The Department of Art History offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Arts degree. The graduate program prepares students for either a career in the arts or for PhD-level work at other universities. Course offerings cover the full range of western art, including film studies and electronic arts. Non-western courses in Pre-Columbian, Asian, Islamic, and African art are also offered.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:
- A minimum of 15 credits in Art History.
- Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with applicant’s academic or professional activities and potential.
- A writing sample to the Department of Art History, for example, an undergraduate art historical term paper.
- A reason statement to the Department of Art History, explaining one's reasons for applying to the program.
- Strongly recommended, though not required: background in languages, history or classics. Applicants may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses.
The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree.
Credits and Courses
Thesis Track: MA in Art History with an Emphasis on Methods and Criticism
Minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits in Art History, of which a minimum of 21 credits must be 700- to 900-level courses, as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 700 | Proseminar in Art History 1 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 891 | Art Museum Internship | 3 |
| 6 credits of ARTHIST 990 Thesis Research | 6 | |
| 9 credits of other 700- to 900-level Art History courses (excluding ARTHIST 703 and ARTHIST 704) | 9 | |
| 9 credits of additional graduate-level Art History courses | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Must be taken in the student's first fall semester.
Of the total 30 credits, 12 credits must be distributed across three of the following four areas: Ancient-Medieval; Early Modern; Modern (1850-the Present including Film); and non-Western. At least 9 of these credits must be taken in courses numbered 700 or above.
The following courses may not be used to satisfy the distribution requirement, although they will count toward the overall number of credits needed to graduate:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 703 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies I | 3 |
| ARTHIST 704 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies II | 3 |
Under special circumstances, 3 credits in 700- to 900-level work may be substituted for 3 of the 6 credits of thesis research. In addition, students may take a maximum of 6 credits of independent research (890, 891 and/or 999); however, these credits may not be taken in the first 6 credits of graduate work in the Department, and not until all deficiencies (if any) have been satisfied. Furthermore, they may not be counted toward the required 21 credits of 700- to 900-level courses. They will count, however, toward the overall number of credits needed to graduate. Upon petition to the director of graduate studies, a student may be permitted to take up to 6 credits in appropriate areas outside Art History (e.g., anthropology, literature, history, music history, philosophy, film).
Thesis
In addition to completing all the coursework required for the degree, the student must write a thesis on a subject selected in consultation with the advisor. This study must demonstrate the student’s ability to organize material and their familiarity with relevant research methods and art-historical literature. The student must pass an oral defense of the thesis.
Curatorial Track: MA in Art History with an Emphasis on Museums and Curatorial Practice
Minimum degree requirement is 30 graduate credits in Art History, of which a minimum of 27 credits must be 700- to 900-level courses, as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTHIST 700 | Proseminar in Art History 1 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 891 | Art Museum Internship | 3 |
| ARTHIST 703 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies I | 3 |
| ARTHIST 704 | Introduction to Art Museum Studies II | 3 |
| 6 credits of ArtHist 991 Thesis Exhibition | 6 | |
| 12 additional credits in 700- to 900-level courses | 9 | |
| 3 additional credits in graduate-level Art History courses | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Must be taken in the student's first fall semester.
Of the total 30 credits,12 credits must be distributed across three of the following four areas: Ancient-Medieval; Early Modern; Modern (1850-the Present including Film); and non-Western. At least 9 of these credits must be taken in courses numbered 700 or above.
Under special circumstances, 3 credits in 700- to 900-level work may be substituted for 3 of the 6 credits of thesis research. In addition, students may take a maximum of 3 credits of independent research (890, 891 and/or 999); however, these credits may not be taken in the first 6 credits of graduate work in the Department, and not until all deficiencies (if any) have been satisfied. Furthermore, they may not be counted toward the required 27 credits of 700- to 900-level courses. They will count, however, toward the overall number of credits needed to graduate. Upon petition to the graduate advisor, a student may be permitted to take up to 3 credits in appropriate areas outside Art History (e.g., anthropology, literature, history, music history, philosophy, film).
Exhibition
The student on this curatorial track must also organize an exhibition accompanied by a scholarly catalog on a subject selected in consultation with the advisor. This exhibition must demonstrate the student’s ability to organize material and their familiarity with relevant research methods and art historical literature. The exhibition is considered the equivalent of a formal thesis and the accompanying written work must be submitted to the Graduate School in appropriate format.
