What you can expect in our master's program

The master's degree program in History of Art at KIT is research-oriented and practice-oriented. It provides you with the ability to reflect academically and practical skills in an art science that sees itself as a visual science and aspires to be part of a lively specialist culture.

The program is designed for a standard period of study of four semesters, during which you will acquire a total of 120 ECTS credits and develop your own professional profile.

The focus is on the systematic development of in-depth specialist knowledge, closely linked to the targeted testing of subject-specific methods of academic work. You will learn to analyze visual works from traditional and new media historically and systematically, to decipher visual languages and codes and to assess artistic production in its theoretical and social dimensions. The aim is to enable you to achieve analytical-critical and practical independence in the entire field of art history and also - as a special feature of the degree program at KIT - in the field of architectural history, architectural theory and architectural communication.

In the compulsory area, the program is divided into the following subjects and modules

• Theories and Methods: Aesthetics - Methods - Image and Art Theory (3 x 8 CP)
• Research Fields: you can choose from a range of modules (3 x 8 CP)
• Applied Science: Practical Exercises and Excursions (10 + 8 CP)

There is also a Compulsory Elective Field (24 CP) and the final master's thesis (30 CP).

In the Compulsory Elective Field, you choose one of four profiles and specialize in it:

• Art and Society: Sociology of Arts, Art and Politics, Ecology and the Arts
• Theory and History of Architecture: History of Architecture, Theory of Architecture, Communication of Architecture
• Transdisciplinary Studies: courses from History, German Literature and related disciplines
• Art and New Media: digital image cultures, media aesthetics, moving image analysis

Through contact with lecturers from various areas of art historical practice, you will gain valuable insights into classical and current professional fields during your master's degree and thus receive targeted support in the development of your professional profile.

Program structure

Internship

The master's degree program in History of Art does not include a compulsory work placement. However, it is recommended that you gain practical experience in professional fields of art history - for example in museums, galleries, publishing houses or cultural institutions. The courses in Applied Science offer you practical insights and contact with external experts during your studies.

You can apply to the Students Office for a semester off (leave of absence) for a voluntary internship, provided it covers at least half of the lecture period.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

You can obtain information and support regarding your plans abroad from the International Coordination and the Erasmus Office of your KIT Department. Another important point of contact, especially if you are interested in exchange programs outside Europe is the International Students Office. It centrally organizes KIT's overseas cooperations and also provides information and support if you are planning an internship abroad during or after your studies.

Master's thesis

In the fourth semester, you complete your studies with the master's thesis (30 CP). You will work on an art-historical question independently and in a scientifically sound manner. The prerequisite for registration is the successful completion of module examinations amounting to at least 80 CP. The processing time is six months, an extension is possible on request. After submission, you will present your work in a colloquium.

With a master's degree, you can, for example, opt for management positions in science administration or at management consultancies, in cultural, media and public relations work or political consulting as well as in journalism and publishing. Museums, galleries, cultural management, exhibitions, tourism, journalism, publishing, radio and television etc. can also be suitable career paths. By specializing in art history and visual studies, you can also gain a foothold in related fields in the humanities. It is very helpful to complete a number of internships during your studies in order to establish connections with potential employers.

However, an academic career is also conceivable, as the focus of the master's degree program is also on qualifying students for academic work. With a good master's degree and scientific ambitions, it may be interesting for you to plan a doctorate and a subsequent career at a university or research institution.

Characteristic features of History of Art M.A. at KIT

• intensive personal support from teaching staff with national and international reputations

• practice-oriented basic teaching with excursions, discussions in front of originals, cooperation with local art and cultural institutions

• numerous opportunities to set your own focus and individual development
  

• involvement of students in research projects
  

• additional courses offered through an association with other institutes that teach art history in Karlsruhe (Akademie der Künste and Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung), through the FORUM and through the association with architecture, as well as humanities and social science subjects at KIT
  

• integration into the Eucor university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

• in-depth specialist knowledge, particularly in the fields of architectural history, architectural theory and architectural communication

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

Based on the current admission regulations, the prerequisite for admission to the master's degree program in History of Art is a successfully completed bachelor's degree in History of Art or an equivalent degree in humanities or history at a university, university of applied sciences or vocational academy within the scope of the Higher Education Framework Act or at a foreign university. The degree must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years, alternatively with a required minimum number of 180 ECTS credits in art history or a related subject area. The examination board decides on the equivalence of degrees that have not been completed in the subject area of History of Art.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in History of Art, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above for your German language skills by the application deadline, admission is still possible if you can present a provisional document proving that you have at least B2 language level. Proof of B2 level only includes

• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with an overall result of DSH-1
  
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 3 in all four parts of the exam
  
• passed telc German B2 exam

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Architektur
• Institut für Kunstgeschichte
• Fachstudienberatung
• Prüfungsausschuss
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft Kunstgeschichte

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