks of full-time work. 

The Third Semester

In their third semester — in addition to completing an internship — students may elect to pursue additional coursework, which may be customized to reflect their professional interests, or they may embark on a thesis project. Students who choose the thesis track will enroll in AM 655 Thesis Seminar and AM 701 Thesis Preparation. The Thesis Seminar will guide students through the research and writing process, while also providing background on research methodologies and academic standards. Totaling 12,000 to 15,000 words, the resulting project will represent an original contribution to the field.