Areas for Distribution Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses by Distribution Area | ||
| Ancient-Medieval | ||
| ARTHIST 312G | Minoan and Mycenaean Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 313G | Greek Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 314G | Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East | 3 |
| ARTHIST 315G | Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt | 3 |
| ARTHIST 316G | Roman Art and Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTHIST 323G | Age of Apocalypse: Western European Art after the First Millennium | 3 |
| ARTHIST 324G | Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 325G | Early Medieval Art in the West | 3 |
| ARTHIST 326G | Chivalry and Spirituality: French Gothic Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 327G | Caliphs, Emirs, & Kings: Art & Architecture of Medieval Spain | 3 |
| ARTHIST 328G | Frankish Art of the Crusader Period in the Levant | 3 |
| ARTHIST 329G | Late Medieval Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 412G | Cities and Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece | 3 |
| ARTHIST 413G | Greek Sculpture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 720 | Colloquium in Medieval Art/Architecture: | 3 |
| Early Modern | ||
| ARTHIST 333G | High Renaissance Art in Italy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 341G | Art of the Dutch Golden Age | 3 |
| ARTHIST 342G | Art and Society in Renaissance Florence | 3 |
| ARTHIST 353G | American Art: Colonial Period - 1870 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 357G | Rococo to Revolution: European Art, 1750-1850 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 431G | Renaissance Architecture in Italy | 3 |
| ARTHIST 447G | Topics in Early Modern Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 730 | Colloquium in Renaissance/Baroque Art/Architecture: | 3 |
| 1850 to the Present (including Film) | ||
| ARTHIST 307G | Film Directors: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 308G | Film Styles: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 349G | American Postmodernism 1960-2000 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 354G | American Art: 1870 - Present | 3 |
| ARTHIST 355G | American Folk Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 356G | American Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 358G | Realism to Post-Impressionism: European Art, 1850-1900 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 364G | Modernism and the Avant-Garde, 1900-1960 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 365G | History of Photography | 3 |
| ARTHIST 366G | German Painting, 1800-1933 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 368G | History of Modern Design | 3 |
| ARTHIST 369G | Introduction to Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 376G | History and Theory of New Media Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 377G | Art and Performance | 3 |
| ARTHIST 462G | Frank Lloyd Wright | 3 |
| ARTHIST 463G | Cubism and its Inheritance | 3 |
| ARTHIST 465G | Dada and Surrealist Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 469G | American Artists Revealed: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 470G | Topics in American Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 750 | Colloquium in American Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 760 | Colloquium in Modern Art/Architecture: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 761 | Colloquium in Film History, Theory, Criticism: | 3 |
| Non-Western | ||
| ARTHIST 343G | Art and Culture of Spain and Latin America, 1500-1750 | 3 |
| ARTHIST 367G | Latin American Modernisms | 3 |
| ARTHIST 371G | African Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 372G | Art of the Inca and their Ancestors | 3 |
| ARTHIST 373G | Art of Ancient Mexico and Central America | 3 |
| ARTHIST 375G | Art of the Aztec Empire | 3 |
| ARTHIST 380G | Chinese Painting | 3 |
| ARTHIST 382G | Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 383G | Japanese Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 384G | Art and Immortality in Ancient China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 386G | Art, Ritual, and Ethnicity of China | 3 |
| ARTHIST 387G | Buddhist Art and Architecture | 3 |
| ARTHIST 474G | Maya Art | 3 |
| ARTHIST 481G | Topics in Chinese Art: | 1-3 |
| ARTHIST 482G | Topics in Non-Western Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 740 | Colloquium in Latin American Art: | 3 |
| ARTHIST 770 | Colloquium in Non-Western Art: | 3 |
Additional Requirements
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. A student who is not assigned to an advisor at time of admission should immediately contact the Graduate Advisor.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one art historical language, e.g. French, German, Italian, Spanish or other language as appropriate. Students must take the departmental reading exam in the language of their choice at least once by the time they have completed 9 credits. If they do not pass the exam on the first attempt, they will be expected to enroll in an appropriate language course. Students may not enroll in thesis research (990) unless they have passed the language examination.
Thesis or Exhibition
The student must either write a thesis or organize an exhibition accompanied by a scholarly catalog on a subject selected in consultation with the advisor. This study or exhibition must demonstrate the student’s ability to organize material and familiarity with research methods and art historical literature pertinent to the student’s topic and area of interest. The exhibition is considered the equivalent of a formal thesis and the accompanying written work must be submitted to the Graduate School in appropriate format.
Time Limit
The student must complete all degree requirements within five years of initial enrollment. It is expected that a full-time student will normally complete all of the requirements for the degree within two years.
Art History MA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Art History MA program will be able to:
- Use professional methods and vocabulary when describing and analyzing artworks in terms of material, form, function, iconography, theoretical perspectives, and cultural contexts.
- Use area-specific knowledge to examine the historical significance and cultural contexts of artworks.
- Critically analyze visual material, material cultures, and historical texts with the aid of primary and secondary sources in both written and oral forms.
- Discover, discuss, and resolve important research issues through the sorting of relevant data and evidence.
- Demonstrate reading proficiency in an art historical language other than English (e.g., French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish).
- Gain experience through a hands-on, authentic learning internship that involves working with collections and/or assisting with exhibitions in an art gallery, museum, or library setting.
Accelerated Program Option
This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.