Here you can carry out art historical and design research; apply the theories and practice of information science; design and curate digital libraries, archives, and exhibitions; and communicate arts content and design effectively across diverse cultures and societies.
Pratt students at the Morgan Library Reading Room (courtesy Polly Cancro, History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science '18)
History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science at Pratt
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares you for careers in art and design, museum, and academic libraries. In this program, you will become an expert on the intersection of art and design and information, going deep into art, design, and historical archives, art and design collections, and more. With fellowship opportunities at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Art Reference Library, and MoMA, the dual-degree program offers unique experiential learning opportunities.
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design program get to experience all Pratt has to offer by taking half of their program (30 credits) at the School of Information based in Manhattan, and the other half in the Department of History of Art and Design on the Brooklyn campus (30 credits). The first two years students take courses in both departments, with much of the thesis work taking place in the third year. With class sizes of just 8-12, you’ll collaborate closely with your cohort and faculty and be learning at the nexus of NYC arts and culture communities.
Internships
Internships at museums, libraries, nonprofit art organizations, and galleries provide professional opportunities in your area of interest and prepare you for future careers. Recent students have interned at prestigious institutions such as the New York Public Library, Franklin Furnace, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Study Abroad
We are pleased to offer study abroad options for dual-degree students, including a new course offered for the first time during spring break 2024: “Artist Archives: Rome/New York”. We also recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pratt in Venice, which is a 6-week program that occurs each June and July. For more information on Study Abroad, see where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learning resources.
Our Faculty
Pratt’s distinguished faculty of outstanding creative professionals and scholars share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives, they provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all History of Art and Design faculty and administrators and School of Information faculty and administrators.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Where They Work
Librarian, Photographs and Prints Division, New York Public Library
Archivist, Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library
IT Project Manager, J. Paul Getty Trust
Head, Reference & Reader Services, Teachers College, Columbia University
Web Collection Librarian, Columbia University Libraries
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
We are honored to announce the first HAD Faculty Conversation of the semester by Akiva Sanders, "Freedom and Equality in the Early Bronze Age: Clues from Household Items”
* This event is for Pratt community.
Date: Wednesday, February 19th, 2025
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Venue: Main 212
About the Project: Freedom and equality are fundamental values in our society. But are they fundamentally at odds? Are there times and places where they can coexist? Where equality can be maintained over multiple generations without drastically restricting self-expression? This lecture, drawn from my recently published book, looks at how local communities reconstructed society in the centuries following their destruction of the world's earliest known palace (ca. 3200 BCE) at the site of Arslantepe in the Upper Euphrates Valley of Eastern Turkey. We will explore their houses that served as communal places of gathering and locations of self-expression that were both unique and imaginative. However, for five hundred years, none of these places became institutionalized in a way that removed agency from the following generations.
About the Speaker: Akiva Sanders is an archaeologist and art historian who tries to understand the past through the varied experiences and attempts at self-expression of those who inhabited it. His research focuses on the assembly and disassembly of monumental central institutions in Mesopotamia: the changes in daily life, sources of meaning, and interpersonal relationships that accompanied these pivotal moments, methods of resistance to institutional authority, and the creative aftermath of institutional collapse. He approaches these questions with evidence from settlement archaeology, art history, population genetics, and ancient fingerprints.
Happy Lunar New Year!
This festive season, we explore the fascinating world of Nianhua (年画)—traditional Chinese New Year prints that have decorated homes for centuries.
A Glimpse into Art History: Nianhua, meaning 'New Year Pictures,' originated during the Han dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. These vibrant woodblock prints were not just decorations but also talismans believed to bring good luck, ward off evil spirits, and ensure a prosperous year ahead.
Each piece is a testament to the skill and artistry of traditional Chinese craftsmen, who painstakingly carved and painted these intricate designs.
#LunarNewYear #Nianhua #TraditionalChineseArt #ArtHistory #CulturalHeritage #HistoryOfDesign
Image Courtesy: METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Nianhua, 19th–20th century. Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper.
Welcome Back, Creatives!
A new semester means fresh opportunities to learn, create, and inspire. Let’s make this semester one of growth, creativity, and innovation!
Stay tuned for exciting content, tips, and community highlights throughout the term. Here's to an art-filled adventure ahead!
#WelcomeBack #NewSemester #ArtAndDesign #CreativeJourney #InspirationAwaits #PrattInstitute
For over 40 years, the Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) celebrates exceptional teaching, and recognizes the recipient's commitment to Pratt's students and mission. The Distinguished Teacher is nominated by students and the award is conferred by the Academic Senate, the Administration, and the Board of Trustees.
Student nominations are underway for Pratt Institute's 2025 Distinguished Teacher Award via emails with a unique link for each student, voting closes on Friday, February 21, 2025.
Monthly Art Quote
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."
— Edgar Degas
Edgar Degas reminds us that art is more than just a visual experience—it's about evoking emotion, sparking imagination, and shaping perception. How do you interpret this quote in your own creative journey? Let’s discuss in the comments!
#MonthlyArtQuote #EdgarDegas #ArtInspiration #ArtHistory #CreativeVision
Happy New Year from Pratt's School of Information. We have new faculty and staff joining us, as well as new wellness resources: yes, we have a massage chair! This news and more in our January '25 newsletter; link available in our bio.
In the years following the onset of the pandemic, @prattischool has committed itself to incorporating wellness into its thinking, culminating in the formation of a Wellness committee this school year. Part of this work is the creation of a Wellness webpage, that includes information on some of the resources available to the community, such as a new massage chair installed in Pratt Manhattan Center room 608b. Check it out! Link available in our bio.
While classes have wrapped-up for the fall, work has started on preparing for the spring, like setting up this driving simulator for INFO 697 Automotive UX with Prof. Lopatovska.
Our final information session for prospective students before the priority admissions deadline on January 5th is Tuesday, December 10 at 6p ET in-person in Manhattan or on Zoom. Join us! RSVP link is available via the link in our bio.
The MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design dual-degree program prepares students for careers in art, museum, and academic libraries. With fellowship opportunities taking place at NYC’s leading museums, libraries, and archives, such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the dual-degree program offers unique opportunities for experiential learning.
This program consists of 30 credits at the School of Information and 30 credits at the Department of History of Art and Design for a total of 60 credits, which must be completed with a B average or higher. Students in the dual-degree program generally take one or two classes in each program per semester (3–4 courses, 9–12 credits).
Students in the dual-degree MSLIS/MA History of Art and Design satisfy the learning outcomes of each of the respective degrees.
MS Library and Information Science
Throughout the LIS program, students will create a digital portfolio to highlight the work they have completed and demonstrate they have met the program’s five student learning outcomes:
Foundations of Library and Information studies – Apply core concepts and theories to information collection, organization and access in multiple environments.
User-centered services – Students can meet information needs of diverse user communities across multiple communication formats (e.g. oral, written, visual, interactive).
Technology – Students can select and apply tools and technologies used in the field to improve information functions.
Research – Investigate information environments and users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences through appropriate research methods and analysis.
Ethical/Creative/Critical practice – Apply core ethical principles to professional practice and understand the broad impact of information on society. Students can raise critical questions about information, its production, dissemination, storage and preservation.
MA History of Art and Design
Graduates are able to articulate the mutually constitutive nature of historical changes in social, political and economic conditions in the fields of art, design, and cultural production.
Graduates are able to describe, research and analyze the forms of cultural artifacts and monuments.
Graduates demonstrate a critical engagement with the discipline’s tools and methods.
Graduates have the skills to craft lines of inquiry and perform in-depth research, including the use of relevant languages, that results in original analysis and interpretation.
