• An interest in aesthetic pieces from different cultures
• Precise observation skills as well as the ability to analyze visual phenomena with exactness
• A strong interest in cultural and historical issues as well as in interdisciplinary work
• A distinct ability to speak upon complex linguistic and textual correlations
• An enthusiasm for communication
• Spatial thinking skills

The following describes the entrance requirements for the Master of Arts degree program in “Art History: Works – Contexts – Discourses.”

A bachelor’s degree with a standard period of study of at least six semesters completed at a university in Germany or abroad. You must have earned least 90 credits in courses related to art history or have an equivalent higher education degree with the same amount of subject-related examinations and coursework.

If you have obtained fewer than 90 but at least 60 credits in the area of art history in your bachelor’s degree, you will still be invited to a selection interview. In individual cases, the additional completion of art history courses may be required.

Other requirements must be met for the specialization in “Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History.”

Applicants who have not obtained a university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution or a degree in a German-speaking course must provide proof of sufficient German language skills. These must correspond to the level DSH-2 of the “German Language Proficiency Examination for Admission to Higher Education for Foreign Applicants” and must be proven by the time of enrollment at JGU.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations.

As part of the master’s programs with a selectable focus area, you can pursue the master’s degree “Art History: “Works – Contexts – Discourses” as

• a single-subject master’s degree, i.e. as a master’s subject + master’s subject specialization,
• a master’s subject in combination with a (different) supplementary subject,
• a master’s subject with a supplementary qualification (certificates), or
• a supplementary subject (with or without previous knowledge)

Program structure

Within the three main modules of Art History, you will study works of fine art and architecture from various eras from the perspective of various criteria:

• Artwork and object analysis
• Art and contexts
• Theories of art, architecture, and images

Aside from the artworks and the examination of their material, spatial, and socio-cultural contexts, you will also spend time focusing on the artists, clients, and recipients in order to gain practice applying methods of art history.

In this regard, you can select pictorial art (paintings, sculptures, new media), architecture or applied arts (object art) as an individual specialization.

The regular attendance of lectures held by academics and experts from various fields will round off your program of study. This will enable you to gain further knowledge of current developments in the art world, modern academic analytical methods, and professional fields and institutions that are responsible for the processing, preservation, and presentation of art.

Furthermore, direct experiences with original works are of particular relevance in your program of study. Through excursions (lasting a total of 8 days – carried out either all at once or in segments), you will learn how to view and analyze works of art up close in museums or other local settings.

You will also have the opportunity to look beyond your subject’s horizons by acquiring a new (modern or ancient) foreign language or by enhancing your skills in a language in which you are already proficient. You may additionally select from an array of modules in related subject areas:

• Music, Theater, Film or Book Studies
• Media Law
• Theology
• Ecclesiastical History
• Classical Archaeology
• Studium generale

In the final phase (4th semester) of you degree program, you will delve deeper into your own academic research questions in the form of a master’s thesis.

If you are interested in the specialization in “Christian Archaeology and Byzantine Art History,” you may want to consider the interdisciplinary master’s degree program Archaeology and Philology in Antient Studies (ALPHA), which features the specialization “Byzantine Archaeology.” You can find more information on the ALPHA degree program’s website.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

The Art History degree program offers the possibility of a stay abroad, especially for the purpose of viewing and researching original works of art.

Internships

As a part of the master’s program, you are required to complete an internship in order to gain valuable insights into potential future fields of work.

You may seek out an internship position based upon your own subject-specific interests. Internships are typically carried out in cultural institutions; however, you may consult with your supervisor if you are considering another type of institution.

It is standard practice to complete the internship during the semester break.

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

The Art History master’s degree program imparts comprehensive skills that will prepare you for a career, including the following:

• How to systematically analyze complex topics and contexts, also extending beyond the scope of art history
• How to prepare comprehensible presentations (oral, written, audiovisual) for specialist audiences and the wider public
• How to systematically describe, analyze, and potentially present works of art and architecture, even if they are only in the form of illustrations or representations
• How to conduct thorough research with the use of specialist literature and other sources
• How to quickly comprehend information
• How to precisely and appropriately use and present quotes and sources
• How to observe copyrights

Completion of the master’s program will open up more options on the job market than if you were to only hold a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree, however, is typically followed by a doctorate if you should wish to pursue one of the “conventional” professional fields for art historians.

• Exhibiting art in museums, art galleries, art associations, banks
• Communicating art in museums, art-lending libraries, art publishers, educational institutions, media companies, and online portals
• Collecting art in museums, for private collections, and in industry and banking firms
• Preserving art in museums and cultural heritage preservation agencies
• Researching and teaching art at universities, academies, museums, and other research institutions
• Examining art in museums, at cultural heritage preservation agencies, in art trade, as an authorized expert, and for the insurance industry
• Trading art in galleries, auction houses, and antique trade as well as for online portals and art consultants

However, a doctorate is not a must! Graduates of the master’s degree program can easily find jobs in various professional fields.

• Preserving, documenting and researching in museums, cultural heritage preservation agencies, archives and restoration workshops, and insurance
• Managing and organizing in academic, cultural and project management, for public bodies (ministries), and for agencies and creative companies
• Talking about and reporting on art and culture in many types of media (press, radio, TV, publishing houses, online portals)
• Making art accessible via adult education, cultural mediation events, tourism, and foundations
• Teaching art at adult education centers and independent technical schools or via lateral entry to the teaching profession

It is generally possible to enter into the profession by gaining initial practical experience within the program of study, i.e. via internships.

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.