Master of Public Art Studies (MPAS)

Curriculum & Course of Study (total 36 units)

FIRST YEAR, FALL (8 units)

PAS 549 (2) Methodologies of Art Writing
An overview of contemporary writing methods on art practices in the public sphere and public space, by curators, organizers, critics, scholars and artists.

PAS 561 (2) Organizational Models
Overview of strategies utilized by public art organizations, museums and non-profit/alternative spaces to conceptualize, develop, and administer art projects in the public realm.

PAS 571 (3) Histories of Art in the Public Sphere
A selective overview of the history of art practices in the public sphere and public space, focusing on critical moments during the 20th Century.

PAS 555a (1) Practicum
Students collaborate as a group for a 2-year period to conceptualize, organize, and realize all aspects of an exhibition project in an urban public space.

FIRST YEAR, SPRING (10 units)

PAS 562 (2) Curatorial Methods and Institutional Programming
Frameworks of curatorial organization and institutional programming of art projects in public space, led by professional curators, organizers, and artists in the field.

PAS 572 (3) Contemporary Art in the Public Sphere
Investigation into recent developments of art's interconnection with social space and the public realm, emphasizing significant practices and critical issues over the past 10 to 20 years.

PAS 581 (3) Critical Conversations
A series of guest presentations by important artists, curators, organizers, architects, and theorists on seminal issues regarding the public sphere and public space.

PAS 555b (2) Practicum
Students collaborate as a group for a 2-year period to conceptualize, organize, and realize all aspects of an exhibition project in an urban public space.

(SUMMER: Internship)

SECOND YEAR, FALL (11 units)

PAS 550 (2) Art, Communities and Global Publics
Exploring notion of 'community' and 'public' in relation to urban social space. Collaboration with artists, curators and others on projects in the public realm.

PAS 585 (3) Theorizing the Public Realm
Cross-disciplinary exploration of theories on the public realm, public space, and art practices in the public domain, from the 19th Century to the present.

PAS 594a (2) Masters Thesis

PAS 555c (2) Practicum
Students collaborate as a group for a 2-year period to conceptualize, organize, and realize all aspects of an exhibition project in an urban public space.

Elective (2)

SECOND YEAR, SPRING (7 units)

PAS 591 (1) Field Internship Experience
Supervised internship in an art institution or an art agency, or with an independent curator or artist, on projects and research specific to public space.

PAS 594b (2) Masters Thesis

PAS 555d (1) Practicum
Students collaborate as a group for a 2-year period to conceptualize, organize, and realize all aspects of an exhibition project in an urban public space.

Elective (3)