Master of Humanities

Art and Visual Media

Build your understanding of art, creativity and visual culture while strengthening your ability to interpret, evaluate and share what you learn with others.

statue of David by Michelangelo
Format Online (Asynchronous)
Tuition $635 per credit hour
Credits 30 credits
Duration 18 months
Term Length 7 or 14 weeks

Turn Creative Passion into Purpose in Art and Visual Media

Explore Art through History, Theory and Critique

Study multiple art genres, visual media and critical approaches to analyze images, ideas and creative expression.

Prepare for Teaching, Graduate Study and Creative Careers

Develop skills in visual literacy, interpretation and communication for teaching, arts administration, consulting and related fields.

Refine Your Perspective and Creative Voice

Sharpen your ability to engage visual culture thoughtfully and communicate ideas clearly through creative and critical work.

MH Art & Visual Media
Program Requirements

Everything you need to know about the program, curriculum structure and degree completion requirements.

Program Highlights

The MH in Art and Visual Media is designed to prepare you for either teaching at the community college level or applying for further graduate study at the doctoral level. You will learn how theory turns into practice by studying multiple art genres and art media. Our students enjoy creative assignments that build critical thinking and analysis skills in all courses.

As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to inspire students, continue your studies, or join the workforce ready to use your skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation to share your love of art with others. Our faculty will guide you through courses and help you reach your potential.

Tiffin University’s MH in Art & Visual Media was designed for anyone who enjoys learning about a variety of art genres and art media and anyone who wants to share that knowledge with others.

Built for professionals with demanding schedules, the program is delivered in an asynchronous online format. Students do not need to log in for live online classes on set days or times each week. Instead, course materials, discussions and assignments are completed within established deadlines, giving students more control over when they engage with their degree program work.

  • All faculty within the program hold a terminal degree (M.F.A. or Ph.D.) in the field.
  • Class sizes are small, allowing professors to provide timely, productive feedback and interactions with students.
  • A graduate advisor is specific to the program and will work one-on-one with you to determine your individualized pathway to graduation.
  • The program prepares you for further graduate study or for teaching introductory art courses at the college level.
  • 100% online, with a combination of 7-week courses
  • Students have options to begin their program at three different times throughout the year (January, May, and August).
  • As a full-time student, you can complete your program in less than two years.

Preparing You for the Real World

Each instructor within the Master of Humanities program brings experience in their field of study. They bring this real-world knowledge to their teaching, to the building of our curriculum as subject matter experts and to their interactions with students on a daily basis.

As part of our professional program, you’ll learn career-ready skills that will prepare you for a job within the field of Art & Visual Media. Courses are relevant, and all content is focused on practical skills. You’ll apply your knowledge as you engage in creative assignments, working both individually and in group discussions and projects.

The program will prepare you to be an effective communicator in the field, as well as an accomplished teacher who can share their knowledge effectively with others. If you enjoy analyzing texts and/or encouraging others to enjoy texts, then the MH in Art & Visual Media is for you.

Active, Experiential Learning

Within the Art & Visual Media program, you’ll actively engage through discussions with your peers and instructors. Each week, you’ll engage with classmates and complete an outside assignment related to your required readings and interactive activities throughout the week. You’ll apply your learning as you analyze texts and discuss ideas with others.

Within the program, you’ll continuously work on your communication and problem-solving skills as you take part in weekly discussions and assignments. These assignments, focused on textual analysis and synthesis, will require you to critically think about how texts are created and how ideas are communicated.

You’ll participate in a capstone project that allows you to pursue your own more specific interests that you may have discovered in your courses. By the end of the capstone project, you will have a polished writing sample that you can use for future graduate applications and/or seek to publish.

Format & Sample Courses

FORMAT

Online Asynchronous – The degree program is offered in a flexible asynchronous online format in 7-week courses starting in January, May and August. Students are not required to attend live online classes on set days or times each week, and coursework can be completed within each course schedule and deadline structure. This approach gives working professionals greater control over when they engage with readings, discussions and assignments while still receiving structured academic support and faculty guidance.

SAMPLE COURSES

Teaching the Humanities (HUM516) – This course will investigate both theoretical and practical issues related to teaching topics in the humanities, including but not limited to first-year composition, art, and film. Course topics will include developing effective syllabi, identifying and articulating learning objectives, designing effective writing assignments, assessing college writing, understanding and creating rubrics, and developing an effective critique process. Students will also develop a teaching philosophy, syllabus, and sample lesson plans.

History of Photography (ART525) – This course surveys topics in the history and cultural uses of photography in Europe and the US in the twentieth and twenty first centuries. Starting with the origins of photography in Enlightenment and early Industrial Revolution Europe, students examine the role of the daguerreotype in the US, and photography’s role within war, western expansion, and social Darwinism. There will be discussions on the establishment of elite art organizations in Europe and the US by the 1890s concurrent with the flood of mass consumer photography and commercial production. The course will then examine major developments and uses of photography such as magazine journalism, advertising and fashion, and social documentary as well as photographic practices linked to art movements like constructivism, surrealism, documentary realism, and formalism. It will conclude with a look at the more contemporary postmodern practices which foreground the question of photography’s social and psychic operations. Special attention will be paid to the interrelations among photography’s diverse cultural uses and the terms in which debates about the medium’s unstable art status have played out.

Concentrations

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030. The median annual wage for postsecondary teachers was $80,560 in May 2020.

careers

The online Masters in Humanities in Art & Visual Media program prepares you for positions related to:

  • Postsecondary Teacher
  • Artist
  • Art Dealer
  • Art Consultant
  • Arts Administration
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Sales Representative

MH Art and Visual Media FAQ

what is art and visual media?

Art and visual media refers to all aspects of the production, circulation and reception of visual images in culture, science and society.

what is a master’s in art and visual media?

A master’s in art and visual media promotes visual literacy and gives students the appropriate tools to interpret and evaluate visual media in all forms. This specific concentration also supports those students interested in teaching art at the community college level and guides students through both the western traditional and contemporary film and graphics with courses such as Survey of Western Art History, The Graphic Novel and Woman and Art. Students will learn how theory turns into practice by studying multiple art genres and art media and will complete creative assignments that build critical thinking and analysis skills in all courses.

what can i do with a master’s in art and visual media?

With a degree in art and visual media, you will be qualified for a variety of career opportunities, including postsecondary teacher, artist, art dealer, art consultant, arts administration, public relations manager, customer service representative, sales representative and more.

80 %

of students receive financial aid

96.9 %

of TU graduate alumni have a career outcome within 6 months of graduation

“I really loved getting to know my peers, and none of my classes included content that was unexpectedly challenging or taxing. It was very informative and I learned a lot, but I never felt overwhelmed. The technology was all very easy to use too!”

Christina Chilelli
Master of Humanities