New York University Institute of Fine Arts

The Institute of Fine Arts is one of the 14 divisions of New York University (NYU). It offers a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy, the Advanced Certificate in Conservation of Works of Art, and the Certificate in Curatorial Studies (issued jointly with the Metropolitan Museum of Art). It is the top-ranked graduate program in art history, according to the National Research Council's 1994 study. See Wikipedia, New York University Institute of Fine Arts, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_University_Institute_of_Fine_Arts

The history the of New York University Institute of Fine Arts (http://nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart) began in 1831 when New York University was established. Well-known painter and inventor of the telegraph Samuel F. B. Morse was the first Professor of Fine Arts at New York University. He taught his students the practice of art and trained them to study and understand its history. When the young architect and scholar Fiske Kimball was appointed the Professor of the Literature of the Arts of Design in 1922, he founded a program at the university focusing solely on art history. Though he was unaware of it at the time, he was laying the groundwork for what would someday become one of the most renowned schools specializing in the fine arts.

Named the New York University Institute of Fine Arts in 1937, the IFA is one of fourteen divisions at New York University. Thanks in part to its excellent faculty and close relationships with many of New York’s museums, the Institute is considered one of the best graduate schools in the field of art history. The IFA received its highest praise in 1973 when the National Endowment for the Humanities celebrated the Institute as an outstanding leader in the historical training and scholarship of art.

The IFA offers Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in art history, archeology, conservation, and curatorial studies. Not only does the IFA offer its students the best in fine art education, but the Institute also offers many different events and programs to the general public throughout the academic year. Some of these programs include an annual lecture series, symposia, and conferences that cover a wide variety of diverse topics, genres, and time periods.

Located in the culture-rich Upper East Side of Manhattan since 1931, the IFA is easily accessible by public transportation and is in close proximity to Central Park. The Institute is situated along New York’s Museum Mile, making it extremely handy for students and visitors to view and appreciate many different galleries, all at a close distance.

The New York University Institute of Fine Arts in New York has a rich, long-standing history that only continues to grow. With its great location and exceptional reputation, it is one of New York City’s greatest treasures.