Arts and Culture: Architecture

Master

Architecture is a specialisation in the MA in Arts and Culture. In this specialisation you not only study architectural history from the perspective of the architects, their designs and the way in which their work is implemented, you also pay attention to patrons, the public and how the public responds to architecture and the built environment.

Central themes include:

Italian baroque
exchanges between Italy and the Low Countries in the period from 1500 to 1750
alternative architecture discourses in the 20th century, from regionalism and traditionalism to neo-baroque
architecture theory, where thinking on the impact of buildings on the public is key, as in classical rhetoric or the sublime.

In Leiden you will study these themes in close co-operation with the Dutch interuniversity art history institutes in Rome and Florence. Excursions to these institutes are a structural part of the programme.

Compulsory courses for all students, regardless of specialisation:

Practices and Debates (5 EC)
Thesis seminar (5 EC)
Thesis (20 EC)

In order to meet the demands of any specialisation you need to follow a minimum of 45 EC in your chosen specialisation. The most common study path to meet this requirement is:

2 Research seminars in field of specialisation (2 × 10 EC)
Thesis seminar (5 EC)
Thesis (20 EC)

Free Component (10 EC): You can choose any course offered within the MA Arts and Culture, a course on an Arts and Culture subject taught in another MA or an approved Internship.

Please note that several additional workshops will be offered during the academic year. Information will be available on our website.

Courses

Vak	EC	Semester 1	Semester 2
Obligatory courses
Practices and Debates in Art History	5
Thesis Seminar Arts and Culture	5
Free Component	10
MA Thesis Arts and Culture	20
Choose two of the following research seminars
Travelling Architects	10
Medieval and Early Modern Studies: Paris c. 1750, the Birth of the Modern Art World	10
Dutch Architecture in the 1960s and 70s: the Structuralist Movement	10
Free Component (10 EC) You can choose any course offered within the MA Arts and Culture, a course on an Arts and Culture subject taught in another MA or an approved Internship. Suggestions:
Modern Sculpture as Exhibition Project	5
Art & Life Sciences	rsp 5 en 6
Internship Arts and Culture	10

More info

Course objectives

to enable students to acquire academic knowledge, understanding and skills, and train them in the use of scientific methods in the field of Arts and Culture in general, and in particular with regard to the chosen specialisation;
to enable students to develop the following academic and professional skills:
- independent academic reasoning and conduct,
- the ability to analyse complex problems,
- academic reporting;
to prepare students for an academic career and further education;
to prepare students for a career outside academia.

Structure

The structure of the programme is the following:

Practices and Debates (5 credits);
Two Research Seminars from the chosen specialisation in the master’s programme in Arts and Culture (20 credits);
Free Component (10 credits);
Thesis Seminar (5 credits);
Thesis (20 credits).

Full-time and part-time

The programme consits of 60 EC, to be completed in one year.
Part-time students complete the programme in 1,5 years. Courses are scheduled during office hours.

Requirements for graduation:

In order to graduate, students must have completed 60 EC of courses including the writing of the thesis. The master’s programme is concluded with a master’s thesis containing the results of the individual research.

In order to meet the demands of any specialisation you need to follow a minimum of 45 EC in your chosen specialisation.
The most common study path to meet this requirement:

2 Research seminars in field of specialisation (20 EC);
Thesis seminar (5 EC);
Thesis (20 EC).

Specialisations

The specialisations are: Architecture, Early Modern and Medieval Art, Museums & Collections, Art of the Contemporary World and World Art Studies and Design and Decorative Art Studies.