Master’s Degree

MA in Historic Art and Design

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Date
Fall 2025
Duration
1+ Year
Location
New York
Program
Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning
In-Person
Language
English
Topic
Historic Art and Design
Contact Admissions

+1 212-517-3929 admissions@sia.edu

Become a connoisseur. Develop an expert understanding and contextualization of the history, materials, processes, and techniques that contribute to the cultural and financial value of a work of art. 

The Historic Art and Design curriculum is based on a simple belief: the fundamental currency of the art world is objects. The master’s program offers an in-depth exploration of connoisseurship and the integrated study of fine art, decorative art and design, based on case studies drawn from the eighteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century. Issues examined include style, materials and techniques, copies and revivals, but also investigation of patterns of patronage and collecting. We seek to understand the historical and contemporary art market for a range of primarily American (including Latin American and African American) and European art and design objects. 

Students learn how to engage directly with the marketplace and gain essential skills in connoisseurship, valuation, and curation, which are necessary to study and evaluate objects. Whether in sales, valuation, art history, or cultural institution management at museums, galleries, or auction houses — graduates of the master’s degree program in Historic Art and Design are prepared for a range of careers and leave with an expanded professional network.  

Please note: this program was formerly known as the MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design. 

Highlights

Specialist Skills

Step into the shoes of art world specialists and explore the skills behind valuation and attribution. Learn how to research, write about, and present artworks through a hands-on auction project.

Experiential Learning

International study trips and visits are significant learning events, where travel, experiencing art in situ, and informal access to tutors come together to create an immersive and enriching experience.

Signature Discussions

In-depth class discussions explore signature themes such as cultural and financial value drivers, helping to deepen students’ understanding of the art world.

Next Steps

Faculty

Program Director, MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design / Historic Art and Design

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Bernard Vere specializes in art from the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. His work explores the connection between technological advances and the rise of the metropolis in modernist art, particularly in its implications for the individual subject. Learn more...

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Director, New York & Online

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Ann-Marie Richard is a fine art asset and design specialist, art historian, curator, author and advisor. Prior to her full-time appointment as Program Director, she was Executive Vice President at the art advisory firm Gurr Johns. She has lectured extensively on the topics of retrospective and emerging art markets, connoisseurship, collecting, conservation, provenance, and the related subtleties of appraising fine and decorative arts and design. Learn more...

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Field Study

Field study is a hallmark of the master's programs, taking graduate students around the globe to explore established and emerging markets during key events and with an itinerary ranging from art fairs to visits to artist studios and private collections.

“...study trips abroad are a great way to cement these learnings on the ground, and experience art in the flesh, something paramount to a complete understanding of both contemporary art and the art market.” — Alexis Sarfati ’20

Details

Academic Structure

MA in Historic Art and Design students analyze a range of objects dating from the 17th century to the 21st century. Students examine objects from a stylistic point of view, but not neglecting the wider historical, social, economic and cultural factors which have influenced the production of these artworks. The program aims to develop a critical understanding of the terms “fine art,” “decorative art,” and “design” and of the synergies and divergences between art objects across a range of media and periods. Students will spend much of the course looking at objects in a variety of settings, including online and in-person at museums, art fairs, auction houses, and collections.

The Master’s degree is awarded for 30 taught credits across semesters one and two, as well as the completion of a 6-credit thesis or capstone project over the course of the third semester.

The MA in Historic Art and Design culminates in a capstone project which can take the form of a traditional, long-form academic thesis, or a more flexible Master’s Project. Students may also elect to extend their studies an additional semester and either transfer to the Institute’s campus in London or return to New York and pursue core courses in either Art Business or Contemporary Art.

View required courses and electives here.

Tuition and Fees

Semester 1: 15 credits

Semester 2: 15 credits

Semester 3: 6 credits

Tuition: $1,878 per credit

Travel Fee: Each field study trip typically ranges from $4,500 to $6,500 according to destination. Travel fees are indicative only and subject to change.

Materials Fee: $824

International Student Fee: $206

For more information on tuition and program fees, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

From visa information for international students to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.

Student Policies

Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.

Enterprise Studio

The Enterprise Studio was created as an extra-curricular program for Master’s students to receive training and support for new business ventures, culminating in a start-up pitch competition, the Gavel. Through close access to mentors, students have the chance to shape their plans from ideation to execution with the winning Gavel team receiving significant seed funding for their future business.

Accreditation

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-NY holds permanent degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Living in New York City

Located in the center of Manhattan, the Institute’s New York campus offers easy access to the city’s extraordinary cultural and historical resources. First-hand encounters with artwork, exhibition spaces, and the people who run them are an integral part of the learning experience and a key aspect of the program.

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