COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Art Curatorship at the University of Melbourne is a 200-point program designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in the theory, history, and practice of art curation. This program is suitable for students who have completed undergraduate study and wish to pursue a career in museums, galleries, cultural institutions, or arts management. The degree is structured to combine foundational knowledge, advanced disciplinary study, and practical curatorial experience. In the first 100 points of the program, students complete 50 points of foundation subjects, which include courses such as Australian Art, European Renaissance Art, Nineteenth-Century European Art, Art Markets and Methods, Twentieth-Century Art: The Avant-Gardes, Arts of East Asia, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art, and Studying Contemporary Art Abroad. These subjects provide a broad and international perspective on art history, theory, and cultural contexts. Students also complete 50 points of compulsory subjects, which build advanced skills in curatorial practices, research methods, and exhibition planning. Elective subjects allow students to tailor their learning to areas of personal or professional interest, while the capstone requirement provides an opportunity to undertake a major research project, internship, or practical project in curatorship. The minor thesis option is available for those wishing to engage in a more research-intensive pathway. The program emphasizes hands-on experience, giving students the opportunity to work with the University’s cultural collections and external arts institutions, developing skills in cataloguing, collection management, and exhibition design. Graduates emerge with the expertise needed to interpret, manage, and present artworks in a variety of professional contexts, equipped with both scholarly knowledge and practical skills. With a strong interdisciplinary focus and connections to leading professionals in the field, the Master of Art Curatorship prepares students to contribute effectively to the cultural and creative sectors both in Australia and internationally.