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 2018.
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 500 | Art Market Research and Valuation | 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 | 9 | |
| Internship | ||
| Plus | ||
| Option 1: AM 655 and AM 701 | ||
| OR | ||
| Option 2: AM 600 and AM 602 | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Additional Courses
AM 603 Field Study
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
ADVANCEMENT TO DEGREE CANDIDACY
Eligibility to Attend Commencement Exercises
Candidates for the master’s degree at FIT must have advanced to candidacy before being permitted to attend graduation ceremonies.
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 at least 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 embark on a thesis project (Option 1), or they may elect to pursue additional coursework (Option 2). 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.
The second option — which comprises two business-oriented courses, AM 600 Case Study Research and AM 602 Innovation in the Creative Industries — guides students in identifying specific business problems within the art market and considering viable solutions. Whereas Innovation in the Creative Industries primarily supports the development of a new business venture, Case Study Research focuses on the research and analysis of an existing organization, with the end goal of producing a business case study and teaching note suitable for publication.
Time Requirement for Degree Completion
Students are expected to complete all degree requirements by the end of the third semester of study. In the event of special extenuating circumstances, the Department Chair, in consultation with the Dean, may provide a student with an extension through the end of the second academic year of the program.